Planet Hoppers | March 2019

March 2019

As the new season springs new life, excitement, and adventure, it is a great opportunity to view the world with new eyes and perspective. My hope for this Spring is for us to be open to our curiosity, try new things, and take that leap.

FEATURED TRIP OF THE MONTH

GABRIEL'S PHOTO JOURNEY OF CUBA

Itinerary

Full Interview Transcript

To see more of Gabriel's photos click on his Instagram, Facebook, or Website

Gabriel Rojas recently chatted with me about his trip to Cuba in 2015, before the travel restrictions were lifted. He shared many fond memories and a few of his amazing photographs. He is a very talented travel photographer and his work truly captures the heart of Cuba.

"Their spirit is incredible despite their lack of basics, their poverty, and restricted lifestyle. They are just the friendliest and happiest people. I think people do themselves a disservice by not going to Cuba." - Gabriel

"I had no expectations before going to Cuba, I just thought it would be an exciting new place to visit. I went with an open mind. The airport we flew into was very old, not modern at all, but as soon as you leave the airport, you start seeing all the antique cars. It was like stepping back into history, back to the 1950s. We had a vintage car ride arranged for us. In fact, we had to get three of them because there were so many of us and we all traveled in a procession - that was fun. Our car ran out of gas because none of the meters or gauges worked in these old cars, including the speedometer. We pushed the car to the side of the road and when our driver opened the hood, I saw this lawnmower-sized engine running this massive car! Eventually, we found some guys to give us gas so we could keep going."

"I enjoyed Fusterlandia, home of the famous artist Jose Fuster. His home and work compound are open. This was a great example of how we got special treatment. We got a personal tour because his son was friends with our guide and he made it more than just a typical walk through the yard. He really got into his father’s history and opened up to us. I bought one of his tile paintings and that was really cool."

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"The people were just so beautiful, friendly, welcoming, and lovely to be around. I found them very approachable. They wanted to share their stories and be heard because they’d been isolated from the rest of the world for so long. One gentleman in Trinidad, Carlos, was my favorite portrait subject. He caught me taking a photo across the courtyard so I put the camera down out of respect. He waved me over and we had a long conversation about his life there and my life in the United States. I’ll never forget that guy. They are just incredibly warm and amazing people."