socke Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 Peter, you'll have lots of oportunties to use the FX01 there, Cuba was the sole reason to buy a Contax TVS (film) for me and it was worth it. You didn't mention if you travel individual or if you booked a package, if packaged there should be tours to several nature reserves available. I visited a friend who studied tourism (they call it International Leisure Studies) and was at the University Camilo Cienfuegos in Matanzas for one term. The University has a very nice botanical garden, close to the University is the Rio Canimar where you can book what they call ecological boat tours (with a loud band and a stinking diesel engine to avoid any close encounter with wildlife). My friend visited several wildlive and nature reserves which were set up to protect the species only found in Cuba. I had a Contax G2 with 28/45/90, a Contax TVS and a Canon D60 with 24-85/70-300. Next time I'll leave the tele at home and take a wide for the dSLR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 Peter, Just want to wish you luck. There are millions photos of run down American cars, dilapidated buildings and like captured by thousands. Good luck with your Orchid photography! BTW, have you been active with the endangered Orchids of Europe? They are usually tiny flowers compared to the sub-tropical/tropical Orchids. Only recently, I discovered there are atleats a half a dozen varieties in Holland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead_metaphor Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 <If you are a US citizen, stay way from all third world countries including Castro Land. If you are from a country friendly with Cuba, simply use caution and stay in the tourist areas. You will be safe as they welcome foreign money. > With all due respect, that may be the stupidest thing I've ever heard stated on this board, and this board is FULL of stupidity. Have you ever been there, or are you just mindlessly parroting what the right-wing American media tells you? I'm an American who has spent alot of time in Cuba. I've been all over the country. Its extremely safe and Cubans like Americans even though they have every reason to hate our guts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_werner1 Posted August 5, 2006 Author Share Posted August 5, 2006 Plea to all participants: avoid political discussions and personal attacks. I would like to get feedback on photographic and practical issues and it would be a pity if this thread, like many before mentioning Cuba, would be deleted by the moderator. Thank you Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_werner1 Posted August 5, 2006 Author Share Posted August 5, 2006 Vivek, <br><br> <i>Good luck with your Orchid photography! </i><br> Thank you <br><br> <i>BTW, have you been active with the endangered Orchids of Europe? They are usually tiny flowers compared to the sub-tropical/tropical Orchids.</i> <br> Not personally. I know they exist and there are people who have made it their hobby. I am the vice-president of the Swiss Orchid Society and we have various sections dealing exclusively with local orchids, over 30 species. My own special interest is the <a href="http://www.angraecum.org">genus Angraecum</a>, as well as the <a href="http://www.orchids.mu">endemic orchids of Mauritius</a>. Perhaps I will add the orchids of Cuba if this trip turns out to be as interesting as I hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Tardio Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 There's no reason to fear Cuba. Don't forget that it is popular vacation spot for most of the rest of the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattalofs Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 "- R9+DMR with 21-35, 4/35-70, Angenieux 70-210, 2.8/60 or 100 macro, 2x extender, macro flash, tripod " That sounds heavy. Maybe use the P&S for "usual" travel photograpy, but keep the r9 gear down to what you need for the orchids. Maybe the wild angle zoom and the 60? Have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_hull Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 Wow Ronald, what an idiotic answer. Peter, as an American who traveled to Cuba legally in the past 60 days I can attest to what an amazing place it is. So beautiful, yet also so sad, mostly on account of a Communist system that simply doesn't work, and a neighbor to the north that has tried a policy for decades that is also ineffective. The people are engaging and love to talk and also ahve their picture taken. I am a Contax G2 shooter, but went with my Nikon D200 instead, and I am very happy I did. It afforded me to show people their photo on the LCD and let me engage them unlike any trip I've taken in the past. It is very safe. Please do visit the rougher areas of Havana (and mind your equipment carefully do to snatchings). Violence against tourists is unheard of, but pickpocket-y crime happens. And feel free to email me with any questions you might have, I would be happy to advise! Most of all, soak it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Thomas Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Been to Cuba once, my wife twice. Had nothing but helpful and friendly contacts with the locals. I think even Americans are welcome as long as you don't look down on the "Third World" (for less "first world" centric terms, Google LEDC/MEDC). I've only ever been robbed (pickpocketed) in Rome. If a hustler offers you cigars on the street they are probably the 2nd rate ones made by the trainee cigar rollers which all factory staff get to take home - they are given fake labels and boxes - when you get to the airport unless you have a genuine receipt from the factory shop they won't let them out of the country. Less chance of being robbed or shot than in most cities in the US and an increasing number of places in the UK. And the music there is terrific. We dropped into a cultural centre in Trinidad (city in Cuba, not the island) and found a local group (age 60-75) practising. 40 degrees C outside. As we were clearly appreciative and as another couple joined us, they kind of picked up the tempo and put on a show for us. Wonderful. The food can be dull and functional - but can be a lot better if you fall lucky. The mojitos and cuba libres are an excellent apperatif before any meal. Except breakfast. probably. Get a good guide book and use it to find the better restaurants in big towns. If the weather gets too hot and humid, try the coast. Cayo Levisa on the north coast and the beach at Trinidad were pretty great. Haven't been there since the US dollar was outlawed - apparently now only the convertible Peso is allowed, but someone else might be able to give you more up to date info on that. Hotel Inglaterra in Havana (ask for a room overlooking the square) is dilapidated but still gorgeous, but I've stayed in worse places in London and Paris (and Scarborough God help us)).<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_hull Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Correct, no dollars anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry_rory Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Better than Scarborough? Ok thats it. I'm going there myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socke Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 <a href="http://www.hett.org/v/Cuba_2004/meine_casa/IMG_6315.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.hett.org/gallery2/d/588-2/IMG_6315.jpg"><br>Mi casa en Cuba</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_ginman Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 "If Americans were unwelcome in Cuba, I'd say it means we are doing something right." It is worth considering the possibility that you might just be doing something horribly wrong. Regards Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 It wasn't all that long ago that nobody in the U.S. could imagine buying anything from communist China. Now our stores are full of toasters, clothes, everything you can imagine, including "Made in China" Kodak color film. OMG! What if they move Leica production to a new factory in Havana? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 "It wasn't all that long ago that nobody in the U.S. could imagine buying anything from communist China." Or Japan. It's an absolute crying shame of what state the country of Cuba is in because of political bullying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eliot_rosen1 Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 "It's an absolute crying shame of what state the country of Cuba is in because of political bullying." Of course the fact that Cuba is run by a muderous thug who allows no free enterprise or freedom of any type has nothing to do with the pverty of that country. It's all due to political bullying by the big bad Americans. The fact that Communism is an absolute failure as an economic system has nothing do with it. Get a clue. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socke Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 <i>Al Kaplan - Miami, FL , aug 08, 2006; 01:59 p.m.<br>It wasn't all that long ago that nobody in the U.S. could imagine buying anything from communist China. Now our stores are full of toasters, clothes, everything you can imagine, including "Made in China" Kodak color film.<br><br> OMG! What if they move Leica production to a new factory in Havana?<br></i><br>I light up a Romeo y Julieta, pour some Havana Club Reserva Especial on some ice cubes, add fresh mint leaves, lemons and soda and think about all the failed concepts and how I couldn't care less while I look over the Malecon :-)<br><br><img src="http://www.hett.org/gallery2/d/1464-2/IMG_6709.jpg"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 "Of course the fact that Cuba is run by a muderous thug..." shouldn't be throwing stones in your glass house, I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_werner1 Posted August 9, 2006 Author Share Posted August 9, 2006 <i>Of course the fact that Cuba is run by a muderous thug</i><br> No politics please, or this thread will be deleted like many others before. I'd like to hear Photo and practical issues from people who have actually been to Cuba.<br><br> Thanks<br> Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Thomas Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 I mentioned Cayo Levisa:<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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