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It was around 11 p.m. We had been walking for more than five hours through that city of cobblestone streets; I had lost—literally—the sole of one of my shoes, and Yoha and Natasha, my two expedition buddies, were dreaming out loud of a nice basin of warm water to soak their feet. Alain, our photography director and the only man along on this adventure, was carrying all of his equipment, which weighs some 24 pounds, as he well knows.
For a shorter way home—you can call it that in just a few hours—we decided to be innovative, and wandered down a number of dimly-lit little streets. Alain was the only one who protested: the street was dark, something might happen to us, we should take the main road, he’d heard some stories…. A roar of laughter broke the silence. We screamed and jumped, and after a few seconds we were able to identify the source of that surprise. The sound had come out of a classic Trinidad window where an elderly woman, having fun at our expense, informed us: “Listen, you Havana people, you can walk along fearlessly without looking over your shoulder. This is the most peaceful city in the world….” And she was right.
While preparing this issue, which we are dedicating especially to Trinidad on its 500th birthday, we found a city both traditional and modern, where prosperity and beauty coexist. In Trinidad the locals share their space with visitors in a wholesome, natural, and reciprocal way. We bring some of that to you in an article about the city’s history, architecture and people, and also in our proposal for a tour of the city stopping at excellent places that are must-sees when visiting Trinidad.
We also recommend our interview with Alexis Valdés, a Cuban actor and host of one of the most celebrated Latino TV shows in the United States, who is now performing to acclaim in Miami theaters; a look at the life of Yarisley Silva, pole vaulting champion and a singular woman; an analysis of the buying and selling of homes in Cuba; and an expert’s perspective on the Cuban economy in 2014. Other features include the history of the famous Hotel Capri; and the life of a very special dancer, Tania Álvarez.
We are bringing you this special edition inspired by our visit to a Cuban city that you have to experience for yourself. Through the pages of our magaizine, we would like to invite you to do so.
