Photographs taken with my mobile phone, Xiaomi Redmi 10 C, model 220333QL. š
When I stepped out around midday, I had two things in mind: first, to visit someone whoād been recommended to me to repair the inner tube of my bicycle, which had split in rather dramatic fashion. The place was in a neighbourhood called āEl Fanguitoā, roughly 10 kilometres from homeāperched on the fringe between the Playa and Vedado boroughs. The second task was to return quickly to tackle a few household chores. What wishful thinking! Return quicklyā¦ of course, as if. I didnāt even pack my camera in the rucksack to avoid temptation, but I had my phone. Change of plans. š
When I was less than two blocks from my destination, I came across a man of about sixty, utterly exhausted, dragging a flat-tyred bicycle. He said he'd walked all the way from LĆnea Street and that the repairman wasnāt working that day. Luckily, he was close to 26th Street and had been told of another place in that area. I had no way of helpingā¦ so I offered him some encouragement and asked further ahead to confirm the locationāthey said it was at 26th and 17th.
26th and 17th. Vedado.
While I was waiting for that disaster to be fixed (wait, Iāll show you in a minute), a man passed by selling cremitas de leche. My mouth watered, but I held back. Another man from CamagĆ¼eyāor Iām not quite sure where he was fromātold me the story of his life in under fifteen minutes, family drama and all. I told the repairman he had lovely eyesā¦ Then an elderly gentleman turned up joking and said that he avoided getting flats on his bike by using the straps from travel bags, he tucked them inside the tyre. The man whoād been telling me his life story asked me, quite excitedly, if Iād ever seen those Kevlar anti-puncture strips that go inside the wheelsā¦ All in all, very entertaining. And I took this photo.
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It turned out a bit rough, but it looks fineājust like a friend told me that evening when I showed him how the job had come out.
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šÆ I just hope itāll come in handy when things get tight, at least.
š Round here we patch things up here until thereās no fabric left for another fix.
Right then, I headed off for lunch. The place, which just days ago had been piled high with rubbish, was decent today. I liked seeing it that way. It was the view from where Iād decided to fuel up the body a little.
Hijos del Maltrato (Children of Mistreatment)
Itās written there on the wall. I donāt know the address, though Iāve got the exact location saved on my phone. Hang on.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2bwKKKHvL5hkrJVP9
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Pizza, malt, and a little dessert with fruit inside, š¤¤ so tastyā¦ ended up being my lunch. I also picked up a can of condensed milk to make flan at home. Might feel inspired to show you the process one of these days, but no promises.
The photos that follow were taken at an industrial-style spot on LĆnea and 18th, where fairs are held and some members of the Cuban Fund for Cultural Assets set up their tables and stands. It wasnāt crowded at all, but I wandered over to a few out of curiosityāand even picked up a few little things.
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I bought some handmade soap and this balm for my lipsāthey get terribly dry in the sun.
I was near the MalecĆ³nāso, by the seaāand pedalled along it for a bit, heading toward 23rd and O, where I was supposed to meet a friend, Azrael. He was stuck in an endless queue at an ATM trying to withdraw some cash. Ahhhā¦ but I was feeling so artistic, taking photos, that time simply dissolvedā¦ and Azrael ended up going off to get his shoes without me. He wanted the money for some MTB trainers. Cyclists are like thatāthey love collecting cycling gearā¦ hahahaā¦
Riviera Hotel. MalecĆ³n and Paseo. I filmed a silly little video here, but I've already left that behind in the Spanish digital realms. š¤£
I had to stop again... the scene was so full of colour. I took several shots, but this oneās my favourite.
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A little further on, after passing Avenida Gāor the Avenue of PresidentsāI stopped again while cycling along the MalecĆ³n. The sky looked so strange... and a few wood pigeons were pecking at the grass in this abandoned children's park.
NenƩ Traviesa Children's Park. https://maps.app.goo.gl/QtCwCyxdwfyPF8jZ7
The white walls, the painted figures, the silence, the sea breezeā¦ it was a whole cluster of sensations I felt there. Thatās why I sometimes lose all sense of timeā¦
These days, my intuition speaks with striking clarity and forceā¦ itās as though Iāve come close to touching something that belongs to another world, somewhere distant. As if there were no time, no space, as if I were about to draw back a curtain thatās been there all along, concealing my deepest longing.
Itās a sense of peace settling inside meā¦ a thought so clear, so soothing. It leaves no room for anguish, it fills me with confidence, makes me feel strong, whole. And so I smile. I look up at the sky, at the sea, and I give thanks. Thereās comfort in walking, in watching the great skein of thread unravelāguiding me through this labyrinth towards one outcome only: safety.
I swear that after taking this photo, I climbed the slope of 23rd Street brimming with inspirationāyet didn't take another shot. It was time to head home.
My smart watch says I cycled about 27 km. It reads almost everythingāthough thereās always something left outā¦ like the beat of my heart when my mind is flooded with the loveliest thoughts ;) Memoriesā¦ certaintyā¦ and a sudden, radiant joy that always makes me smile and sing as I ride.
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Comments (10)
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Even with a phone your snaps are bloody good! Have to say I love the atmosphere captured in the first image, and the dark angry skies in the landscapes ones.
keep calm and keep those lips moist !
Haha, alright then. Iāll believe it. Thank you! š The most important thing is that I was in great spirits all day, even though the sunās a bit intense here... But later, as I was reflecting to write this post, those good vibes came rushing back. I absolutely loved sharing them.
Good job! glad you did
Well done with the phone... if you take the camera, you won't come home, ha ha ha, that's what I would do, ha ha.
The sky really is strange, impressive.
My favorite... the third one, it won't let me load the image, ha ha ha, that red contrasts really well.
They did a good job patching it up, it reminds me of my brother when he used to patch it up at home, he would puncture it all the time, ha ha.
Those buildings before the photos of the red car... wow, I love them, especially the white one.
š Hello, Amonet. I hope that what wasnāt shown at the time has now come to light. I canāt really tell which one is your favourite, since the images are divided between the main onesāwhich are largeāand the small onesā¦ or perhaps all of them in general. I donāt knowā¦ Iām feeling sleepy, and at the same time, I wish I could head out on my bike to the beach or a river...somewhere to cool off. āļøš²š
Ah, so you liked that view of the Hotel Rivieraā¦ it seems someone else here found it striking too. Itās such an interesting piece of architecture. š
Creo que ahora si!! Esta!! jajaja has las dos cosas... pero descansa.
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WOW!... Impressive shot my friend!... Sending big appaluse!
https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nanixxx/EoEq62UG6GRrK6oSX8bjLL35tuijZmTC3CXnKh9qqSMZdUCdVeUYdJQSceggHxuB7Mb.JPG
Thanks for the applause. This hotel has some lovely angles to experiment withā¦ ;)
Feliz domingo, maestro.
Cool pictures you did! Havana looks different!
Pues es ella, la misma que viste y calza. Gracias. ĀæEstĆ”s bien?
Amazing Shots, just amazing !DIY
Thank you, @goga22 āŗļøš²
Hi @nanixxx, I seem to remember a photographer writing that she'd lost her passion, her gaze... it certainly wasn't you.
A big hug.
So kind! āŗļøš Thank you, always.
šš¤š
You know once you say it on the chain, it becomes real and you have to deliver... Just saying
Here it is, I'm just missing a film director. š
Ā”Joder! ĀæEstas fotos con un celular? Sinceramente eres de otro planeta, tĆŗ mente tiene unos Ć”ngulos increĆbles.
Eres una crack, buenĆsima...š
š Buenos dĆas, el paisaje ayudĆ³.