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Sharif El-Hamalawi | profile | all galleries >> Cuba tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Cuba

Alexandra and I made these images during our trip to Cuba from August 1 to 17, 2004. The places we visited vere La Habana, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey, Trinidad, Playa de Ancón, Santa Clara, Remedios, Varadero, Pinar del Rio Region and of course the country in between alongside the roads we travelled.

Let me just say the following: Cuba is a great place with great and extremely friendly people. Judging from the photo opportunities it's photographers heaven with very picturesque cities and sceneries as well as lots of lovely people that enjoy being photographed. Coming from Europe Cuba is a place that was very very different from any place I visited before. But judge for yourself from our pictures....

Please take the freedom to comment on our images. We would love to know your thoughts and always appreciate constructive feedback. We very much hope you enjoy our photos.

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At the Malecón in La Habana
At the Malecón in La Habana		 The Malecón, La Habana
The Malecón, La Habana		 A revamped oldtimer
A revamped oldtimer		 On the street in La Habana
On the street in La Habana
Playing domino at a street in La Habana
Playing domino at a street in La Habana		 Camara de Representantes, La Habana
Camara de Representantes, La Habana		 A street in La Habana
A street in La Habana		 Lining up in front of a bakery in La Habana
Lining up in front of a bakery in La Habana
On the street in La Habana
On the street in La Habana		 On the street in La Habana
On the street in La Habana		 Alex taking pictures at the Malecón, La Habana
Alex taking pictures at the Malecón, La Habana		 A street in La Habana
A street in La Habana
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post a comment
Cubana en Madrid 19-Jun-2009 19:47
Soy una cubana más lejos de su tierra y como han expresado otros, extraño todo, desde lo más feo, malo e insignificante, hasta lo más bello y hermoso como lo es la familia, los amigos, esa hermosa tierra donde viven personas tan sencillas, humildes, amables, capaces de sonreir y compartir lo que tienen sea mucho o poco, donde lo material no es la prioridad, espero pronto poder regresar a mi querida e inigualable CUBA.
Sahyly 27-May-2009 04:08
Ni las palabras tienen valor ante estas fotos,solamente llevo un año fuera de mi pais y extraño todo absolutamente todo,hasta el churre de las calles por asi decirlo,la nostalgia q siento al ver estas fotos hacen de mi corazon lo mas grande y desesperado q se puede ver,cuanta necesidad,cuantos años de martirio y aun asi la gente rie,es amable,respiran o suspiran al lado de los mas queridos,mis deseos son los mas inmensos de volver a ver a esa gente,de ver el sol una vez mas ponerse en el orizonte,sentada en ese malecon,en mi malecon,donde buscaba paz y respuestas,en fin, solo espero con la mayor esperanza,q todos esos de las fotos,o sea todos los cubanos puedan saborear la libertad pronto. Con amor va este comentario,a Cuba se lo dedico. Sahyly
Robert Suarez 01-Jan-2009 17:43
Wow !!
Im blown away. So many comments written below in defense of Fidel's Cuba. (And don't worry, you can read, write your own opinion here WITHOUT going to jail.) huh, yeah go ahead breath, no one is coming to arrest you, unlike in Cuba, China and all the like.

So go ahead voice your opinion about how the US exploits people, and how your "FORCED" to work.

Hey ! How about we have a Sabado Rojo ? Where we all volunteer about an hour so of our time to pick up liter around our streets ? And if you don't want to attend...No problem. No jail or incarceration either.

Oh, and if you would like to seek public office, ( participate in an election, so that you can govern locally or even at a federal level...go ahead.)... Try that in Quba.

My grandfathers owned a Tobacco plantation and built a few homes on land that my great grandparents purchased rightfully !! So it's a matter of who lost what ?
PEDRO 19-Dec-2008 12:37
LA VERDAD QUE CUANDO VEO FOTOS DE MI PAIS SE ME SALTAN LAGRIMAS PUES LO EXTRANO MUCHO Y TAMBIEN SIENTO PENA POR LA MISERIA QUE SE VE, CREO QUE PODIAMOS ESTAR MEJOR, VIVO EN EL REINO UNIDO Y TAMPOCO AQUI TODO ES COLOR DE ROSA COMO MUCHA GENTE PIENSA, PERO CUANDO COMPARO LOS BENEFICIOS DE ESTE PAIS PARA LA GENTE POBRE CON EL NUESTRO, ESTE ES MAS SOCIALISTA QUE CUBA, CREANME ,Y BASTA DE ECHARLE LA CULPA AL BLOQUEO QUE EN CUBA ENTRAN BILLONES DE DOLARES EN TURISMO, AYUDA FAMILIAR DE ESTADOS UNIDOS Y OTROS PAISES, MAS LOS NEGOCIOS DE INVERSIONES EXTRANJERAS, A DONDE CARAJO VA A PARAR ESA PLATA PORQUE EN SALARIOS NO SE VA ,PORQUE LA GENTE GANA UNA MIERDA Y PAGA PRECIOS EXHORBITANTES POR LA POCA BASURA QUE LES VENDEN.
EN LOS HOPITALES LOS SERVICIOS SON PESIMOS Y EN LAS ESCUELAS LOS NINOS LA TIENEN GRATIS PERO CARECEN DE TODO Y EL 80 % DE LOS PROFERSORES TIENEN EL MISMO NIVEL DE ESCOLARIDAD QUE SUS ALUMNOS Y SI NO QUE HAGAN UNA ENCUESTA.
NUNCA QUISE IRME DE CUBA Y ESTUVE DISPUESTO A JUGARMELA ALLI JUNTOS CON LOS DEMAS DE MI TIERRA, PERO HUBO UN MOMENTO QUE TUVE QUE HUIR ERA MI LIBERTAD LO QUE ESTABA EN JUEGO, ESPERO ALGUN DIA REGRASAR CUANDO SE PUEDA AL MENOS SER TU MISMO.
ES TRISTE PERO DESAFORTUNADMENTE TUVIOS QUE HUIR DE ALLI.
S Perez 15-Dec-2008 05:24
I only hope that you realize how pathetic and shameful it is to see the country you left in 1961 (like I did) in the worst of 3rd world country places!!!!
I will never go back while the murderous and despicable Dictator is still there because I have dignity and pride.
Marcial Parada 10-Dec-2008 15:36
Thanks for you fantastic photo, I'm a member of Australia-Cuba Friendship Society Brisbane and I going to show some of your photo in the 50 years of the Cuba Revolution celebration.
Your photos catch the people soul.
Well done!!
Marcial Parada
Australia
Guest 01-Dec-2008 06:25
todas las fotos son bellisimas.yme trajeron gratos recuerdos.mi habana querida te extrano.
Jean Louis 12-Jun-2008 19:38
Hey I left Cuba about ten years ago and I spent like 10 years trying to get out. Yes, people is happy not because of what they have but because is part of been Cuban. We are that kind of people that make fun of ourself. It was bad when I left and it is even worse now. My family is all over the world...Ukraine...Honduras...Australia...and USA...all had to scape from Comunism and that poberty you show here as a "beatiful Gallery"...yes, it is good to show to all those who talk good about Cuba and invite them to go and stay there...I will see then taking their own pictures scaping from the "Dream Island".
Anurama Ramgobin 04-Jun-2008 15:26
Hey it was nice of u to take the photos of cuba to show others. i was there and spent 2 years and what i found there is a wonderful set of people who are happy with wha they have. The cubans are the one that help there nieghbour not like us in the capitlist states that have to work to just pay bills and there in a stuggle to eat. in Cuba rest assure that meals are always there in each household and when you are sick u dont have to worry about health insurance cause it is free of cost. Yes there are some things there that are not well off but which country is perfect? In which country are the citizen happy and comfortable? I think that Fidel and the cubans have done a wonderful job in showing the world that we dont need the USA to survive. . I am one of the many form differnt countries that are thanful to Cuba for giving us the oppertunity to have a carreer free of cost.
Jason 06-Apr-2008 13:10
This is really sad seeing the cuban people strugling the way they do now ,this regime is the most inept goverment i ever see in my life,with all the natural resources this island have and you see for miles and miles and miles the country unexploited,is amazing how some peole there defend this regime ,i don't get it...porr cuban peole
Cumanes 02-Mar-2008 04:12
Esas fotos son impresionantes, reflejan una situacion de pobreza y miseria que no se compara con la situacion de avance que tenia ese pais en los años 50, cuando era una de las zonas mas properas y adelantadas de America Latina, la fotos de La Habana muestran una ciudad en ruinas y una gente muy pobre, que triste; pensar que hay gobernantes que quieren copiar ese modelo de pobreza en otros paises, van para atras....
guest 19-Dec-2007 03:28
very beautifull gallery, but that's not the real Cuba, I was there and I saw it for myself, you can have more fun for the same money in any other latin american country like Costa Rica,were people are more happy and less scare, if you go, good luck, at least take my advice, don't comment in ANYTHING or get a good life insurance policy for your family
Mary 15-Dec-2007 11:38
Beautifull gallery. Thank you very much
Alex 10-Dec-2007 02:51
Yes My Home Island is A Beautifully place, it once was the Jewell of the Antilles, But when the devil took over, it turned it into what it is today, you can still see the beauty that it was in the old architecture of the buildings, now imagine them whole and painted, imagine those streets clean and buzzing with well dressed people, Imagine stores and coffee shops in every corner almost.
Imagine that the Cuban peso was worth more than the US dollar, Imagine that Cubans were free to say whatever they wanted, imagine that Cubans could travel wherever they wanted, yet they never migrated as they have to now.

Yes that Cuba was beautiful, Now if you want to go your free to do so, but remember every dollar you spend over there, it just goes to the dictator and his goons to keep them in power and to perpetuate the suffering of this once proud and happy people
Borden 25-Oct-2007 19:05
Well done.
Thank you for posting your pix...
very helpful, informative and inspiring!
LA LOCA CUBANA REAL 08-Sep-2007 18:12
There is ignorance on all sides. Your beautiful pictures have inspired me to want to go to Cuba myself before Fidel passes and see what life under Fidel is really like. I unfortunately live in Miami which is a thirld world country, a second hand Cuba, not nearly as beautiful. The US has had Cuba in their sights since the time of the founding of the US. READ US HISTORY It is wonderful to see a place still unfettered by mass exploitation disguised as 'freedom' and 'democracy.' Those cuban exiles that spread rumors of cat eaters in cuba and other atrocities are the real terrorists. Let me see a picture a REAL one not a photoshoped one of a cat being eaten and if this is so ...so what?!!! isnt cat just another white meat ? I bet those that are so offended by the eating of cats eat meat themselves...cow meat, pig meat noche buena anyone??? they are hypocrites FAKES.,,wake up and be real...Cuba has its own beautiful culture one that will disappear when the US and its multinational exploitation interests take over. YOU ARE the CUBANO ARREPENTIDOS!!! WHO DONT GIVE A CRAP ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL CULTURE THAT IS PRESERVED IMMACULATELY IN CUBA FROM THE TIME THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS RELEASED CUBA FROM SUBJUGATION TO SPAIN AND THEN THE US -FRENCH INTL INTERESTS. CALL ME A COMMUNIST I CALL YOU BRAINWASHED CALL ME WHATEVER YOU WANT YOU ARE THE ONES WHO PUT FIDEL IN POWER AND FLED LIKE COWARDS DEAL WITH YOUR ACTIONS IF YOU MESSED UP ONCE YOU ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED YOU PROVED YOURSELVES INCAPABLE OF DECISION MAKING CAPABILITIES ONCE IN PUTTING HIM IN POWER SO NOW SHUT UP AND DEAL WITH IT!!!
ESPECIALLY THE ONE FROM WYOMING GOD BLESS THE CUBA THAT EXISTS STILL
I ADMIRE THOSE THAT STAND UP TO THIS UNIPOLAR BENT ON WORLD DOMINATION US GOVT. AMEN.
alfredo camba jr. 31-Aug-2007 09:37
Very beautiful & interesting photo gallery! Vote!
Guest 15-Jul-2007 16:34
HI SHARIF:
from time to time i show your pix to some friends or people in usa so they can see your work and CUBA, everyone likes it, good job, and again we have to read political stamments of both sides with the same hate, did u read the "CUBANOENWYOMING" telling you about so many things that happens in cuba?, and at the end he said that he's never been there, isn't that funny and stupid???, he never was there, he just repeat what he heard, NO WONDER THEY BELIEVE "SANTA CLAUS IS REAL, IRAQ HAD W.M.D OR THEY ARE WINNING THE WAR, the truth is both sides, communist and anti-castro are the same, no one got the balls to do a shit, bla, bla, bla, thats all they do, SO PLEASE, communist and ballsuckers from miami go somewhere to let your mixed feelings go, cubanothe wyoming it looks like you never been in the bronx in new york, so you can see garbage in the corners, i had see poverty in mississippi, alabama,florida, ghetto places like africa here in USA, maybe you get robbed in a bad area in cuba but in USA THEY GET KILL IN THE SCHOOLS, childrens get raped every week, or you don't see the news here, a shooting every day, i was in cuba 30 days drinking, having fun and nothing happens, so please shut up, if tourist has better options is because they pay for it, THANKS SHARIF FOR YOUR PIX, JC
Bulgarian 19-Jun-2007 16:42
Wonderful pictures!
Achille 06-Jun-2007 19:33
Wonderful pictures! Excellent Job! May I use some of your pictures in my website?BRAVO !!!!
Gordon stocks 27-May-2007 12:37
Thank you very much, your photos are excellent.I am going to Havana in September 2007 and these photos have given me inspiration, Earlier this year I was in Peru, my photos are in my site www.gordonstocks.com have a look please and feel free to pass comment.
cubanoenwyoming 14-May-2007 18:25
I.O.F. I find that often times it is those who are from outside Cuba who always try to blame the United States for the situation Cuba is in. You really have no idea what you are talking about. If you were born in Cuba, lived and experienced what the Communist regime is all about in the island, you would know differently. Ever since castro took power, he set out to oppress the people, and take total control of the island.

Cuba is in the situation it is in because of the Communist regime.

There is enough infraestructure on the island to feed the entire population, yet castro pockets a lot of that money, and the rest uses it to fund other "worker's revolutions" around the world. Often times I have heard/read from foreigners, who are ignorant and often times want to stay ignorant, claim that health care and education is free in Cuba.

Well, that is a lie... Children starting as young as 11-12 years old go to summer work camps and spent their summers in hard labor, and every summer they go to these hard labor camps until they graduate. If Cubans decide after "segundaria" (High School) that they want to keep studying, they continue going to these summer labor camps and this is the way they pay for their studies. Tending the fields for castro's regime.

Children, after returning from the work camps, always return home thinner, with lice, diarrhea, and other ailments because they are not really taken care of at the work camps. I have two sisters that went through one of those hard labor camps which castro installed in the island, and you nor any other "foreigner", who doesn't have any idea what in the world you are talking about, are not going to make these facts dissapear.

I already gave a link to what happens even to foreigners who try to find out what really is happening in the island.

http://www.praguepost.com/P03/2006/Art/0216/tempo1.php

If that can happen to a foreigner such as Helena Houdová, what makes you think the tyrant of castro and his regime treat any better Cubans?...

And as for the free healthcare.... Cubans do not enjoy the "health care system which has been publicized" to the world, and which only foreigners enjoy if they have the money...

You see children smiling in those photos because after decades of opression, Cubans have learnt to make do with what they got, even if at times they do not have enough to eat.

Go visit some of the "tourist hospitals" in Cuba and see if there are any regular Cubans enjoying the latest technology..... You will only find those in the Cuban elite and foreigners in those tourist hospitals..

Go visit the "tourist shops", which are always full, and have the best items and food you can find on the island, and then compare what you find in those "tourist shops" with what is found in the Cuban "bodegas" which most of the time are empty...

You sir are the reason why so many "foreigners" are ignorant of the situation in Cuba... Because even if Cubans who have experienced the tyranical rule of castro tell you what has been happening in the island, there are "foreigners" who "for whatever reason" want to remain ignorant and instead want to believe the lies about Cuba "which the regime of catro wants the world to believe"...

All media in Cuba is controlled by the government; "all of it"... and whenever some Cubans are able to speak up their minds about castro's regime through some media in the island, they get imprisoned, and whatever medium they were using gets shut down by the regime.

Insted of trying to claim you know what is happening in the island, you should be listening to what the majority Cubans who have been able to leave the oppressive regime have to say about it, which often times gets ignored because there are "foreigners" who want to believe the lies from the Communist regime.
I.O.F 01-May-2007 08:36
I really enjoyed your photographs and you did a great job capturing the people. You have a good eye and your pictures also have a historical value. I have never been to Cuba but I would like to visit one day. Your photographs allow me to see a place that has been forbidden to me. I feel horrible that people that are supposed to represent me (congress) and I'm sure a few people who wrote comments on here, don't oppose the brutal economic sanctions on Cuba. Economic sanctions have been imposed on Cuba for over a half century by one of the strongest and most influential economic powers on the planet, making modernization, social and economic development extremely difficult. We only need to look at the history of economic sanctions to realize who benefits and who suffers from such measures. People suffer the most, not governments or dictators, who has been empowered by these sanctions???. Once again, great photos, keep up the good work.
cubanoenwyoming 19-Apr-2007 21:07
BTW, one more thing, if you do take my advice and try to take pictures of the "real Cuba", you better watch out for the "Cuban government gusanos"... you might end up going throught the same problem that the supermodel Helena Houdova went through when she took pictures of the real Cuba...

Here is a link to what happens if "Cuban govenrment agents", a few or at least one who has posted in this forum, sees you taking picture of the "Real Cuba"...

http://www.praguepost.com/P03/2006/Art/0216/tempo1.php
cubanoenwyoming 19-Apr-2007 20:44
Yes, those are very beautiful pictures of Cuba, but like so many have said, that is not the real Cuba. Those picture are the illusion which the tourists get to see of Cuba.

Perhaps next time you go to visit in Cuba, you should visit the real streets of Cuba, the ones full of piles of garbage in every other street corner, the one where Cubans have to throw garbage in rivers and when there are floods all that garbage gets all over the streets of Cuba.

The Cuba where tourists get the best treatment and the best hospitals, as long as they got the money, meanwhile the regular people in Cuba don't get to use those "tourist hospitals"...

You should try going away from the tourist areas...the authorities in Cuba will probably tell you they can't protect youif you get out of the tourist areas, but don't worry, you will have the same chance of getting robbed as in any part of the city. Of course, use common sense and don't go out alone at night in the poor sections of Cuba.

As to the Cuban govenrment agents, or agent..., you should be ashamed.

The mayority of Cubans in Miami were poor people who left the island in homemade rafts, or had to depend on the goodwill of their families outside Cuba to get out...

There is no freedom of expression in Cuba, there is no freedom of the press, and most regular Cubans don't have, and can't have access to the internet... Those professionals that do have access, can't write whatever they want because they know their emails are seen by the Cuban goverrment, and they will lose the right to use the government email if they ever write anything against the Communist regime or against castro.

Los Cubanos que viven en Miami, en otras partes de los Estados Unidos y en Europa fueron en gran mayoria pobres en Cuba...

Solo los "gusanos verdaderos del gobierno de castro" son los ricos que no quieren que Cuba cambien...

Batista no es el mejor ejemplo para un nuevo gobierno en Cuba, pero incluso con batista la mayoria de los Cubanos vivian mejor que durante el gobierno del tirano castro...

VIVA CUBA, ABAJO EL TIRANO DE CASTRO!!!
El Chori 15-Apr-2007 03:40
A measure of the ignorance regarding the Cuban situation is that posts here are written addressing the people inside Cuba. Only an elite few Cubans have access to the internet. Ownership of even a a PC by ordinary citizens is forbidden, and the access to the web is heavily filtered.

To the Cubans in EXILE (not migration), I say do not dignify ignorant comments with an answer. Many are posted by the Cuban government itself as part of their propaganda. Facts speak for themselves.
john harpo 13-Apr-2007 08:16
I share the same feelings as Laura Elena, We must have left at about the same time.
Those who have posted about the hatred for those in Miami, fail to realize that if it wasn't for the Cubans in Miami, they would be in worst shape than they already are if it wasn't for the millions of dollars sent to the island from the relatives in Miami.
A los Cubanos en Cuba, dense cuenta que si no fuera por la gusanera de Miami, muchos de ustedes estuvieran hoy vistiendo pañales y chancletas de madera.

Angel Alfonso
( Angeto )
Guest 12-Apr-2007 17:21
Las fotos son maravillosas y el que este de acuerdo con ese regimen que vaya a vivir a esa MARAVILLOSA ISLA del Caribe, es muy bonito hablar de los cubanos exiliados sin tener que vivir la pesadilla del regimen comunista, a TODOS los invito a que cambien su Pais por el divino regimen castrista, y despues de vivir anos alli comuniquense nuevamente a esta pagina y entonces tendran el derecho a juzgar a los gusanos de Miami.y a todos los que estamos de imigrantes en otros Paises, si eso es tan maravillosos porque se les estan exilando hasta los deportistas que salen de Cuba a terceras naciones? No saben todas las escuelas que Martha Fernandez fundo en Cuba? Que lastima me da la ignorancia de otros pueblos... Que DIos los perdone por juzgar tan ignorantemente....A los que hoy disfrutamos de LIBERTAD, MEDICINAS Y EDUCACION... E B. Guest
K.P. from Canada 30-Mar-2007 16:33
What a GREAT album you have here; I really enjoyed browsing the Cuba my daughter LOVES to vacation at... E X Q U I S I T O !
Guest 22-Mar-2007 20:32
abajo la burguesia miamense
Kees Terberg 03-Mar-2007 14:58
Sometimes I wonder. I just spend some time reading through the comments. Thankfully you and I have a similar view of the Cuban Capital and the memories these shots bring back are most likely to be great ones. I am quite surprised that such great shots that captured such a warm and hospitable atmosphere bring out such hard and political criticism from locals and those now resident in Miami. Mixed feelings? Me? Nope, I love these shots. For me these bring back the great memories of a place I loved when I was there. It was not just the scenery but also the people, with whom we danced, shared cocktails, drank coffee, played chess and shared great stories. Thanks for sharing these great moments! They remind ME of the place I visited and which I loved.
Stephan 07-Feb-2007 11:45
jedes bild ein treffer. krieg richtig fernweh. traumhaft.

VENCERERMOS

www.foto-dienst.com
Guest 16-Jan-2007 23:49
fuera de cuba la gusanera y escoria inmunda...
comecongri 15-Jan-2007 23:14
A la gusanera y escoria de Miami...sigan anorando la Cuba de Batista, que ya no volvera mas nunca.
comegusanera 15-Jan-2007 22:29
Jejeje! Como anora la gusanera de Miami la Cuba de Batista, que no volvera mas nunca. Oye, sigan sonando con sus fincas, latifundios, estancias, casas de lujo, y esclavos a su mando. "Ya se acabaron los privilegios, ahora los pobres van al colegio!" La gusanera de Miami no es nada mas que esa carrona humana, esa gusanera inmunda y asquerosa, esa escoria y mafia miamense que aun no puede dejar de pensar de sacar el zumo de la clase obrera.

De paso no soy ni comunista ni socialista, y no es que me guste Don Fidel, porque se dedica al comunismo, es ateo, y ha dejado la fe catolica por la ideologia de Marx. Pero tampoco me gusta la gusanera y la escoria de Miami, la clase acomodada de ayer, los adinerados y podridos que robaron al pueblo cubano por siglos.

Disfruten de estas fotos, mientras puedan, porque bien saben Uds. que los verdaderos cubanos los rechazan a Uds., cachorros que nacieron en Cuba por error.
John Byth 13-Jan-2007 22:37
this is a wonderful gallery_thank you so much
wizardofthelight 12-Jan-2007 11:34
Love your Images
Eduardo 28-Dec-2006 16:54
Maravollosas fotos de Cuba que de ella nos regalan el sabor,a pesar de la distancia.
Joost Bossuyt 27-Dec-2006 23:30
Beautiful portrait of Cuba. Vote.
jc 17-Dec-2006 18:14
hi sharif:
thanks again for your pix and for take part of your time to write back to this lunatics who hate castro, if you look closer the way they write you can see that are the same as comunist as castro is, they're telling you what and where you shoot your pix, how you should feel about it, and what to do in your trips, it's easy to explain, 80% of cubans in USA don't go anywhere, for them life is just to have the right to go to : EL POLLO TROPICAL, NAVARROS, WAL-MARTS and once a year to CARNAVALES DE LA CALLE 8, OR EATING AND TALKING SHIT AT VERSALLES RESTORANT, READ THE SHITTY NEWS PAPER "EL NUEVO HERALD", the salary of 5.50 or 7. 50 in miami won't give too much choices, so when they see this pix they don't think .............i know cubans are suffering the comunist sistem but like i said before: some how is a product of the american goverment and anti-castro groups who do nothing about it, just a bunch of losers,
is funny how the make poetry here talking about the old cuba, the cuba that batista had so pretty, if i would not be cuban, i'd believe that when FULGENCIO BATISTA was in power there were no poverty, every one went to school, health care was the first one in latinoamerica, no one get kill, FRANK PAIS and the rest of young people who died were just part of a comedy, is it true?????????
the idea of the revolution was good, but castro change his mind and betrayed everyone, well sorry, but is still in power 'cause nobody do anything,
so instead of judging this pix and this people trip...take a look at your self,
inmanuel kant said:
people are reasonably justified in believing in them, even though they could never know for sure whether they are real or not. The sense of an enlightened approach and the critical method required that "If one cannot prove that a thing is, he may try to prove that it is not. And if he succeeds in doing neither (as often occurs), he may still ask whether it is in his interest to accept one or the other of the alternatives hypothetically
sharif, next month im going to miami from texas in my car, so im gonna take pix al the way and i'll show to you homes like cuba, same poverty in missisippi, alabama, lousiana, and towns like PERRY in florida, HIALEAH, LIBERTY CITY, and some more, too bad they won't let me take pix of the jail KROME in miami so people can see how they live inside,so you can compare the #1 COUNTRY IN THE WORLD with some others places,jajajaja it's gonna be fun, thanks again for your pix of LA CUBA LINDA DE TODOS, let's hope when comunist in cuba are gone, the others comunist in miami do a better job and don't kill each other for the power, jc
Sharif El-Hamalawi 14-Dec-2006 17:09
Hi Raul and all the others who had mixed feelings having a look at our gallery,

thank you for your comments! I can very well understand your feelings when browsing through our pictures. I guess you are right in many points you raised in your comments. Still, when you travel through the country as a tourist for 18 days, there is not much more you can do to experience a country than keeping your eye open, taking pictures, speaking to a few people and try to get a feeling for the atmosphere. This is what we did. And we enjoyed the atmosphere while we still felt the sadness of the situation the country and it's people are in.

our images are not a political statement. They are just impressions we captured.

All the best,
Sharif
raul jimenez 14-Dec-2006 14:28
Shariff, Yes, nice pix, but the soul you're capturing in the people and the scenery is not Cuba, it's a mask to hide the tears, the repression, and the frustration of living like beggars waiting for the next "remesa" from Miami to survive. Unless you're part of the communist elite and then you live like a king. Cuba was once a country of well-dressed people, enterprising people, and now their spirit is dedicated to survival, to "trueques," to selling stuff underground, and to diving in the Malecon while watching jineteras picking up tourists so they can try and leave the country with the latter. No, this is not Cuba, this is a Zoo, and the tourists like you act as if they were watching apes behind bars, with amusement at the silly things they do to stay alive, and all of it because of a criminal like Castro, with all the criminals who surround him. He's either dead or soon to be. The people will stay in their shell, pretending happiness for crazy tourists who take pictures and can travel to many places they will never see. Tourists who stay in hotels they can never visit in their own homeland. No, I don't like for Cubans to be treated like humans in cages, a la Planet of the Apes. Somewhere you say you can't possibly answer to how Cuba was five decades ago. I can tell you this: that was Cuba, the Pearl of the Antilles, the beautiful island, the second and sometimes first economy in Latin America. All those cars you see were bought then, on the year they came out, and imported from the USA by car agencies that sold cars to any citizen who wanted to buy them. There were prospering business, industry, private enterprise, private property, and the smiles were genuine. Cubans didn't leave the country in rafts. Twenty five percent of the population didn't leave for other countries in search of freedom. You have photographed the Planet of the Apes. Cuba, the real one, doesn't exist any more but was once called the Pearl of the Antilles.
laura elena 05-Dec-2006 03:21
Thank you for your pictures of my beautiful island - it seems you fell in love with her and her people - sure hope you did.

Although I'm an American citizen, after 44 years I still feel exiled. Well, I AM exiled; it was either stay and become the property of the state (my parents would have lost their parental rights) or leave alone and claim my parents. Like many who've written before me, I am a Peter Pan child.

I don't want anyone to fool themselves; Castro was indeed going to terminate parental rights; he had started slowly by sending children to the farms to cut cane and alphabetize the "guajiros". We had the benefit of knowing about the disappearance of many Spanish children who were sent to Russia during the Spanish Civil War, never to be seen/heard from again. - What stopped Fidel was nothing less than "Operation Peter Pan". - and to us who left, he took away our country, our families, our stability, but not our souls.

I am saddened to see my island in such ruins - I remember her vivaciousness, her rhythm, her palms, her beautiful buildings, her modernism, her women walking quickly through Galiano and San Rafael ... I can hear their high heels clicking as they rushed, her men, cleanly shaven and dressed in guallaberas or suits (even in summer!), turning to see a pretty woman pass by and whistling at her (not in disrespect, but in admiration). I remember all that from my childhood. I can feel it in my heart. I remember her happy people - not even Castro has been able to squash her people's spirits - they are still happy, making jokes of their misery, being kind to strangers because to them, they are your hosts.

I am happy that your pictures gave me the opportunity to see my Cuba - she may be old, tired, her buildings pealing like wrinkles on the face of the old - but like a mother who has aged in our absence, our love is intensified by her old age and disheavelment.

I hope you return to Cuba - I hope you take many more pictures of her (if you want suggestions, let me know - I still remember many, many places in Havana). When you get there, tell her the children who left her love her more than ever. Tell her I, Laura Elena, miss her more each day.

God Bless.

Laura Elena

jc 04-Dec-2006 06:18
siempre q puedo vuelvo a ver tus fotos, lastima q al final de nuevo tengamos q ver los comentarios estupidos de esos q dicen odiar a castro, ese q puso "guest", q dice no fue a la escuela por ayudar a su padre a trabajar es un mentiroso, tu dejaste la escuela por estar pidiendo chicles a los turistas, y tampoco fuiste a la escuela aqui en "usa" pues tu ingles y conocimiento estan fatales, tu ni sabes quien es hitler, ni tampoco sabes q osama bin laden fue alumno de honor de la CIA, Q IMAGINO TAN POCO SABRAS QUIENES SON, claro q tambien entiendo q no tienes por q adorar a castro, pero informate un poco para q no se te desarrolle aun mas la acefalitis de la q padeces,
para el cubano:
si, puede q si castro muere sean felices muchos cubanos, pero quien crees q lo haga mejor, el? o todas esas ratas q viven miami?, ya los vere arrancandose el pellejo por el poder, ademas mira las noticias para q te informes lo q hacen los cubanos con el dinero q el gobierno de los estados unidos les da para apoyar el cambio de gobierno de la isla,jajajajaja hasta chocolates , sierras electricas y cuanta basura nesecitaran ,compraron esos bandidos, entonces quien es el bueno?,jajajajaja, es triste ver el gran negocio q hacen tanto los unos como los otros a costa del sufrimiento del pueblo cubano, soy cubano, pero solo veo buitres en los dos bandos, espero nadie mas pierda el tiempo de venir a hablar de politica en este sitio, esto es para apreciar un buen trabajo fotografico y una buena historia en imagenes...............jc
Cuqui Ferer 27-Nov-2006 16:25
Sali de Cuba en el 1960, pense que regesaria pronto, porque nunca me imagine que el odio , la venzanza y el ateismo pudiera mantenerse por tanto tiempo, me equivoque. Gracias por sus fotos, cuando las veo, me imagino que estoy alli, que es el 1959, que tengo tengo 25 primaveras, que estoy joven, llena ilusiones y por un momento soy feliz. Gracias
jc 17-Nov-2006 03:35
good work, don't pay any attention to those stupid cubans, almost 50 years in power and nobody does anything, the anti-castro groups are just a bunch of whores of the USA(and many are full of G-2 agents). sorry if said this way but im just using the freedom they talk about here, im sure they were so happy about posada carriles boombing a plane that killed 73 people, tell me? or the italian tourist in the havana hotel, did posada carriles ever killed a cuban soldier, police or castro's family?,
i only give my supports to those in cuba who got the balls to fight inside the island, or those who lost a family member, every one of you in miami are just making money out of the suffer of the cuban people,
they're talking about RACISM, PROSTITUTION and POVERTY, so is everywhere, even here , take a tour to hialeah or liberty city or newark in new jersey, here in usa the health care system sucks , the school are almost the same shit, a lot of shooting cause the kids here got a spoiled mind,

everyone blames castro for everything, but tell me? would they get on a boat with a gun, go there and fight? sure they don't, it takes big balls, so is the same for all of you,bla, bla, bla and thats it,
maybe the communist system failed for 50 years, same as US GOVERMMENT AND THE ANTI-CASTRO GROUPS that try to break it down, and the people of cuba paid for that, so is not only castro, everyone is guilty,
im not defending castro, im just giving my opinion here,in miami they'd call you communist if you don't think like them, same thing in cuba, i guess with a salary of $5,25 per hour in miami, cubans does not have time to think,
jc 17-Nov-2006 03:28
good pix, me gustan tus fotos, una lastima q existan una partida de comemierdas escribiendo comentarios sobre politica, tanto castro como esos ilusos de miami son tan comunistas los unos como los otros, lleva casi 5 decadas en el poder, y nadie a ha tenido huevos de matarlo,desde aqui(USA) todos son unas fieras y maldicen al castro pero nadie cuestiona la incapacidad de todos los grupos anti-castristas y del gobierno americano para derrocarlo, nadie acaba de darse cuenta q es un gran circo, es una maquinaria de reproducir dinero para algunos q se aprovecvhan del dolor cubano, mis respetos a esos q luchan dentro de la isla, y te repito q tienes muy buenas fotos y no hagas caso a todos esos ilusos, puede q castro genere odio, pero todos esos padecen de un odio ignorante,jc
Herve Blandin 03-Nov-2006 04:58
Sorry about the preceding anonymous comment, so full of hatred, Your gallery is quite a trip for those of us who have not been there, and probably for those who went and reached cuban people across political lines. Thanks!
Guest 30-Oct-2006 01:44
ESTUPIDO is the only word for you ignorance about the regimen more sad fron history .Are concesious about the sad tragedy fron Cuban comon people the have not rigth item to travel to one province to the other they have no food , no medicine not FREEDOM MI LOVELY COUNTRY.I LEFT CUBA AT 17 YEARS OLD I DONT HAVE THE OPORTUNITY TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE I NEED TO WORK TO TO HELP MY FATHER TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILY. I NEVER WENT BACK I DO NOT GO UNTILL THIS KILLER LIKE HITLER OR OSAMA BIN LADEN YOU TITLE IS IGNORANCE
CUBANO 05-Sep-2006 10:08
Guillermo si tu simpatisa tanto con la fracasada revolucion cubana porque en esos de tu viajes a Cuba aprovechas y pide asilo politico que seguro te lo van a dar,no se que sera de ti cuamdo empiece a sufrir de los apagones en pleno agosto,cuamdo tengas depender de una libreta de abastecimiento,etc,etc.En Cuba no hay bloque no confundas las palabras se dice EMBARGO,darle las gracias a tus padres por a ver tenido luz larga en salvar a sus hijos de una dictadura.Fidel tiene que morir para que 11 mllones de cubanos vivan.Guilermo me parece que estas frustrado.
Guillermo Puertas 12-Aug-2006 09:46
Excelentes fotografías, pero les quitan color los comentarios que he leido aqui, excepto el de Ambrosio con el que concuerdo plenamente.
¿Donde estan las fotos de los "miles de millones" asesinados por "el asesino" Fidel?, sin embargo las hay plenty de aquellos asesinados por Batista bajo la complicidad de los gobiernos norteamericanos "que no han hecho nada por llevar la libertad a la isla" como escribio uno aqui. ¿Es que no te acuerdas de la quema de cañaverales, los alzados, la invasion por playa Giron, el avion de Barbados, bombas en hoteles y circulos infantiles y otros actos de terrorismo impulsados por los gobiernos norteamericanos contra Cuba?
Yo tambien soy emigrado, mi familia emigró al principio de la Revolucion con la tristemente celebre operacion Peter Pan, mis padres se horrorizaron de que a mi y a mis hermanos nos enviaran a la Siberia, despues todo resultó ser una burda mentira como muchas de las que se dicen de Cuba, Fidel, la Revolucion, etc.
Gracias a Dios mi madre empezó a abrir los ojos y a tomar una actitud de acercamiento a la Revolucion, luego mi padre le siguio los pasos y nos transmitió lo mismo a nosotros sus hijos. Hemos visitado mucho a Cuba, no paramos en los hoteles, sino vamos a las casas de nuestros parientes alli y hemos podido saber bien de donde vienen las dificultades.
Es increible que los comentarios aqui no hablen del bloqueo que le tiene impuesto USA a nuestro pais con el que sufre el pueblo y es la causa de que la economia este por el piso y los edificios se esten cayendo en la Habana entre otras cosas. Es increible que la mayoria de los cubanos en el exterior apoyen la politica del gobierno norteamericano a la isla con la que sufren nuestros familiares alli. Es increible que la gente en Miami baile y celebre cuando Fidel esta enfermo, el hombre que ha logrado una seguridad social en su pais que no la tiene ningun pais en America Latina.
La vida en Cuba no es color de rosas, estoy claro de eso, pero que se levante el bloqueo y se restablezcan las relaciones entre USA y Cuba sin condiciones y con respeto a la soberania de Cuba, entonces veremos como iran las cosas.
Seguro que mis comentarios levantaran ronchas, sobre todo en un lugar tan "democrático" como Miami.
H.L.Tam 23-Jul-2006 09:21
You have a great gallery and captured the beautiful way of life in Cuba.
morganrs 22-Jul-2006 14:23
Sharif,

This is an exceptionally interesting gallery. Excellent people shots with incredible backgrounds. I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Thanks
Ross
Marc Demoulin 10-Jul-2006 20:08
You perfectly captured the essence of this country.
Marc
Galina Stepanova 04-Jul-2006 23:15
Nice gallery of impressions from traveling. I have never been in Cuba, but I wish one day.
You gallery leaves positive impression of friendly people on streets which stay the same for dozens years, old cars, a lot of sun.
Well done, photographers.
Leylla, Sweden 26-Jun-2006 16:05
Your pics made me miss Cuba more than ever, went on a trip across half the counrty 1½ years ago and that was the best thing i've ever done in my life.
Nice work!
Gil Azouri 19-Jun-2006 22:48
Nice work!
Marcos García 20-May-2006 16:18
Great collection of images. Well done.
Sabina Salihbasic 19-May-2006 14:51
senor el-hamalawi, esas son fotos tan maravillosas :) usted es un fotografo excelente :)

wirklich tolle galerie, einfach zum geniessen! lg, sabina
karen 10-May-2006 18:33
excelente pagina. bien cerca de un dia ordianrio en la habana. el fotografo realmente captó " el alma del momento"

cubana,habanera, exiliada.

fidel, desaparecete!!!
Rita 08-May-2006 14:48
Mario es muy trite ver esa Cuba destruirse por un demente que a llenado la isla de carceles y solo habla mierda .Yo soy habanera fuera de la isla y sufro mucho la decadencia de una ciudad que era prospera antes del 59 ,era Cuba mas desarrollada que muchos paise de america con televisor, ferrocarriles,etc y ahora es la mas atrasada de toda america pero yo no pierdo las esperanza de ver una Cuba libre y cuamdo esto suceda volvere a mi PAIS. Por eso yo digo abajo la dictadura yel comunismo.
Mario Soto 06-May-2006 16:27
I was really saddened when I saw these pictures. Buildings with beautiful Spanish architecture in old Havana, Santiago, etc. totally dilapidated; the looks of the people with hardly nothing to wear. Homeless people in the USA look better than today’s average Cuban. It also struck me to see the number of people just standing around or just sitting around, doing absolutely NOTHING. This looks nothing like the Cuba I left 44 years ago when things were already bad. Little did I know how much worse they would get.

The Venezuelans, the Bolivians, etc. should see these pictures but they should also see pictures of Cuba before the “Revolution.” That old Cuba with all of its faults: the Batista dictatorship, the corruption and the rest of things that were wrong with it was a paradise compared to this nightmare created by nearly 50 years of Communism and dictatorship by a single madman.

The one success I can credit Castro with is that he succeeded in making all Cubans the same: no more rich class, no more middle class, there is not even a poor class; just one desperately poor class.

It would have been interesting if the photographer that took these pictures had taken pictures of inside of Cuban homes with Cubans sitting at the dinner table; of the inside of Cuban jails and of the political prisoners still rotting in those jails after 40 years in prison and of the new ones filling those jails whenever Castro feels threatened. One thing pictures can never capture is the lack of freedom, the oppression of man and the repression of free thought.

How very sad!!! I truly feel sorry for the Cubans left in the island and very grateful to live in this country: the land of the free. Gob Bless America!
Guest 23-Apr-2006 02:08
The poverty and injustice reaped upon the people of this nation are inexcusable, and any "Che Guevara t-shirt wearing ignoramus" should really do just a little research: instead they should (and would, if they informed themselves) campaign against the murder of the innocent and of those who disagreed with the homicidal anti-free speech, anti-human rights Che Guevara, and those like him i.e. Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler to nmae a few. If these anti-freedom bigots and racists really need to have a hero of "Latino" descent, they would get more sympathy from and educated audience it they were to use (iconize) someone who stood for good and actually did good. There are many, but I guess it shows their true colors and loyalties. What a shame.
Laura 18-Apr-2006 08:58
Aberto que VIVA CUBA LIBRE sin F.... y entoces seran libre nuestros hermanos .Abajo la dictadura
alberto e silva 12-Apr-2006 04:15
as a proud cuban, exiled for almost 40 years in this country , i omly ask for a free cuba, migth some day , not to far away god will please us w/ freedom , hopefully, we 7W/ OUR BROTHERS& SISTER IN CUBA CAN FORM A BETTER WAY OF LIFE, QUE VIVA CUBA LIBRE !
laura cubana 30-Mar-2006 14:11
margarita estoy de acuerdo comtigo soy cubana y estoy fuera de cuba pero volvere cuamdo eso cambie ese es mi pis ,pase mi niñes , mi juventud y parte de mi aductes ,tengos a mis padres enterrados alla y parte de mi famlia viven ahi .tengo que vover gracias margarita
laura cubana 30-Mar-2006 14:01
ambrosio no hables mierda eres un comunista ,nohables del pasado el presente es lo que importa el pueblo de cuba es el que sufre en la actualidad yo soy cubana y lo he sufrido.pero mi pai es bello,su gente,sus playas,et.te digo una cosa soy habanera de pura sepa y habia que ver la habana antes del 59 ahora dime tu quien a destruido esa ciudad .no toques ese tema
Larry Lam 15-Feb-2006 11:44
Lovely gallery
David Hernandez 30-Jan-2006 01:05
I would like to thank you for allowing me to recreate my homeland with my own eyes. I left Cuba 8 years ago because of all the reasons that you denunciate here through your pictures. I do not have any doubts that we, the cuban people will find a resolution to our problems, by embracing all cubans from all over the world, from inside and from exile. Make no mistake, Castro will die and cubans inside will learn how much they were deceived about their history and everything. Then, we will be thankful for the few that dared to show the reality of cubans, not just taking pictures of the tourist sections, but taking pictures of regular everyday realities is very admirable. Keep up the good work and supporting my poor people, so the world can help the ending of their misery.

Viva Cuba Libre!
margarita 29-Jan-2006 18:15
Gracias Sharif y Alex por las fotos. Gracias a los comentarios sobre estas fotos he tenido la oportunidad de leer el articulo de T. Dalrymple "Why Havana Had To Die" http://www.city-journal.org/html/12_3_urbanities-why_havana.html) y estoy totalmente de acuerdo. A eso debemos agregar que la gran clase media de La Habana abandono el pais despues del triunfo de la revolucion y que sus casas y propiedades fueron distribuidas entre los seguidores de la revolucion, en su mayoria los mas pobres e ignorantes, que no tenian idea de como cuidar o mantener lo que habian recibido. Indiscutiblemente la situacion es mucho mas compleja que los que las fotos o los comentarios reflejan: esto es solamente la punta del iceberg. Me he quedado atonita con los comentarios de algunos compatriotas que viven fuera de Cuba y que creen saber todo lo que pasa alla, somo si tuvieran una bola de cristal... De los cubanos en Cuba se dice que les han lavado el cerebro, pero los que no viven en Cuba lo tienen lavado tambien, solo que son incapaces de reconocerlo.
Nelson 25-Jan-2006 00:09
Nelson 1-24-06

It is incredible to see such a dilapidated island. I see pictures from the old Cuba and the old Cubans and it is a whole different world. Amazing and sad to see how things have changed for the worst and to realized all we lost from our beautiful Cuba. I thank my parents for the memories they were able to bring when we came to the United States in 1967.
Daniel Sosa 21-Jan-2006 02:52
Sharif,thanks for walking me the streets of Cuba.
Well done,keep shooting.
Sharif El-Hamalawi 08-Jan-2006 17:38
Sara,
Kees put it right. We met with and talked to a number of locals and had dinner at several "paladares" - for people who have never been to Cuba this means you eat practically in the living rooms of local people who cook for you in their private rooms. Sometimes without light when power is down again.

Still we know that we made only brief glimpses into the life of regular cubans - just as much as you can see in a 16 day vacation. Nothing more. I know that regular lifes has facettes which are not displayed in our gallery.

Best regards,
Sharif
Kees Terberg 08-Jan-2006 13:18
Hey Sharif, I guess that I agree with Sara on some points but you have indeed captured an ambiance that I experienced while visiting the place. You captured the freindly people, the classic architecture and cars, the place where time has indeed stood still since the 1950's.

"Pictures are nice but the whole story is not there. Would have been nice to visit some of the Cuban people at meal time and shoot some photos at the dinner table."- Sara, true indeed but you need to get invited and be able to take pictures. We were invited and had dinner but the last thing on my mind was taking photographs. Not every tourist will be able to take up an invitation to share dinner with a local family... unless you spend more than a few weeks there. 16 days to visit La Habana, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey, Trinidad, Playa de Ancón, Santa Clara, Remedios, Varadero and the Pinar del Rio Regiondoes not leave much time for socializing and building up relationships with the locals. We spend 2 weeks in Havana with a day trip to Varadero. Regardless, you captured Havana and I love it. Well done!
Sara 07-Jan-2006 18:43
"Cuba: Where Time Stands Still." (Nice title for a movie, wouldn't you say?)
My sister and I were also Peter Pan Children and still suffer the bad effects of that time period. My sister has transformed her extra bedrooms to pantries and has them stocked with food in fear of going hungry. We were 13 and 14 when we left Cuba and after 5 years our parents joined us. "Thank You" Revolution for ruining so many people's lives. I recently spoke with a woman that had recently visited Cuba and some of the horror stories she came back with would make anyone cry. Cubans have found a way not go hungry and fill their stomachs by eating BURLAP (fabric). If this does not make you cry, I don't know what will. I still have relatives there and my heart breaks for them. Coming from a hard working middle class family from La Habana, I never experienced hunger until after the revolution started. People on the Island that are under 50 years old do not know how it used to be before the revolution. All they know is how things are during their life time which is not having much of anything, that is a normal way of life for them. They don't know any better. Many of the Cubans that had been waiting for things to change so that they could go back and at least visit their homeland have passed away. For the Cubans that left at a younger age, maybe we will be the ones to do so.

Pictures are nice but the whole story is not there. Would have been nice to visit some of the Cuban people at meal time and shoot some photos at the dinner table.

Sara
Alina Gattorno Press 07-Jan-2006 16:43
With your photographer's eye and talent for composition, you captured a piece of my heart. I am one of the children of Peter Pan -- one of 14,000 who were saved from Castro's demonic clutches between 1960 and 1962. Although silver now highlights my black hair, and I live a prosperous, happy and productive life fully ensconsced in capitalism, the ten-year-old girl in me yearns for a return visit to the place of my birth. Your sensitive camera lens managed to help me retrieve not only faded memories, but also a yearning for the pre-Castro joie de vivre, the Cuban spirit, music, humor, and, above all, the freedom that is the piece of the puzzle missing from your photographs. Thank you, Sharif, for your lovely pictorial. Oh, and I would invite you to make a return visit, to live the life of a typical Cuban citizen for a year, with all its attendant repression and deprivation, and take snapshots of your daily, hopeless life. Then, we would all truly see the complete, authentic picture.
Noridia 07-Jan-2006 15:04
Lo que pasa con todos estas gentes que van a Cuba y la encuentran maravillosa aunque la pobreza existente la tengan en sus mismas narices, es que nos ven a los cubanos como algo inferiores a ellos y para nosotros esta bien, pero si les sucediera lo mismo en Europa o de donde vengan entonces si que seria dificil de soportar, y en especial en Europa ( donde yo vivi asi que no me pueden hacer cuentos) se creen el cuento de la Buena Pipa que el gobierno de Cuba le hace al mundo de sus avances y de que antes de la Revolucion todo era peor.
Josefina Pomares Casanova 06-Jan-2006 20:48
Maravillosas fotos de una isla maravillosa . Es una verdadera lastima que no hayan captado la verdadera historia detras de tanta belleza. Historia de horror para tantos millones de cubanos que nos rebelamos ante el comentario de los que no saben nada de nosotros pero se creen con derecho a opinar.
Manuel 06-Jan-2006 03:01
I left Cuba in 1960 as a teenager. It make me sick reading Mr Ambrosio comments. It is obvious that he has never lived in Cuba under the opression of demonic Castro. Education in Cuba was free from grade school all the way to the University. There were schools in the country side for anyone that wanted to attend. All public hospitals were free. Since Fidel took power there is no liberty or justice in Cuba. Just think of those thousands of cubans that risk their lives in an inner tube to scape from Fidel Castro's "workers paradise".
Larry Lam 28-Dec-2005 16:38
Lovely gallery
Sharif El-Hamalawi 24-Dec-2005 07:55
Hi Kees, what a honor having you commenting on my galleries again :-)) I adore your photographic work! Yes the profile photo was shot at the Malecon. It shows me with some boys who I photographed jumping from the wall into the water. A Merry Christmas to you and your family! Sharif
Kees Terberg 24-Dec-2005 00:23
Fantastic images and I wonder why I had not stumbled acros this portfolio before. This really is a visual treat for anyone who has been to this magical country. You captured it beautifully. ps. Was the image that you use for your profile shot at Malecon?
ambrosio 21-Dec-2005 15:16
Fotos muy bonitas, perdonenme si os doy mi punto de vista sobre vuestros comentarios:
Todos se recuerdan de la "libertad" de antes 1959, nadie se recuerda del hambre, de los campesinos explotados hasta la muerte, del analfabetismo, de la dictadura de Batista... Si los paises "desarrollados y civilizados" llegan a exportar la democracia en Cuba antes que hayan definitivamente destrozado el mundo, espero que traten de no derrocar las pequenas conquistas echas por los pobres cubanos que permanecieron en la isla, y de no hacer un nuevo Iraq...

"la historia del genero humano es olvidar..."

Saludos

Un agronomo que tuvo la suerte de conocer la Isla hace algunos meses y estudiar y trabajar y vivir junto a los campesinos. Les perdon si mi castellano no es tan correcto
maria 10-Dec-2005 18:20
Imagnes pateticas,solo persigues mostrar lo peor de mi isla,envidia de muchos.
Edwin Rosa 27-Oct-2005 05:32
Your pictures are ABSOLUTLEY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watching your pictures gives me such a strong yearning feeling to connect with MY PEOPLE on the island.

I got a bit teary eyed watching the photos.

Thank you so much for sharing your amazing photos.

Un afectuoso abrazo,

Edwin
Marta 08-Oct-2005 06:18
If you visit the Basilica de la Macarena in Seville you will find the most beloved virgin of Andalucia, la Virgen de la Macarena. She is a "dolorosa", or sorrowful virgin, and although beautiful, is in tears. So these picture remind me, of a beautiful place in tears. It did not have to be this way. When Castro came to power in 1959, it was Fidel, Camilo y el Che - but greedy Che got rid of Camilo because he was loved. It is ironic that in some of these galleries they've had the audacity to position Che facing Jose Marti who, if he could rise to life, would have Che disappearing out of that island.

Beautiful pictures - too bad all the money that is taken in does not go to the decent Cubans. It is apalling to find men going to Cuba to sleep with women because some people are starving and decide that there's money in "tourism". But I too am guilty of looking in here. Mixed emotions indeed.
Nila Dorian 12-Jul-2005 19:57
Thank you very much for sharing those wonderful pictures, the photos are excellent, I only hope that someday I will be allowed to visit that wonderful country, would be like a dream come true. Cogratulations,
Nila Dorian
ENRIQUE FRANCISCO DENIS BOZA 25-Jun-2005 11:09
ESTO SE PODRIA DESIR CON POCAS PALABRAS GRASIAS POR SU TRABAJO LAS FOTOS SON MARAVILLOSAS

LO QUE SIEMPRE SE DIJO ESTE CASO CON SU HORROR NOS DEMUESTRA POR SI MISMO LOS FRUTOS DEL COMUNISMO ODIO MISERIA Y TERROR

LA BIBIJAGUA
Martha Pardiño 02-Jun-2005 19:01
THE PHOTOS ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!! I WAS BORN IN LA HABANA AND LEFT MY COUNTRY IN 1962 IN PURSUE OF FREEDOM.
I CRIED AND CRIED WITH THE PICTURES: I COULD NOT RECOGNIZED BY BEAUTIFUL HABANA. SINCE 1959 BUILDINGS, HOUSES, PARKS, HAVE BEEN LACKING OF REPAIRS AND PAINT. MY BELOVED CITY LOOKS LIKE A PLACE DESTROYED BY A WAR.
LA HABANA WAS ONE OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT CAPITALS IN THE WORLD. AT NIGHT WAS A FANTASTIC PLACE TO GO TO A CABARET, TO THE MOVIES OR JUST TO TAKE A WALK IN THE MALECON. TODAY IS A SAD CITY WITH NO LIGHTS, NO PEOPLE IN THE STREETS AT NIGHT. ALL HAPINESS IS GONE.
I WILL COME BACK TO VISIT MY COUNTRY WHEN THE TYRANT IS OVERTROWN OR DEAD.
THANK YOU FOR THE PHOTOS.
MARTHA PARDINO
Ramon J. Gordillo 16-May-2005 21:38
Sharif:

I was born in Cuba many years ago and it make me sad to see the run down condition that Cuba is today. I have pictures of Cuba in the 50's and 60's that truly show the country as it was. Beuatiful and prosperous. Cuban people have always been nice and hispitable to all no matter what the situation is.

Thank you for taking the pictures, but you should look at old pictures and compare what comunism has done to a mangnificent country. It is sad. I hope you enjoyed your trip to the country.

thanks

Ramon J. Gordillo
Atlanta, GA
Albert 13-Apr-2005 18:56
I'm a US-born Cuban, living in US, and thankful that I live in Freedom. It makes me sad to see what was and the condition of Cuba today, for what? Its evident in these pictures that Cuba's buildings were made arguably architectually advanced and are in a current Harlem state. Maybe I'm alone in this but it makes me mad to see the poor run-down condition of everything in Cuba (but I do thank you for the pictures). The people in Cuba have always been friendly with much hospitality. I feel like it was an isolated George Orwell experiment. Political unity within our hemisphere and neighbors is a challenge but needed to prosper. The current gov't. in Cuba is a crazy idiolism that has proven globally unsuccessful, the people enriched in Anti-Castro paranoia, snitches and over-policing. "Take from the rich and give to all equally" was a lie and more like "take from the rich deprive 99.99% of the population and give to only the top military and government officials".

I'm Cuban and thankful that I live in Freedom. Everyone needs to stop blaming the US embargo for Cuba. The only answer is to allow a Free-Thinking (Free Speaking Society) to express itself through Free elections without fear. Only then will repression cease, free market conditions return, and maybe in time an independent well run friendly, market-driven capitalist government.
Guest 22-Feb-2005 17:41
To Shrif and Alexandra,
This gallery has sent myself to the streets were I played, and also lived, when I was a child. Your work really has impressed me because of the feelings that can get outside from a cuban like me. Thank you a lot for this great images, I hope you could continue with this work in any other spanish spoken country,
Miguel de García
--------------------
To the people that talks about how is Cuba,
I left Cuba many years ago after my family lost all because of the revolution. I have suffered about what happened but I suffer more when people that doesn't know how was and how is my country. In my mind is written every single thing Castro has done but I can't forget what USA does. I can't justify Castro but most od the poverty is because Cuba is an island and the resources are limited so it needs to trade with other nations and while USA continues blocking those relations nothing can be done. I don't agree with comunism but I can't understand why USA tries to eliminate every single different way of living around the globe. None of the spanish spoken countries where USA is involved has get a better economy and poverty is increasing continiously (Panama, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuator, Peru... ) and also some are losing their identity (Puerto Rico, Philippines).
For me was very thirsty to change my life of working to live to live for working, Now I see others that are in the same situation as I was and I understand why many aren't as happy with their lives as they had in Cuba, is difficult to start from the ground but is impossible to forget your country. Looking from outside I'm not sure that a 180º turn is the best for our country I hope that things go step by step by in our own way.
I hope with a free Cuba but I don't want my country to become the 52th State.
Linda G 11-Feb-2005 09:19
This makes me grateful to be an American and at the same time, very ashamed as an American. We whine because all that we have is never enough, and yet the humble faces of Cuba are a result of poverty forced on them by their own government. These people have a special place in my heart. We could learn much from their humility. As a whole, we Americans take so much for granted. While the photos of the landmarks are beautiful, the smiles of the people are far more precious.
Lourdes R 06-Feb-2005 18:32
I was 13 years old when I left my native Havana 43 years ago. I recall the magnificent architecture and beauty of the city...I showed your photos to my grown children and told them to "put rosed colored glasses" and imagine HOW it WAS...I could see myself driving down Malecon when the waves were so gigantic that it engulfed the car as we drove through...I hope to return one day...but not until everyone on the island enjoys freedom...Thank you for bringing me back home through your pictures...
Eddie 27-Jan-2005 01:29
Congratulations. Enjoyed your pictures. Mixed emotions. Is amazing how a country can be totally devastated by a nonfunctional government/system, and at the same time this system can not change the identity of the people. Maybe one day Cuba will again be The Pearl of the Antilles. Until then thank you Sharif for giving me the opportunity to see my country.
Joe A. 26-Jan-2005 06:22
A Dark Corner Near Home

During the inauguration speech President Bush issued a pledge to spread liberty and freedom "to the darkest corners of the world". I say, "Mr. President, before you take out your official white house globe and start looking for the darkest corners of the world, there is this dark spot just 90 miles South of Florida that has been ignored by every President since Kennedy, how about turning the liberty lights on there! I have heard the people are just as hospitable as Texans, and they do a mean barbecue too!"

Thanks for the pictures!
Luis dlM 25-Jan-2005 23:55
Although the many pictures taken of Cuba (Havana, Camaguey, Santiago...)are quite beautiful, it is indeed sad that they readily reflect the terrible erosion the country and its people have suffered in the name of "communism" and an "equitable society".
As I hear so many times expressed: "it is easy to be a commandant, a revolutionary, and a great leader in Cuba, when you don't suffer in your own skin the poverty and sacrifices the people go through in that country". It is also a shame that these remarkable photos don't compare what Cuba used to be--a paradise for its citizens and visitors alike, and a jewel to the rest of the world. Where has all that gone ?...
I hope that intelligent people all over realize the decrepit state of lifestyle currently existing in Cuba, where people are willing to everyday risk their lives to escape their so-called "revolution"--this cancer is now trying to spread into wonderful countries with decent people like Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil, Central America. May God protect us !
ADRIANA 11-Nov-2004 01:53
I got this link from a co-worker and couldn't help but send back the comment below. Most everyone thinks these pictures are great, but it is so obvious that people don't even know what was there "before"-I thought it was very sad to see what our country has been turned into. We have lost almost 50 years of progress. Sorry for the dissertation, but I know you all sympathize.




My comment on the photos:

I can't help but comment: It's really too bad that they do not have any "pre-Revolution" photographs to show the "before"-these are great pictures but they don't really show what was once a thriving, beautiful, advanced nation. Unfortunately, the Cuba of today has been turned into a "third world country" with no freedom, widespread poverty, and despair for most, and benefits only for those sympathizing with the Communist government and tourists that bring money to the island. These bring an incredible amount of sadness.

It will take a very long time to restore what was once there (in all aspects culturally, socially, architecturally, and on and on). I hope that I can see it as it once was some day.

Adriana




Adriana M. Santana
Guest 23-Oct-2004 21:49
Very good shots. Downloaded a few. There is a deep sadness in seeing what totalitarian ineptitude and deliberate dereliction has brought to my native country and especially to Havana. Whole pages or urban history crumbling day after day under a personal dictatorship that has filled the despot's pockets with billions stashed away in foreign secret accounts, properties and even businesses around the world. Big crime indeed, perpetrated under the indifferent eyes of the world. Shame. ================
martha 20-Oct-2004 14:47
HELLO, JUST GOT A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR CUBAN PHOTOS. LOVED THE PICTURES OF THE VINTAGE CARS, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WHEN I FIRST VISITED CUBA THREE YEARS AGO. MY PARENTS ARE BOTH CUBAN AND SO I GOT TO EXPERIENCE IT FIRST HAND THROUGH THEIR EYES, IT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL FOR ME. I AM A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER, I PHOTOGRAPH IN BLACK AND WHITE THEN HAND COLOR THE PHOTOS WITH OILS. I TOOK A LOT OF "PERSONAL" PHOTOS WITH NO THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING THEM DISPLAYED. SO FAR MY PICTURES HAVE BEEN EXHIBITED IN NEW YORK CITY, NYACK, NEW YORK AND THEN GOING TO FRANCE. IF YOU LIKE, CHECK IT OUT http://www.photographybymartha.com/ AND CLICK ON "OTHER" CATEGORY.
THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR PHOTOS.
Sid Luis 19-Oct-2004 02:30
You can say so many thing about how was Cuba before and after Castro that the imagination of pro and con can be fulfill of interpretation without any doubt. "Why Havana Had to Die" by Theodore Dalrymple is an article the made me feel proud and sad at the same time how Castro destroyed so interesting and beautiful city: Havana. A paraphrase of the article and link to the whole article is submited:
"But Havana was a large city of astonishing grandeur and wealth, which was clearly not confined to a tiny minority, despite the coexistence with that wealth of deep poverty. Hundreds of thousands of people obviously had lived well in Havana, and it is not plausible that so many had done so merely by the exploitation of a relatively small rural population. They must themselves have been energetic, productive, and creative people. Their society must have been considerably more complex and sophisticated than Castro can admit without destroying the rationale of his own rule."

http://www.city-journal.org/html/12_3_urbanities-why_havana.html



rainer 12-Oct-2004 21:44
congratulations!
i was traveling in the east. join my pictures at:
http://www.cubalibre.ch/fotoalben/showgallery.php?cat=625
Todd Bennett 10-Oct-2004 14:18
Great photos. Makes me wanna go back asap to add more photos to my gallery. Have a look at mine here: http://www.pbase.com/jeweller/havana__cuba
Cuba-Junky 10-Oct-2004 04:39
Great shots!
Thanks for sharing
Manny 30-Sep-2004 00:35
I think you have done an important job of documenting the current situation of the cuban people. I think it is important that the world see how life really is inside of Cuba.
Cubans are, by nature, happy, freindly and very out going individuals with a zest for life, music, creativity and a desire to grow as individuals. These qualitites are but a ghost in your picture essay of life in Cuba.
As I look at the faces of the many people you were able to photograph, I see kindness in their eyes, but I also see a resignation to a life of no hope, of no opportunity, of mear existance.
I thank you for documenting the lifeless life of my brothers and sisters under the longest dictatorship in the history of the world. May it end soon!
ramón vázquez 28-Sep-2004 06:41
Your gallery is fantastic, but lacks a few points like: Cienfuegos, my hometown, named
"The most beautifull city in Cuba" (and still is). Also you should have shown the stores
where the Cuban people buy their groceries or clothes and the DOLLAR stores for Tourists
(Diplotiendas) where no Cubans are allowed to purchase, even if they have dollars, and also the new RESORTS/HOTELS, again for Tourists only.
For those that do not know too much about CUBA before Castro, I advice them to read the following book "CUBA, PURSUIT OF FREEDOM" by HUGH THOMAS, professor of History at the UNIVERSITY of OXFORD IN LONDON, and member of the LABOR PARTY. Edited in 1970, 956 pages.
And for those who want to know the ACTUAL way of living in Cuba, I recommend them to read: "THIS IS CUBA -An Outlaw Culture Survives" by Ben Corbett, and independent reporter
who lives in Colorado, and spent three years travelling to CUBA. This book was published in 2004 by Westview Press (www.westviewpress.com)
These two books might help some ignorant people like Bart Simpsom making such stupid comments like "10% of the people lived like Kings and the rest starved". Cuba was the exception to all poor countries because of a very strong and large middle class.
I am an example: My father was an inmigrant from Spain at the age of 16 (in 1904), he
worked himself up, raised a family of 6 kids, all of us of whent to College, paid by my father. I am Mechanical Engineer (Retired) and left CUBA in 1971, at the age of 36.
So I know how CUBA was before and is now. By the way, I had to work for 36 months in a forced labor camp to EARN the CUBAN VISA to leave the Country. That is the PARADISE
that CASTRO sells to the World, and that Mr. Simpsom thinks it is wonderfull.
Sharif El-Hamalawi 28-Sep-2004 06:28
First of all, thanks again for all who have commented on our pictures and expressed their various opinions and those who have sent me emails to express their feelings.

Since some appear to read any kind of political statement from this gallery I just want to clarify that I restrained from making one since I only visited the country for 17 days which is clearly not enough to "know" what is going on. Of course this doesn't mean that I do not have an opinion. I believe in democratic values of free speach and personal libertiy (as long as no one else is negatively affected by the liberty someone takes).

Please just take our pictures as what they are: a documentation of what we saw during our journey. We talked to quite a number of native cubans during our stay and they had quite some stories to tell so we have an idea how difficult life can be in that country. Nevertheless it appeared noteworthy to me that the people we met were very friendly and overall a positive attitude was present on the street. The miserable economic state of the country and it's people is easily visible from the images, though.

Kind regards,
Sharif
Sam Whitley 28-Sep-2004 05:35
Your photos of Cuba are well executed and very evocative. You speak of a happy people, but in your photos I see mostly decay and despair. I have a good friend who once was imprisoned in Morro Castle after "La Revolucion." He tells a different story of what WAS and now IS typical in Cuba. If you did not go out of your way to pick your shots, I see abject poverty and a land that stopped living in 1960 or so... one that has regressed into an earlier time out of necessity. And while many of the people are smiling, I see inactivity. And lines outside a bakery??? Who outside the Soviet bloc countries remembers when most of the world queued up for bread? My friend's father, who was finally allowed to emmigrate to the US some 10 or more years after the revolution entered a supermarket in Louisiana... nothing special, mind you. He stopped in his tracks. When my friend asked him what was wrong, he turned, tears in his eyes, and said, "in ten years, I have not seen this many fruits and vegetables together in one place. I just want to stay here and enjoy the sight." Yes, "La Revolucion" was successful... all you have to do is look at the photos submitted to see that.
MTD 22-Sep-2004 15:36
To Bart Simpson - You have no idea what the hell you're talking about. It is very easy to have opinions about situations which one has never experienced. Cubans on the island are repressed, the country is a picture in time lacking in progress, there is no liberty, no freedom, no resources, no opportunities, just a sad and resigned population who do try to make the best of what little they have. As you sit there and dare talk about "bitter" people, think of everything you have, beginning with the freedom to express your ignorant opinions, which the people of Cuba do not have. I am certain that I know many more Cubans who have lived and still live in Cuba, and they would be appalled to read your comments. I've never before spoken up about this issue, but I'm tired of hearing and reading such ignorant statements as yours.
Mario Diaz 20-Sep-2004 00:18
To the person who thinks he knows about the Cuban population before Castro... There was no significant level of hunger in Cuba prior to Castro's takeover. There are now people who die of starvation there. If you are not aware, Fidel Castro has become one of the richest men in the world and it's all due to the blood of his people. If he is such a socialist why is he a billionaire and why are there people starving in Cuba? It's good to express an opinion when you know the topic but when you have no idea what you are talking about you just look ignorant. This message was meant for a person who calls himself "Bart Simpson" and does not have the guts to use his own name.
Bart Simpson 14-Sep-2004 22:11
To all the bitter people who talk bad about their motherland Cuba. You obviously missed the point. What the revolution did is create a scociety of utmost gentle spiritual moral decent people. A lot less can be said about you individuals who have not lived their lives but are critisizing from a far and confortable place. The revolution has not failed Cubans. The causes for it's lack of material sucsess are to be found 80 to the north of Cuba. What was life like for 90 percent of all Cubans living prior to the revoluion. The 10% of the population was living like kings while the others rotting in ignorance and poverty. Sitting back watching their country beeing sold pice by pice to the yankies. The revolution has brought dignity to theese people. These are things most of you "former" or whanabe cubans who have grown up in the abundance of material goods endless greed dont understand.
rick 14-Sep-2004 19:13
Most of the countries in the world are 2nd world countries. Is he/she only suppose to take pictures of countries where the health care and education system is great? That sounds stupid.
Sonja 13-Sep-2004 09:25
Dear Realia2,

I really would like to point out that I know Sharif and his Mrs. (as you called it) very good and that they are friends of mine. I am pretty sure that both of them know the big difference between enjoying a country as a tourist beside of living there (especially if it is a very poor country like Cuba). But I can assure you that Sharif & Alex have the mind, eye, understanding and the sensitiveness to see the country as it really is. I really enjoyed the photos - I have never been there but I am sure it is a beautiful country).

Best regards,
Sonja
Realia2 10-Sep-2004 20:05

You may have gotten many "votes" on the photographs you took on your recent trip to Cuba.
People might have voted on your work, which is fine. But those people haven't felt the pain of the soul of the citizens who wear ragged shoes, torn clothes, and empty stomachs, while the so called "foreign photographers", walk around in designer clothes and shoes,drive latest model air-conditioned rented cars, use state of the art equipment,
eat at the best restaurants and hotels forbidden to Cuban citizens who inhabit delapidated buildings, lack air conditioning and drive "antique cars", not because they are collectors, but because they have NO CHOICE. Also taking your Mrs. along, may have seem wonderful company while many others just go to Cuba to profit from the economic need
and the hopeless life of many young women, who although highly educated, do not see another 'way' to add a dollar to their meager way of life and have resorted to prostitution as the only solution to their hopeless existence. To those who like your photographs I say: "Go to Cuba and live the life of the average citizen. Live with the people and among the people. Experience their misery, stand in the long lines for a meager piece of bread...and try to give your opinion if you oppose the government...You will probably rot in a prision if you speak your mind against the regime!" So I say to those who enjoyed your work as an art form? "What is art without a feeling and compassionate heart?" Depicting the reality of a country takes more than the eye of a camera...it takes the eye, the mind, the generosity and the will to change what is not
just and to help those who need a hand. It takes the strength to put yourselves inside those people's ragged shoes and lives adding understanding, compassion and kindness to their visual reality.
Brussels Sprout 02-Sep-2004 23:17
Nice gallery, although a bit of selection in the 300 pics wouldn't harm.
Got my vote.
If interestd, please visit my Cuba gallery, or my other travel galleries (Spain, Morocco, Malives, Scotland, Italy, etc.)
dpullem 02-Sep-2004 06:06
Beautiful.... I enjoyed seeing Cuba through your images. Look forward to more.

Don
Rochester Hills, MI
Didier Vanderperre 02-Sep-2004 02:34
I got to your gallery from your post on DPreview
Very nice pictures of Cuba, You got my vote.
Jaxa 31-Aug-2004 17:14
very nice pictures . thnx for share.
Guest 29-Aug-2004 00:05
I thank you for portraying the misery of my country and the fatigue of my people, once again. These pictures won't be the last of this kind, as my country seems to be submerged
in a "way of life" that will take many decades to erradicate. It is not only the economic factor and the lack of freedom, but the growing accustomed to seeing dirty streets and deteriorated buildings that have permeated a tremendous anguish in the Cuban soul. I pity the new generations...children born under an oppressive system and to parents who dared to bring them into this microcosm of our world under such circumstances where the spirit is not respected and where most young citizens cannot develop the essence of their own potential.--------------------Forty-three years ago, when I was thirteen, (in 1961), MY PARENTS left their beloved Havana, their family and friends and the comfort that they had worked for for many years to give their only daughter the chance to grow up in a FREE society. As the years went by ,their parents and most of their relatives and friends,
passed away in Cuba, while they waited for a CHANGE. My own parents are no longer alive.
They are burried in the sands of Miami where they had hoped until their eighty's that "things" would get better in their Motherland. --------The faces I see in your pictures do not really smile...They might be kind and jovial because they are ignorant
that your camera equipment cost $2,000.00. You could have given up picture taking. With that money you could have fed a family of four for two years! But people like you are like a Catch 22 type of deal: We have to thank them for bringing these memories to us, while THEY are the ONLY ONES WHO REALLY ENJOY BEING IN CUBA and while the people "pose"
truly ignoring how miserable they are...YOU manage to SMILE , really smile, in the
MIDDLE OF SORROW. I, as a PETER PAN, CHILD, who is alreay a Senior..., haven't been able to smile at any of the pictures of my TORN COUNTRY.
Guest 28-Aug-2004 23:57
I thank you for portraying the mIsery of my country and the fatigue of my people, once again. These pictures won't be the last of this kind, as my country seems to be submerged
in a "way of life" that will take many decades to erradicate. It is not only the economic factor and the lack of freedom, but the growing accustomed to seeing dirty streets and deteriorated buildings that have permeated a tremendous anguish in the Cuban soul. I pity the new generations...children born under an opressive system and to parents who dared to bring them into this microcosm of our world under such circumstances where the spirit is not respected and where most young citizens cannot develop the essence of their own potential.--------------------Forty-three years ago, when I was thirteen, (in 1961), MY PARENTS left their beloved Havana, their family and friends and the comfort that they had worked for for many years to give their only daughter the chance to grow up in a FREE society. As the years went by ,their parents and most of their relatives and friends,
passed away in Cuba, while they waited for a CHANGE. My own parents are no longer alive.
They are burried in the sands of Miami where they had hoped until their eighty's that "things" would get better in their Motherland. --------The faces I see in your pictures do not really smile...They might be kind and jovial because they are ignorant of
that your camera equipment cost $2,000.00. You could have given up picture taking. With that money you could have fed a family of four for two years! But people like you are like a Catch 22 type of deal: We have to thank them for bringing these memories to us, while THEY are the ONLY ONE WHO REALLY ENJOY BEING IN CUBA and while the people "pose"
truly ignoring how miserable they are...YOU manage to SMILE , really smile, in the
MIDDLE OF SORROW. I, as a PETER PAN, CHILD, who is alreay a Senior..., haven't been able to smile at any of the pictures of my TORN COUNTRY.
Sharif El-Hamalawi 28-Aug-2004 13:55
Dear all, I can hardly express how glad I am that you like our images. Especially the ones who come from this colorful country. I very much understand how painful it must be for you to see your country from which you were driven and to which you can not return in this state of material poverty. It is a real pity.

Just to give an example from my perspective: It was a strange feeling for me to photograph that guy with his antique camera who earned his living from his photos and I shoot with a several thousand dollar gear - just for fun. This gives you some food for thought if you are sensible to such matters.

On the other hand I was amazed by the positive attitude and easiness of the Cuban people who generally approach strangers like us in a very warm and open way.

I actually find the question what the life of these people might look like if the last 45 years would have been different most interesting. The answer, though, I do not have.

All the best,
Sharif
Frank Thomas 28-Aug-2004 13:36
Thoroughly enjoyed viewing these images, .... will come back for more.
Thanks for posting them.
Isabel Cutler 28-Aug-2004 10:48
Dr. Diaz-Secades has stated much of what I observed in your moving pictures. What amazes me is what outstanding mechanical skills and inventiveness these people must have to keep all those antique vehicles going. I hope someday their country can be returned to its former beauty and freedom and prosperity will reign for all.
Isabel
Luis Diaz-Secades 27-Aug-2004 19:35
As a photographer You have done a wonderfull job indeed, You have captured the moment and one of the saddest moments in the pages of history of my beloved country. After forty seven years of
"progress" by the Cuban Revolution you have captured, delapidated buildings, childrens with no clothing, archaic methods of transportation, young men playing dominoes on the street with no work
to do, and worst of all with no future. I must conngratulate you because I know that without intention
or perhaps knowledge you have shown the world thru your camera what the most ruthless and longest lived Conmunist dictartorship of America can do to its people. Don't be fooled by the smiling faces of the people, Cuba is a sad country.
Thank You
Luis A Diaz-Secades MD.
Tamacun@earthlink.net
Luis Diaz-Secades 27-Aug-2004 19:35
As a photographer You have done a wonderfull job indeed, You have captured the moment and one of the saddest moments in the pages of history of my beloved country. After forty seven years of
"progress" by the Cuban Revolution you have captured, delapidated buildings, childrens with no clothing, archaic methods of transportation, young men playing dominoes on the street with no work
to do, and worst of all with no future. I must conngratulate you because I know that without intention
or perhaps knowledge you have shown the world thru your camera what the most ruthless and longest lived Conmunist dictartorship of America can do to its people. Don't be fooled by the smiling faces of the people, Cuba is a sad country.
Thank You
Luis A Diaz-Secades MD.
Tamacun@earthlink.net
Women Digital Photographers 27-Aug-2004 18:52
very nice. thank you for letting me see cuba through your eyes. you captured every aspect. i feel like i have met new people and and walked the streets of cuba. ~~april
http://www.pbase.com/w_d_p/april_sims
Ciro Alvarez 27-Aug-2004 15:51
Great pictures, it's a lovely country. I would hate to think what it would look like, and what life would be like for its woderful people, if the Revolution, with its forty five years of progress, had not happened. Ciro Alvarez
andre 25-Aug-2004 16:40
Sharif - Beautiful photos! You really captured the essence and feel. I hope one day that we'll be allowed to visit that country that is so rich in history and culture!
Volker Hett 24-Aug-2004 21:01
Great pictures, now I know that traveling to Cuba with a D60 is much better than staying in germany with a MkII :-).

Got two month to learn some spanish.
Sharif El-Hamalawi 22-Aug-2004 12:24
Many thanks for all of you for your kind comments. It makes us very proud that you like our photos in which we tried our best to capture the spirit of this country and it's people.

I still have only uploaded about a third of the selection - only the first days in Havanna. I intend to upload many more pictures of the other places we visited later today and during the next week...

All the best, Sharif
René Gysi 22-Aug-2004 11:35
Nice gallery with a lot beautiful photos. Hope i can visit one time this wonderful country.
Mandy at Hokkaido 22-Aug-2004 11:28
all i know about cuba is they are good at playing volleyball only. but after viewing your gallery. it helps me knowing much more about this place. thank you for posting them. they are very nice. have a good day, mandy
gina_dl 21-Aug-2004 20:12
very nice images-thx for sharing
It really seems a photographer's heaven if you're looking for colorful scenes and lovely people
gina
pepelu 21-Aug-2004 18:02
Has pleased me a lot, greetings
click on thumbnails for full image