This edition of Crackpots, TrueAnon's weekly newsletter, is free for non-subscribers. To get all past and future editions of Crackpots, subscribe to the Crackpots tier.
***
Hello friends,
YC here. As you probably already know, Brace and I recently traveled to Cuba with the Nuestra America Convoy, where we recorded TrueAnon episodes 532 and 533. Today I'm sharing my full photo journal from the trip. These images are a mix of digital (Fuji X100VI) and film (Leica M6TTL, Voigtlander 35mm f/2, Kodak Ultramax). All photos were taken by me except where noted.
***
Our journey began in New York, where we boarded a flight to Miami.
There was a gun store across from the smoke shop where we stored our luggage.
We went to dinner at a Cuban restaurant, Versailles, which is a popular gathering place for right-wing Cuban-Americans.
A pro-Trump, pro-regime-change demonstration was beginning outside as the sun set and we waited for our table.
Night fell as we ate. I saw through the window that the demonstration had grown, so I went back outside to take more photos.
A car crashed right across the street. The demonstration continued.
The next day we flew to Havana. I took in the scenery through the window of our bus from the airport to the hotel.
Soon after we arrived at the hotel, we headed to the Palacio de Convenciones for an assembly with the Nuestra America convoy delegations and representatives of the Cuban government.
That night, we had dinner with David and Matt of Progressive International for dinner. Jeremy Corbyn joined our table, too.
We started off the next morning with a walk around the neighborhood.
It was hard to resist taking photos of the cars. Since the blockade prevents Cubans from importing new models, they are forced to rely on vehicles from the 1950s-era USA or from the late USSR.
Because of the blockade-induced gasoline shortage, there were few vehicles on the streets and trash collection had halted.
There were artisans selling their work along the boulevard, but few tourists around to buy it.
We made our way to Calixto García Hospital, where we spoke to Dr. Juan Guillermo Sánchez and residents about the difficulties of providing care under the US blockade.
We traveled to the offices of Belly of the Beast, where a press conference was held with Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba's deputy foreign minister.
The weather was beautiful. We had lunch at a nearby restaurant and met a cat.
The Pabellón Cuba is a large, open-air event space. We ran into David Adler outside.
We interviewed Dr. Mitchell Valdés-Sosa for episode 533.
As the sun began to set, we walked around Havana's waterfront, the Malecón.
That evening, David Adler organized a gathering at Casa Benito Juárez, which belongs to the Mexican embassy. David addressed the gathering alongside Mexican ambassador Miguel Díaz Reynoso.
That night, the island was largely without power. We walked the streets with only our cell phones and my camera flash lighting the way.
The next day we visited the pediatric wing of the William Soler hospital.
This 17-year-old patient was on a ventilator following a brain hemorrhage. His mother sat by his bedside. When the power goes out, the hospital staff have to manually pump the ventilators while they wait for the backup generators to kick in.
This 10-year-old boy, Carlos, has cystic fibrosis. Because of the American blockade, he is unable to receive Trikafta, the medication he needs. After our visit, Brace was able to have some Trikafta delivered to Carlos.
We had lunch with Daniel Montero before recording an interview with him for episode 532.
As the sun went down, I took one more walk around the waterfront.
I saw a young man posing on a motorcycle for a woman who was taking his picture. I asked if they were getting good photos, then said goodbye. A moment later, he called me back and asked if I would take his picture. I gave him my Instagram and sent these to him later.
The next morning, we left Cuba and returned to Miami.
Then it was on to Dallas to attend CPAC. But that's a story for next time...
Until then,
YC