Cuba
Siesta
Clip clop. Clip clop. The omnipresent sounds along rural Cuban roads. Horse drawn taxis are among the most common means of transportation for rural Cubans. Why would people still be using this 1800s-style of transportation?
When the Soviet collapse in 1991 occurred, so did Cuba's primary aid and trade ally. Cuba fell into further isolation having already tarnished relationships with the United States in 1960. Fewer and fewer cars and buses were being imported. For most, a new car was out of the equation. Government permission was required which usually was granted to the elite (cronies or those working in development and high end tourism). An old, barely functioning car would go for roughly $10,000-15,000 -- the average wage a Cuban would earn over 20-25 years.
Cubans are not an insipid bunch. Instead of truculent resistance, they tapped into their unflappable resilience and decided to re-integrate horse-drawn carriages and bike taxis that didn't require fossil fuels. After gaining traction, in 2010 the government officially recognized these small, private enterprises to ameliorate the plagued transportation shortages. Today, they are ubiquitous. Remarkably, as cars continuously whiz by, the horses seem to stay focused. I was told accidents do occur and horses can be literally run into the ground with exhaustion just to make ends meet; however, many owners treat their horses well knowing they are integral to their livelihoods. Pictured here are two men taking a long siesta in the heat of the day at Playa Ancon. Tunes blasted from an antiquated radio, a few shots of aguardiente (cheap rum) were thrown back, and they bathed their horse in cool waters. We chatted, they offered me a swig of rum out of an old plastic water bottle and kindly requested me to take a seat. I happily obliged. Just another day in the life trying to get by. At least it is a wonderful setting!
