Cuba: open borders, open opportunities

Cuba, for many Americans is a mysterious and forbidden place. Few have had the opportunity to travel to this country due to the blockade from the embargo that was put in place by John F. Kennedy in 1962. As a result, our perceptions of this island rely heavily on images from schoolbooks and the media. Thinking about Cuba, for some, conjures up ideas of an isolated island filled with communism, decaying buildings, and a land of revolutionary icons like Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. Andrei Cranach, 42, a director of photography working in Cuba on the production of an episode of “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” stated that he “had this old, antiquated, communistic Russia, third-block view of what Cuba might have been like” until he visited in person. This is when he saw the amount of invention and commerce happening as well as how heartwarming and open the Cuban people were.

Today, Cuba is changing. While still very nationalistic and filled with revolutionary spirit, it is opening up to Americans and the misconceptions are being challenged. During a single week in Cuba, many historical firsts occurred that highlight the demise of the old embargo.

The film “Fast and Furious 8” has become the first Hollywood studio film to go into production on the island since the embargo was instituted. In the fashion world, Chanel moved into the popular Cuban boulevard of El Paseo del Prado to produce its first fashion show in Cuba with many celebrities in attendance including Vin Diesel, the star of “Fast and Furious 8.”

The first cruise ship since 1978 docked in Havana, arriving from Miami with 704 passengers aboard. Even the Kardashians have managed to become part of history by filming one of their episodes in Havana. All of this has followed the historical visit in March by President Barrack Obama, who has taken a lead in normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba.

I encountered many Cubans who said they want changes to come to Cuba in the form of economic opportunities. The embargo has taken its economic toll and limited the prospects for Cuban people on the island. Some Cubans mention that the main reason people try to leave the island is for economic opportunities, but they still look forward to returning to the island. Cuban President Raul Castro has helped to slowly open up economic opportunities for the Cuban people starting with giving people the ability to engage in self-employment in 2011 as opposed to state run economics.

In addition, Castro announced last Tuesday that Cuba will legalize small and medium-sized private businesses. Opportunities within Cuba from the improved relations between them and the US are sure to bring many more changes down the road for the Cuban people.

In the end, with all the difficulties that they endure, it is the words of Cuban Poet José Martí that sum up their patriotic spirit: "Our Wine is Bitter, But it's our Wine".

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The Corsair on Cuba: a Photo Slideshow

A woman dances to a group of musicians playing different instruments at the end of the May Day march in Havana, Cuba. Jose Lopez

Cuban youth gather along the Malecon after swimming in the ocean in Havana, Cuba. Jose Lopez

A man repairs a tire by adding tread to an old tire so it may last longer than what it was originally designed to support. Jose Lopez

A Cuban man repairs the spokes on his pedicab bicycle while friends socialize on the sidewalk in Havana, Cuba on May 2, 2016. In 1962 President John F.Kennedy officialized the embargo against Cuba which has inspired a local culture of ingenuity where repairing anything and everyting has become the solution when replacing is not an option. (Jose Lopez)

Classic American cars can be seen crusing by some Cuban construction workers who are on a break from working on the restoration of a colonial building across the street from a revolutionary mural of Che Guevara in Havana, Cuba on May 4, 2016. The city is in the midst of an urban transformation as many colonial buildings are being worked on to bring them back to life from a condition of decay. (Jose Lopez)

A boy plays on the rooftop of a building in Havana, Cuba. Jose Lopez

Taxi drivers gather near the Capitolio building with their old American cars waiting for tourists who are interested in touring the city in one of these iconic classic vehicles. Cuba has an amazing amount of cars from the 50's and 60's eras that add to the islands unique character due to the imposition of the embargo in 1962 which prevented American companies from conducting business in Cuba. The vehicles have been kept operational largely through island ingenuity and custom manufacturing of parts. Jose Lopez

A woman gathers along a street in Old Havana while being dressed in a fashion that represents the United States flag. The U.S. flag is interestingly popular in Havana and can be found in many forms which include fashion, on pedicabs, and on air fresheners in cars to name a few. Many Cubans share that their issue is not with the American people but rather with the embargo and American policy that unjustly limits the opportunities of people on the island. Jose Lopez

A man sits on the rocks at the malecon seawall area enjoyng the ocean view along with fishermen and divers in Havana, Cuba on May 3, 2016. The malecon is a popular social destination for many Cubans who may have plenty of time to spend but little money. In the day its a place for bathing, while at night the sidewalk along the malecon will become active all night long transforming into social hotspot alternative to clubs. (Jose Lopez)

Youth play a game of soccer on the streets of Havana, Cuba. While baseball is the popularized sport of Cuba it is soccer that was the sport more often found throughout the streets. Jose Lopez

A man steps away from his work of sorting fruit in a small produce market to answer the phone where hanging above him is a portrait of Fidel Castro. Jose Lopez

Young school girls filled with energy cheer patriotically as they participate in the May Day march in front of the José Martí Memorial Monument at the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana, Cuba on May 1, 2016. Hundreds of thousands of people participated in this years May Day celebration that exhibited a strong patriotism and joyful commitment by Cuban citizens to their country as they carried banners and signs with images of revolutionary heroes and messages. Jose Lopez

Luis Yanez Aguilar, 72, hangs the Cuban and American flag to greet the first American cruise ship arriving in Havana, Cuba in almost 40 years. Jose Lopez

A colonial building that is almost completely restored can be seen behind an old building still in decay in Havana, Cuba. Jose Lopez

A man walks by a collapsed building in Havana, Cuba. Jose Lopez

A "Fast and Furious 8" film crew member walks around the perimeter of the set located in the China Town area of Havana, Cuba. Jose Lopez

Two police officers guard the set of the movie "Fast and Furious 8" being filmed in Havana, Cuba. This movie is the first major Hollywood production to be filmed in Cuba since the normalizing of relations between the U.S, and Cuba by President Barack Obama. Jose Lopez

A crew of women scrub clean a street in Havana, Cuba. Jose Lopez

A man marches with his child on his shoulders in front of the Ministry of Interior building in Plaza de la Revolución during May Day in Havana, Cuba on May 5, 2016. Starting at 4am the streets began to fill with people til they were packed for miles with people celebrating the day with patriotic fervor. (Jose Lopez)

A woman plays dominoes with friends at a community space in Havana, Cuba. Jose Lopez

Cubans line up to take pictures of and view the cruiseship Adonis, run by Fathom Travel, docked in Havana, Cuba on May 2, 2016. This is the first cruiseship to make its way to Cuba since 1978 carrying a total of 704 passengers from Miami. (Jose Lopez)

Cubans gather at the "15 y 18" park in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana to take advantage of a public Wi-Fi hotspot signal that allows them to get online with their phones and laptops. Available for almost 2 years, Wi-Fi internet access is relatively new on the island at a cost of $4.50 to foreigners and $2 to Cubans per hour. Wi-Fi access has become so popular that you can find crowds gathering all day and night around hotspots situated near parks, hotels, and other locations. Jose Lopez

A man looks up from his reading in the shade as the bright sun shines in Havana, Cuba. Jose Lopez

People begin to gather in front of a popular diner on Obispo Street in Havana, Cuba. While located in the middle of a very tourist heavy zone the restaurant could be seen serving mostly local Cubans setting it apart from other businesses that seem to be more tourist driven. Jose Lopez

A man exits a building with his bike as another man picks up and holds his pet rooster joyfully. Jose Lopez

Youth playfully pose in front of the camera as they walk down a street. Jose Lopez

Men gather outside as a fumigation machine spews out toxic smoke that fills the building behind them with it overflowing onto the street. Jose Lopez

A man shuffles dominoes before beginning a game at a community space in Havana, Cuba. Jose Lopez

A man fishes along the Malecon in Havana, Cuba. The Malecon is a place where you will find all types of people that include fishermen, swimmers, romantic couples, tourists, musicians, party people, and prostitutes all taking advantage of what this beautiful seafront area has to offer them. Jose Lopez