US in Cuba
Vol.1, Issue 1 (Summer '13)
Walking Tour of Havana Vieja
After hours upon hours of bag checks, custom checks, and plane delays, we finally got the chance to explore beautiful Havana! This is where our journey truly began. It's true what they say. Walking the streets of Havana is like stepping back into time. The cars, the buildings, and the people were beautiful. Overall, the people of Havana were happy to see us in their country. They seemed to take pride in the fact that we could have gone anywhere else, but we chose to visit Cuba.
Sabado de la Rumba at Palenque
After exploring the city, we got a chance to share one of Havana's richest traditions. Rumba! It's not just a dance, it's a way of life. The dancers used their bodies to tell us stories. There were many tourists in the audience, and some of us did not speak Spanish. It didn't matter. Their movements spoke to us in a way that language could not translate. Not only did the dancers tell their stories, they invited others in the audience to dance with them. I believe they wanted to know our stories too. Dance can be interpreted in many different ways, but rumba is only rumba when your movements allow you to share who you are with others.
