Columbus landing site draws photographer to Cuba
Two trips to Cuba were not enough for Cliff Goosmann. Two years after a 2013 trip to Cuba, he returned, touring Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and Baracoa, by way of the countryside, drawn by the opportunity to return to a part of the country with historic allure.
Goosmann, of Montgomery, will share his photos as part of the Photography Club of Greater Cincinnati’s annual Travel Series at Sharon Woods. The program, at the Sharon Centre, 11450 Lebanon Road, begins at 7:30 p.m. on April 7.
Throughout March and April, local photographers will share their adventures through photos that represent their travels across the globe, and include scenery, local residents and wildlife, among other representations of cultures worldwide.
Here is a look at Goosmann’s show, “Cuba 2 - Cuba Oriente (Eastern).”
Where did you travel, and when?
“I went with the Santa Fe Photographers Workshop (SFW) to Cuba Oriente, the eastern half of Cuba for eight days in early December 2015 just a few months shy of two years since my previous trip. We visited Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Baracoa and the bucolic countryside in between.
“I had been to Cuba twice before and wasn’t planning to return but then I received information about this trip which would be to what is considered the most interesting part of the island. Oriente is known for its physical beauty, cultural diversity and historical significance, and also where Columbus landed. It is less visited by travel groups so offers ideal opportunities for photographers.”
Describe your trip.
“We flew from Miami to Santiago, Cuba, for several days, then off to Baracoa and back to Santiago to fly home. Each morning we were up before sunrise for dawn patrol to capture first light. Our group had its own bus for the duration of the trip so we were able to take numerous journeys to various sights. Side trips included a visit to fort El Morro, a trip to the ferry that took us to the island of Caya Granma for lunch and a tour.
“We typically went to an exotic location for lunch and tour then back to town for walking tours. We took a boat ride up the Yumuri River and into the canyon. Another visit took us to the river Miel where we all donned bathing suits or shorts, shoes suitable for walking in a river, and began our journey.”
What was the highlight of your trip?
“The most exciting part of the trip had to be walking in the Miel River near Baracoa. As we walked along we were in the river with the locals and able to interact with them, see their homes and understand how the river was a part of their lives.
“The river was shallow so there were no bridges; roads came down to the water and picked up on the other side. People just pushed their bikes through the river while others were pounding their laundry with a wooden paddle and laying it out to dry on flat rocks.”
What would you like visitors to take away from your presentation?
The eastern section is very different from the rest of Cuba in culture, landscape and lifestyle. It is mountainous, primarily agricultural, and more Caribbean than Cuban. This section of the country is still living very much as they did in the 1950s with numerous horse-drawn carts, bicycles, motor bikes and very old trucks and tractors.
“The people are even more pleasant and very friendly. For me it was well worth the visit.”
The Photography Travel Series is a free program, open to the public, though a valid Great Parks of Hamilton County sticker is required for entry to Sharon Woods. They can be bought at the park for $3 a day, or $10 for the year.
The travel series is celebrating 25 years as part of the club that was established in 1951. The Photography Club of Greater Cincinnati meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Evendale Arts Center, beginning at 7:30 p.m. This is a change from its previous schedule and location in Wyoming. Annual membership is $35 for an individual and $50 for a family.
Sharon Woods Travel Series
March 10 – Cliff Goosmann, “Cuba 1 - Havana and Countryside”
March 17 – Ed Soldo, “Iceland ... a Road Trip”
March 24 – Alan Lloyd, “The Grand European Cruise”
March 31 – Cliff Turrell, “The Emerald Isle (Ireland)”
April 7 – Cliff Goosmann, “Cuba 2 - Cuba Oriente (Eastern)”
April 14 – No program
April 21 – Neville Duffield, “Ethiopia”
April 28 – Mike Rank, “Cruising the Mediterranean”