Wednesday May 24, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Flood kills three in Havana neighborhood

Havana residents walk on a street in the Marianao neighborhood in Cuba after torrential rain caused floods that washesd away parts of houses and killed three people.

A Cuban woman looks at the damage left by the flood.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Thursday January 18, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Cuba in an age of uncertainty

A poster showing Fidel Castro hangs in an office in Old Havana. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

A poster showing Fidel Castro hangs in an office.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Tuesday June 5, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Cubans watch Castro on TV

A Cuban family in Marianao neighborhood watches Fidel Castro's first live television appearance since he was reported ill in July 2006.

A Cuban family watches Fidel Castro on television

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Thursday January 18, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Cuba in an age of uncertainty

Posters showing Fidel and Raul Castro adorn a street in Old Havana. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

Posters showing Fidel and Raul Castro hang on a Havana street.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Thursday January 18, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Cuba in an age of uncertainty

Inside a Havana bakery, an employee stands beside a poster depicting Che Guevara, Fidel Castro and Camilo Cienfuegos. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

A poster depicting (L-R) Che Guevara, Fidel Castro and Camilo Cienfuegos hangs in a Havana bakery.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Monday July 26, 1999, Havana, Cuba

Cuba in an age of uncertainty

Fidel Castro waves during a speech in Havana, Cuba. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

Fidel Castro waves during a speech.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Thursday July 6, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Cuba in an age of uncertainty

A young girl stands before a portrait of Fidel Castro painted by accalimed Latin American painter Oswaldo Guayasamin. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

A young girl gazes at a painting of Fidel Castro by artist, Oswaldo Guayasamin.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Friday September 15, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Leaders attend the 14th Non-aligned summit in Havana

India's Prime Minister Mammohan Singh and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shake hands during a photo of all the participants at the 14th Non-aligned summit in Havana, Cuba.

Mammohan Singh (R) and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shake hands. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stands to the right.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Friday September 15, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Leaders attend the 14th Non-aligned summit in Havana

Cuban President Raul Castro waves during a photo with all the participants at the 14th Non-Aligned Movement in Havana, Cuba. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

Raul Castro waves during a photo with leaders attending the 14th Non-Aligned Movement.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Friday May 18, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Daughter of Raul Castro promotes acceptance of alternative sexual lifestyles

Mariela Castro Espin, daughter of Cuba's interim President Raul Castro, also serves as Director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education. Castro's group campaigns for effective AIDS prevention as well as acceptance of homosexuality, bisexuality, transvestism, and transsexualisim. In 2005, Espin proposed a project allowing transgendered people to receive sex reassignment surgery.

Transvestites attend a meeting at the Cuban National Center for Sex Education.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Wednesday June 13, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Chavez pays surprise visit to Cuba

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuba's acting President Raul Castro take part in a dedication ceremony for a new statue honoring Venezuelan revolutionary Francisco de Miranda. Chavez made a surprise trip to Havana for a meeting with ailing Cuban President Fidel Castro.

L-R: Raul Castro and Hugo Chavez, waving.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Saturday July 28, 2007, Havana, Cuba

The heavy dancers of Cuba

Formed in 1997 by Juan Miguel Mas, 41, the Danza Voluminoza company of obese dancers is a cultural phenomenon, breaking stereotypes, redefining the aesthetics of beauty and raising self-esteem of heavyset people. The troupe's popularity is a surprise in a country known for its muscular and lean dancers. The troupe is known for its parody of “Swan Lakeî and engages in hilarious renditions of clichés like the cancan. But the troupe is serious about dance, and can perform pieces on the universal themes of love, death and erotic longing. Mas also choreographs pieces on the tragedy of gluttony, love between obese couples, the prejudice that fat people face and the psychic toll of obesity.

Mailin Daza the prima ballerina of the Danza Voluminoza troupe performing on stage in a Havana theater. Daza weighs 286 pounds.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Saturday July 28, 2007, Havana, Cuba

The heavy dancers of Cuba

Formed in 1997 by Juan Miguel Mas, 41, the Danza Voluminoza company of obese dancers is a cultural phenomenon, breaking stereotypes, redefining the aesthetics of beauty and raising self-esteem of heavyset people. The troupe's popularity is a surprise in a country known for its muscular and lean dancers. The troupe is known for its parody of “Swan Lakeî and engages in hilarious renditions of clichés like the cancan. But the troupe is serious about dance, and can perform pieces on the universal themes of love, death and erotic longing. Mas also choreographs pieces on the tragedy of gluttony, love between obese couples, the prejudice that fat people face and the psychic toll of obesity.

L to R: Ana Julia Marquetti, (200 pounds) Mailin Daza (286 pounds) Barbara Paulo (275 Pounds), Rubi Amaro (200 pounds) and Juan Miguel Mas (300 pounds) wait in front of a food store on a Havana street.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Friday June 22, 2007, Santiago De Cuba, Cub

Raul Castro Vilma Espin

Cuba's acting President Raul Castro holds the remains of his wife Vila Espin Friday June 22, 2007 during a ceremony at the "Segundo frente" memorial in Santiago de Cuba. Vilama Espin died on last June 18. Photo by Cuba Goverment.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Monday June 18, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Raul Castro's wife dies at 77

Vilma Espin, the wife of acting Cuban President Raul Castro has died at the age of 77. Although Cuban officials did not give a cause of death, Espin was said to have suffered from severe circulatory problems in recent years.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Tuesday May 1, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Castro supporters attend May Day celebration in Havana

People hold up posters and banners supporting Cuban President Fidel Castro during the annual May Day celebration in Havana, although Castro was nowhere to be seen. Speculation continues to swirl around the Cuban dictator's health, nine months after he handed the reigns of power to brother, Raul following intestinal surgery for an unspecified illness.

People hold up posters and banners supporting Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Tuesday May 1, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Castro supporters attend May Day celebration in Havana

People hold up posters and banners supporting Cuban President Fidel Castro during the annual May Day celebration in Havana, although Castro was nowhere to be seen. Speculation continues to swirl around the Cuban dictator's health, nine months after he handed the reigns of power to brother, Raul following intestinal surgery for an unspecified illness.

An unidentified man holds a poster asking for the freedom of five Cubans in jail in the United States during the May Day parade.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Thursday January 18, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Cuba in an age of uncertainty

A poster in Havana showing a Kalashnikov assault rifle reads "Long Live Fidel - 80 More Years." The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

A young Cuban woman stands beside a poster showing a Kalashnikov assault rifle reads "Long Live Fidel - 80 More Years."

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Thursday January 18, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Cuba in an age of uncertainty

Cuban children walk pas pro-Castro graffiti on their way home from school in Havana's Playa neighborhood. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

Cuban children walk past pro-Castro graffiti.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Thursday August 10, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Cuba in an age of uncertainty

Supporters of Cuban President Fidel Castro demonstrate in Havana. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

Demonstrators wave Cuban flags.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Saturday May 13, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Homosexuality in Cuba

Hundreds of gay people gather on the Coastal Malecon Avenue in Havana, Cuba. For first time, the Cuban state TV speaks about homosexuality as "The Dark Side of the Moon." The program has a record number of viewers on the island.

Gay people gather on the streets of Havana.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Saturday May 13, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Homosexuality in Cuba

Hundreds of gay people gather on the Coastal Malecon Avenue in Havana, Cuba. For first time, the Cuban state TV speaks about homosexuality as "The Dark Side of the Moon." The program has a record number of viewers on the island.

Gay people gather on the streets of Havana.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Thursday May 11, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Wives of jailed Cuban dissidents protest for their freedom

Family members of jailed dissidents leave the Santa Rita Church in Havana, Cuba. The prisoners wives dress in white clothes every Sunday to denounce the conditions that their husbands are living in the jails. Most of the prisoners have over 20 year sentences.

Family members of jailed dissidents leave the Santa Rita Church.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Monday May 1, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Castro speaks at May Day celebrations in Havana

A view of the Revolution Square as Cuban President Fidel Castro delivers a speech during the May Day celebration at the Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba.

An aerial view of the Revolution Square during Castro's May Day speech.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

2005, Santa Clara, Cuba

Cuba's key players

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque views portraits of Fidel and Raul Castro during a 2005 event in Santa Clara. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

Felipe Perez Roque points to a black and white photograph of Fidel and Raul Castro.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Sunday April 16, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Cuba in an age of uncertainty

A Cuban flag waves in the military quarter of Havana's famed Colon Cemetery. Most of Cuba's modern revolutionary militants and government officials are buried in this exclusive section. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

A Cuban flag waves near military officers standing at attention inside Colon Cemetery.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Sunday April 16, 2006, Biran, Cuba

Childhood home of Fidel Castro

The Castro family grave in the Cuban town of Biran, near Holguin. Angel Castro and Lina Ruz, the parents of Cuban President Fidel Castro are buried here.

An angelic statue adorns the grave of Angel Castro and Lina Ruz, parents of the Cuban president.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Monday May 1, 2006, Havana, Cuba

Castro speaks at May Day celebrations in Havana

Dozens of new Chinese buses return with demonstrators at the May Day celebration. Thousands of Cubans were seen as Cuban President Fidel Castro delivered a speech during the celebration at the Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba.

Chinese buses return with protesters who demonstrated at the May Day celebration.

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Thursday January 18, 2007, Havana, Cuba

Cuba in an age of uncertainty

"Fidel is a country" reads on a roadside billboard in Spanish in Havana, Cuba. The billboard represents Ana Fidelia Quirot, a former Cuban 400 meter Olympic champion. The government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was left in a lurch after the 80-year-old leader was forced to hand over the reigns of power to brother Raul in July of 2006, following an undisclosed intestinal ailment.

A motorist rides by a billboard sign that reads "Fidel is a country."

Credit: Jose Goitia / Polaris

Jose Goitia