Today's blog is a continuation of my story of Trinidad.  While I was talking to some locals during my stay I found out that Cubans are now allowed to travel freely which is big news for a country that has seen tens of thousands flee illicitly over the years.  Now the state no longer requires citizens to obtain a target blanca- a process that was always costly and bureaucratic and often fruitless.  The government  is also  making it easier for Cubans to return.  The reform extended the time citizens can spend off the  island to a renewable period of two years effectively eliminating the stamp that required anyone leaving for the long term to surrender their property.  Even doctors - Cuban's most prized professionals would be able to come and go as they pleased.  This new policy which took place in 2013 was very surprising-no one expected such a wide open policy that the government took.  If things go as planned the state's jackpot will come in the form of remittances.  A recent study done by the Havana Consulting Group concluded that in 2012, remittances reached $2.605 billion.   The hope is also that by allowing citizens to obtain education and business experience abroad will put them in a better position to contribute to the islands' prosperity  once they return.  Of course the state also placed the onus on other countries to issue visas to allow Cuban's to travel.  

20140129_cuba_0533-2-2 The Chicken Man as he is called by Charlene.  We all gave him pesos so we could take his photo.  

20140129_cuba_0366-2-Edit Dressing up for some pesos.

20140129_cuba_0390-2-Edit

20140129_cuba_0392-2

20140129_cuba_0395-2-Edit

20140129_cuba_0518-Edit I never got a chance to take a horse and cart ride but I'm sure it would have been a lot of fun.

20140129_cuba_0460

20140129_cuba_0536 I took a look inside  this" factory" to watch the women sew for a few  minutes.  I know nothing about sewing machines but I'm guessing my sewing/quilter friends have not seen this kind of a machine for years.  

20140129_cuba_0638-Edit Friends enjoying watching the world go by.

20140129_cuba_0643-Edit

I just loved the colourful windows that I saw.

20140129_cuba_0656 In the afternoon we visited the home (and bed and breakfast establishment) of Julio Munoz.  Julio is a well known Cuban photographer as well as a "horse whisperer".   He has a knowledge of communicating with horses that is perhaps unique in Cuba.  Here he is posing with his horse who is stabled in his garden in the courtyard.  A few of us spent some quality time in his lovely home  listening to his stories and learning about life in Cuba.

20140129_cuba_0007

20140129_cuba_0052	20140129_cuba_0056
20140129_cuba_0067-Edit	20140129_cuba_0083-Edit-Edit-Edit

After we left Julio's home we wandered around in the streets looking at typical life in Trinidad.  

20140129_cuba_0092

20140129_cuba_0125

20140129_cuba_0177-Edit-3-Edit	20140129_cuba_0213-Edit-2-Edit
20140129_cuba_0218-Edit-2	20140129_cuba_0243 I watched this little girl playing ball for a while.  She was having a great time performing for me.  Then she introduced me to some other members of her family that were sitting in the car.

20140129_cuba_0210-2-Edit-Edit

Looking Inside an old car that I saw sitting on the street.

20140129_cuba_0316

20140129_cuba_0404

20140129_cuba_0400-Edit

20140129_cuba_0357

20140129_cuba_0423-Edit Two more photos of colourful buildings to end the day.

20140129_cuba_0422-Edit