Randy Wayne White - Photo Journal

Cuba - 13 Jan. -- 21 Jan. 2007

Hello All, Back from an incredible time in Cuba. The pendulum on the clock that stopped ticking when Fidel Castro came to power is already beginning to swing, anticipating the great change about to take place. When change comes, it will be a dam breaking. I have visited Cuba eight times since 1976, including the Mariel boatlift of 1980. Havana is a museum, a ghost town, a wilting flower, a prison, an architectural marvel, a time warp. That is now changing. Quietly, very quietly, outside investors are pouring money into Havana, lots and LOTS of money; the derelict buildings are being refurbished one-by-one in the old city; business is being discussed in English, French, German, Spanish over lunch and dinner at the Hotel Parque Central and the Hotel National, and all along Embassy Row. I met a Russian who seemed well informed who told me that Castro died last Tuesday, 16 January, some on the streets in Havana believe, and the government is keeping it a secret only long enough to arrange ceremonies and a properly impressive "mystic" date of departure to impress the powerful Santeria faction in Cuba. The Russian told me that when Fidel came to power in January, 1959 (so the story goes) a white dove landed on his shoulder during his first speech in Revolutionary Square. White doves, the Russian believes, will somehow be involved in the date chosen for his death. I have no way of knowing if this is true, of course. The Cubans I met there did not discuss it, nor did they mention Fidel Castro in any way. I liked them too much to risk embarrassing them by asking any political questions. But there is no doubt that Cuba changed tremendously in just a few days last week. I saw all the hardware for an Internet cafe put in place (except for computers) in two storefronts on a mainstreet; I saw gays, male and female, walking, holding hands affectionately; I saw European-looking teens walking down a main street smoking a joint -- all unthinkable during Fidel's reign. Something that hasn't changed is the surly, all-powerful attitude of the Cuban police and military and airport officials. They treat their own people with even more contempt than they treat tourists. Cubans are afraid of them; even avoid eye contact. Another change I noticed this trip: Unlike three years ago, unlike five years ago, many of the police were carrying side arms and, more significantly, ammunition.

Among the Cubans I met was Raul Corrales, son of Fidel Castro's personal photographer during the revolution. Raul and his wife, Marriar, live in Cojimar, east of Havana, and they are wonderful; fun and funny and full of life, but as much as I liked them both, it was impossible for me to ask them even the most basic political questions about life in Cuba. It seemed not only risky, it seemed rude. The same is true of Cuban attorneys I met, and others who came to a dinner party we hosted at a museum of a place in old Havana that was the home of Cuba's second president. Wendy Webb played the antique piano and sang; the time-warp sensation of living in the 1800s was surreal as horses clip-clopped beneath the marble balcony outside. I attach photos from that dinner party, and a few others from the week in Cuba. The photos include Mrs. Norma Raul Corrales showing her late husbands photos, and Wendy with Vladimir Cruz, star of Strawberry and Chocolate, and Juan Carlos Tabio, the film's director. Randy

[below] My son Rogan came home on Thanksgiving day with a couple of nice grouper caught in shallow water.

[below] Mark Futch of Boca Grande is one of Florida's most respected amphib pilots. Recently, he idled up to my dock, then flew us to Key West.

[below] Tropical storms stir the atmosphere for many hundreds of miles, and produce spectacular sunsets. I took this when the much-hyped storm, Ernesto, was overhead. Didn't alter the photo in anyway, didn't even crop it. My dock, and my flats skiff. Gorgeous -- but what an absurdity to evacuate the Florida Keys, and spook tourists from both coasts. This sunset cost our state a lot of money. It didn't even produce enough wind to windsurf. Randy

[below] In the village of Pioneer, Ohio (pop. 1,400) the library was my favorite hangout.

[below] For a couple of winters, I was lucky enough to warm-up Tim Hudson before he got serious at spring training.
He's starting for Atlanta now, doing great.

[below] Boyhood home, a little farm outside Pioneer, Ohio. I spent a lot of time tossing a baseball onto the roof, making diving catches when it came off.

[below] My pal and former teammate, Barry Rubel, outside North Central High. Our class had fewer than 40 kids.

[below] I'm staying at Mount St. Francis Monastery in Southern Indiana. Four-hundred acres and a great lake.

[below] I'm staying at Mount St. Francis Monastery in Southern Indiana. Four-hundred acres and a great lake.

[below] Bill "spaceman" Lee and Diane

[below] February sunset.

[below] Last week I had a great time playing in the Bob Wagner Wooden Bat Tournament. There were 40-some teams, all ages, playing hardball, and we made it to the semis. Thta's me in the shin guards, yes, with a very attractive all american softball player Janet Stone leaning her elbow on me. That's Bill Spaceman Lee and Gary Terwillger in the back row, with a lot of excellent ball players.

Sorry I haven't posted any photos for awhile, I lost my camera. -Randy

[below] Ellis Paul is one of the country's finest singer/song writers. (ellispaul.com) I heard him in concert in Clearwater, and he was great.

[below] Ellis Paul and his manager, Ralph Jaccodine, visited, and we boated to Useppa, and Ellis mugged for some fish shots.

[below] I taught a seminar at the recent Flathead Writers Conference, Whitefish Montana. Highly recommended. Great people, and one of the most beautiful places in the world.

[below] In Montana, I got to spend time with Tim Cahill, my much esteemed colleague, writer for Rolling Stone, and one of the founders of OUTSIDE MAGAZINE. A brilliant writer.

[below] In Glacier National Park, I looked for bears, and also went for a swim in this lake. A quick swim.

[below] Sunset, September 5th: From the weather deck of my house, I have Soviet Border Guard field glasses, superb optics.

[below] My son, Lee, on his 24th birthday with friend Andrea, whose family is from Colombia.

[below] My son, Lee, on his 24th birthday with dad.

[below] Sunset off my dock was gorgeous the evening before Katrina hit New Orleans. Friends and I drank a toast to Louisana and wished them well.

[below] One of the summer treats on the Indian mounds where i live is Night Blooming Cereus. Blooms once, then dies at first light.

[below] During Hemingway Days, Key West, the Papa Look-alikes (a great group) honor our friend, the late Shine Forbes.

[below] Capt. Ray Jason, excellent writer and juggler, aboard Stars & Stripes, Key West ...

[below] Sunset with friends, all Hurricane Charley survivors, late July, 2005

[below] At a charity auction, the great people from Chico's Clothing bought a "sunset and snacks" on my porch. Christine and Melinda help clean-up.

[below] Sunset with rain streaks ...

[below] In my new book, Dark Light, high tech side-scan SONAR plays a role. Here SONAR expert John DeMille is showing me how it works.

[below] Schuler's Books in Okemos, MI
Randy & Debbie Williamson

[below] Schuler's Books in Okemos, MI
Randy & Laurel Winkel

Hello Guys, I've spent the last month traveling from temporary home to temporary home, and here are a couple of photos. I'm in Boulder now - here's a shot from my balcony. [below]

I was living in Cartagena, Colombia, renting the Greek Consulate's amazing old home built inside the Old Walled City in the 1600s. Here's a shot of my bedroom, which opens out into the garden and pool. [below]

Here's a shot of the dining room. [below]

Also here is one of Cartagena. As I continue to move around, I'll post photos of where I'm staying. Thanks to all, Randy [below]

[below] Hi Guys, I've been in Cartagena for the last few weeks. One night, I was out with film maker pals, and Giorgio Arrajuo, who is a master chili grower, when we ran into Giorgio's neighbor, Orlando Cabrera, shortstop for World Series champs Boston Red Sox. Orlando is a native of Colombia, and was very enthusiastic when he talked about good changes going on in that country.

[below] Hello All, Lost my old digital camera, which is why no photos for a while. Just bought a new one, so hope to stay more active photo-wise. Recent New Year visitors to Pineland were Rosalynn and President Jimmy Carter, pictured here with my sons Rogan, Lee and myself next to the shell mound behind my house. They and their fun family roamed the mounds, then visited Cabbage Key and Useppa. I was much touched by the obvious adoration that the President and Rosalynn have for each as a couple. The Carter family, sons, daughter, spouses, grandchildren are an eclectic, brilliant, patriotic, fun-loving group. On New Year's eve, before midnight, several family members stood around a campfire in the thousand-year-old shell plaza -- a great beginning to 2005. -Randy

[below] This plaque was dedicated at Bahia Mar, Lauderdale on 2 Oct. 2004. It was an honor to attend!

Hello Dear Friends of Doc and Tomlinson:

A quick update:

I've escaped to a gorgeous house on an island off Sarasota that has running water, electric and food in the fridge. My sons are at Pineland, taking care of the clean-up while i try to finish DEAD of NIGHT. What dear guys they are.

I didn't share with you one of the great losses I suffered due to Charley -- though it is minor compared to that endured by some. I had five hardback copies of my first book, SANIBEL FLATS, very rare first editions. Prior to the storm, my son Rogan and I packed them and other rare books in plastic bags, then put them in a chest-sized fireproof safe beneath the stairs, off my office.

During the storm, before I got back to the house, and before the tornadoes came, the attic window blew out, and rain soaked the place. It wasn't until the third or fourth day after Charley that I even thought of checking on the books. In a steel safe with walls three inches thick, they had to be okay. They weren't. Four of the five copies of FLATS were soaked. The safe was fireproof, not waterproof. -Randy