Santiago de Cuba, Cuba - The real Cuba

Baracoa - an idyllic place to rest

There is no better way to meet and understand Cuban culture than by staying with a Cuban family in a homestay or casa particular. Through close contact with local people, I was be able to learn first hand about their customs and form lasting friendships, giving me new perspectives on life. For more details about how to stay with Cubans, visit, www.takeyourtimetravel.com.

Cuban life is lived on the streets. One of my Cuban friends living in the UK told me of the first morning he woke up in the UK and looked out of the window. He thought there had been some sort of security alert as the street was empty and nobody was to be seen. He found it hard to believe that this was how we lived.

In a country where the climate dictates that windows are paneless and doors permanently open, where kids are not holed-up playing computer games, and where a lack of telephones requires much face-to-face interaction, Cuba is a great venue for photography. I try to avoid the clichés and photograph what I think tells the best story.

Each time I try to bring back to my own country some of the positive things I encounter on a trip.