noteworthy? you bet

IMGP0098.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.



I was definitely not supposed to be in the bar. But I was. The band was called the Throbtones and the bass player was something else. It all started in a smoky room with 2 chairs and a little conversation and ended with a climb down a rickety fire escape. The years ticked on and for many our connection was off the hook- dead, no one was picking up. Once- I hung up. Maybe he did too.

But as thought we were on a journey we didn't know about, one day we found ourselves standing next to each other again. And so it has been. A secret holiday with no known destination. One day he and me are in the same place again and just like that the mysterious stranger is in our lives. Most, I think would give up on a stranger's acquaintance, but what is really worth mentioning is that 20 years later, we are still friends.

To me he is still intriguing and mesmerizing and I'd climb back up that fire escape for another cup of tea any day of the week.

How could I forget about Cuba?

IMGP0581.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

But I almost did. I just put up more photos. You can find them here. By the way, I found this choice cut of pork while walking down the street in Vinales.

make it 639

I didn't know there had been so many attempts but I intend to check it out. I also didn't know that the Centre for Socialist Education was so close to my home. I have a sneaking suspicion that this may be a viewing in the basement of someones house, a bootlegged taping of a TV program. Mnn.. donations accepted..I'll take a tuna casserole.

little blue birds..

little blue birds.., originally uploaded by jill y.

one day in Tokyo- animated conversation

one day in Tokyo- animated conversation, originally uploaded by jill y.

Noteworthy figure- Charlotte

Once upon a time I lived in a little tiny apartment that had no walls to separate the bathroom from the bedroom from the kitchen. I found solace in the fact that next door was a raven haired beauty named Charlotte. Most of the time Charlotte would be at home constructing run on sentences and perfecting punctuation. The rest of the time she would be out climbing hillsides in muddy long underwear and bug repellent with a shovel and a bag of baby trees. I thought she was kind of peculiar, but cool.

During the home times I could mosey up to her kitchen window and order myself a coffee with soy and have an engaging conversation of stolen witticisms. We got to know each other over tissue paper, balloons and a lot of glue. Once she gave me her book and later, she gave me her apartment. I miss having Charlotte as a neighbor.

She is noteworthy.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A dinner table surrounded by loved ones.

2. What is your current state of mind?
Boggled.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Loss.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Bossiness.

5. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Laziness.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?
It's a tie: gourmet ingredients and shoes.

7. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Beauty.

8. What is that you most dislike?
Privilege without responsibility.

9. On what occasion do you lie?
Deep personal exposure.

10. What do you dislike about your appearance?
Pimples.

11. What is the quality you most like in a man?
It's a tie: versatility and a sense of humour.

12. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Ditto.

13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Other people's witticisms.

14. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Words.

15. When and where were you happiest?
Now.

16. Which talent would you most like to have?
To speak several languages fluently.

17. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Planting a million trees.

18. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
I wish I could learn faster.

19. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what do you think it would be? A tree.

20. What is your most treasured possession?
My laptop.

21. what do regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Hardened addiction.

22. What is your most marked characteristic?
Softness.

23. What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty.

24. Who are your favorite writers?
Too many to list.

25. Who is your favorite hero of fiction.
Frank Bascombe.

26. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Dorothy Parker.

27. Who are your heroes in real life?
Hillary Clinton. Joan Didion.

28. What are your favorite names?
Huh?

29. What is your greatest regret?
Hurting people.

30. How would you like to die?
Sleeping.

it's a nice day to start again

it's a nice day to start again, originally uploaded by jill y.

I went to the Billy Idol show tonight. I took a lot of pictures and you can see them if you want.

meeting the walrus

"In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. "

This is quite something and a visual feast. Please don"t leave without hitting play.

did I mention I have Cat Power tickets at the Edmonton Folk Fest??

Noteworthy Figure- Sonia

My friend Sonia is my "ethnic friend" as we once joked. She is full of color and texture and visual glory. Once we found that we both talked to the same artist in New York City years apart and it's shit like that that says to me- I'm supposed to know this person. And I'm grateful that I do. She brings thoughtful intelligence, worldliness, boldness and humor along with her like tiny sweet candies to slip into your closed palm.

She is noteworthy...


1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Feeling completely relaxed and proud of living a life where I haven’t compromised.

2. What is your current state of mind?
Ready to make some sort of change. Not sure exactly what that means.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Being blind.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Easily guilt ridden.

5. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Insincerity.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?
Having a group of healers in my life to help me along – Personal Trainer, Hypno-therapist, Reiki & Massage Therapist & my Zy Qigong instructor.

7. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Backward 3rd World ideals of femininity & Fucked up Forward 1st World ideals of femininity.

8. What is that you most dislike?
Sexism, Racism & Rain.

9. On what occasion do you lie?
When there is no other possible option – or when it seems like there is no other option at the time.

10. What do you dislike about your appearance?
My weight.

11. What is the quality you most like in a man?
Honour & compassion.

12. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Honour & compassion.

13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Like, Awesome, Really?

14. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My mind, my Eyes & Printmaking.

15. When and where were you happiest?
At ECIAD , in L.A., in NYC, at Burningman

16. Which talent would you most like to have? Understanding Physics.

17. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Finding & Feeling the Mind & Body connection.

18. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? To not over think things.

19. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what do you think it would be? Orange and Alizarin Crimson coloured energy.

20. What is your most treasured possession? My music collection.

21. What do regard as the lowest depth of misery? Feeling colourless.

22. What is your most marked characteristic? I’ve got attitude.

23. What do you most value in your friends? That I can learn to see things from different perspectives from different people.

24. Who are your favorite writers? James Baldwin, Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth

25. Who is your favorite hero of fiction. Don’t have one.

26. Which historical figure do you most identify with? ?

27. Who are your heroes in real life? My parents, not as my parents, but, as people.

28. What are your favorite names? Priya.

29. What is your greatest regret? That I have programmed myself to be okay alone.

30. How would you like to die? Happily when I am ready.

Street Photographer

the crown graphic, originally uploaded by kenyee.

Back in 2004 when I first went to NYC.. I scowered the streets. I walked everywhere all day long and one day I met this man. I remembered a photo my mother had taken of her walking down the street and she said "back then there were street photographers who would take you photo." Louis Mendez was one of those rare breed of photographers.

I let him snap my photo that day and he gave it to me in a touristy card like what you would get when you visited Santa Claus in a mall. He signed it with his number and it says.. good luck..

I treasure that photo from a street photographer and maybe one day will show it to my own kids.

looking at you, originally uploaded by Benzadrine.

the epitome of childhood

IMGP1397.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

The kids in the neighbourhood reminding everyone that dirt is healthy, fun and good for you.

pg 136 of issue 575

I adore Vanity Fair magazine. It's my one magazine indulgence apart from the stupid ones I get when I need to fly somewhere. Maybe Vanity Fair is stupid too but I always learn some weird pop culture fact that I get to slot into witty conversation cuz you know these things are important to me. Sadly, the mag recently did away with it's horoscope and I still feel the pangs of that loss as I flip from the last page in in search of it.

One thing that always tends to amuse me is the Proust Questionnaire. The 30 or so questions answered by some noteworthy public figure. This month.. it's me..next month or next week.. I'll try and feature various noteworthy public figures from my own life..

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
creamsicles while sitting on a dock, ankles splashing in the water

2. What is your current state of mind?
Overstimulated and a bit lonely

3. What is your greatest fear?
being cold and alone

4. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
weakness of will; impatience towards others

5. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
snobbishness

6. What is your greatest extravagance?
tattoos and cheese

7. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
obedience

8. What is that you most dislike?
bigotry and mushrooms

9. On what occasion do you lie?
almost never except when I have made plans I want to get out of

10. What do you dislike about your appearance?
weight gain

11. What is the quality you most like in a man?
mischievousness

12. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
ability to forgive

13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"is that OK?"

14. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
my maternal grandfather

15. When and where were you happiest?
Living in a hostel in Edinburgh

16. Which talent would you most like to have?
to draw

17. what do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
quitting smoking

18. if you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
I would be taller

19. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what do you think it would be?
a feather duvet

20. What is your most treasured possession?
a bench my grandfather made

21. what do regard as the lowest depth of misery?
clinical depression

22. What is your most marked characteristic?
one eye half brown half blue; sterness

23. what do you most value in your friends?
compassion

24. Who are your favorite writers?
John Kennedy Toole, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dalton Trumbo

25. Who is your favorite hero of fiction.
Pooh; Ignatious O'Reilley

26. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I don't know enough about history to relate.

27. Who are your heroes in real life?
my maternal grandmother, Janis Joplin, Diane Arbus;

28. What are your favorite names?
Alberta, Agnes, Jack, Penny, Frank; Rockerfeller, Anita;

29. What is your greatest regret?
not turning around before getting on that flight home

30. How would you like to die?
in a cuddle under a feather duvet

before and after

before and after, originally uploaded by jill y.

I'm slowly getting my tattoo finished. After Theresa at Electro Lady Lux basically tattooed the equivalent of a pencil mark after 2 sessions totally $1100, and refusing to fix it, I have sat for an entire relining and shading session totalling nearly the same again.

Like I said to someone... some people spend $2000 on stupid shit that these loose or smash up. I spent $2000 on something I'll have forever.

you must obey

you must obey, originally uploaded by jill y.

it's business time...

IMGP0505.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

another letter..

Dear Master of the Internet and Retail Therapy.

I wanted to express my disappointment in your ill planned services. While I am very grateful for the ability to order hoodies with whatever I want on them from a sweatshop in Brooklyn and pretty much purchase a ticket to circumnavigate the globe should my credit limit be enough, I have notice a few discrepancies.

It's not that you can order and pay for sex over the Internet. Or that you can have Gap clothes, flowers, or dried monkey penis from Asia delivered to your door, all very lovely. Even furniture and bed sheets from LL Bean can be procured. What I find so mildly alarming is that food is a shear no go. You can not pay for a pizza on line with a credit card and have it delivered without actually being at the destination. Flowers from Chile where children bleed hourly from thorns dipped in pesticide- yes. Pizza in Edmonton- No.

Could you fix this, please? Thanks ever so..

Jill

cole's notes version

Alfred Hitchcock's Birds in 1 minute 40 seconds.

a letter

Dear Ill Spent Youth,

I've been thinking about you lately and I thought I'd drop in and say hi. It's been a while since the two of us hung out. I'm sorry I ditched you so inappropriately that one day when I decided to fire my life. The shenanigans had gone on long enough and I figured it was time for a change. But I was kidding myself when I thought that I had cattily ditched our friendship for that of Adult Responsibility. Who was I kidding?? You've stayed with me like a constant mosquito bite in the middle of my back. Always itching, never quite scratched.

Despite the years of regular employment and timely rent cheques, you mostly been quite amiable to lurk around in the background. Thank you for not messing things up for me too much. Like that time you drove me to wear that silly vintage dress and cowboy boots, or when you convinced me too many drugs the night before a big exam was a good idea. I forgive you for those- sort of. That time you made me miss the cement stairs altogether and chipped my front tooth was particularly annoying. Or was it the booze?

We had some fun times. Do you remember? The red wine vomit staining the freshly fallen snow? The fire escape of the Commercial Hotel at 4 am? Or my personal favorite- inviting the police into my apartment and being arrested for stolen street signs. Wild times my friend, wild times. I think we both mostly came out unscathed. Except maybe for that time Heidi and I took acid at the Saturday Afternoon Blues Jam and went off with some weirdo with a van to smoke a joint. I'm pretty sure I left behind part of my brain in the parking lot that day.

But, I digress- you've given me a few presents along the way that I carry proudly with me while I slog further into grown up land. Beautiful chosen scars inked into my arms proudly displaying my youthful days on the Alberta Prairies for one and a irreverent and mischievous attitude that leads me to great photographs and grand adventures are all you- Ill S. Youth. You're willful spirit and deviant attitude luckily have been washed against the shores of experience and smoothed down. Jagged beach glass is no fun for anyone, really..

Anyways, I'm coming to find you, by the way- minus the drugs. Returning to the scene of the crime. To smell the crackling air and taste the electricity. To run amok, hand in hand, with you old friend. I can hardly wait.

Yours in crime,
Jill

we were not twins

we were not twins, originally uploaded by jill y.

havana hearts

havana hearts, originally uploaded by jill y.

silent stories not often told for nightime

My creation, originally uploaded by jill y.

portal to another world, originally uploaded by jill y.

Many many open doors lined the streets of Havana. I couldn't figure out if the guest was the wind or a friend with gossip. They all represented a choice and often a glimpse into another world where once ornate tiles and banisters gleamed in abundance. Long shattered, torn away or left to collect pre 1959 dust.

Wind whispering sometimes tales in silent dusty swirls.

breathed life

breathed life, originally uploaded by jill y.

one image

The concept:
1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page of results, and pick one image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Big Huge Lab's Mosaic Maker to create a mosaic of the picture answers.

The questions:
1. What is your first name? Jill
2. What is your favorite food? right now? Blueberries
3. What high school did you go to? Strathcona
4. What is your favorite color? Blood Red
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Beckham
6. What is your favourite drink? Something tropical
7. What is your dream vacation? train trip
8. What is your favourite dessert? Creme Brulee
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? live someplace wonderful and own a hostel
10. What do you love most in life? comfort
11. What is one word that describes you? charming
12. What is your flickr name? Jill Y

Here's mine:

My creation, originally uploaded by jill y.

1. Jill's Fresh Tattoo, 2. A Berry Good Day, 3. strathcona back alley, 4. Blood Moon, 5. Adrenalin junkie, 6. Up in the sky, 7. The Train Enthusiast, 8. flan, 9. Village of Gorbio, Maritime Alps, Provence, 10. "I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." Sigmond Freud..., 11. breathless, 12. The Start Of Something Big

IMGP0419.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

Storm Troopin'

You must enjoy this photo set.

kind of a shitty picture of a sunny Scottsdale hotel resort

But maybe you can see more here..

I'm really hoping I can get to the Camelback Mountains tonight at sunset and hopefully get some decent photos. Otherwise..it's just me and a hotel resport and 40 of my closest friends.

the horse and the bull

IMGP0454.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

Still can't believe this photo came from me- it's one of my favorite photos ever. Click on it to see it large.

I used to love these 20 years ago

Washing Grains from the Body Shop.

I adored them. The little cardboard tube with spice container top to shake them out. The little paste in my palm and the smooth soft effect left on my face and the soaplessness of it all.

Walking down Burrard yesterday, the "competition" had a big window display of rice washing grains. I went in. After inquiring about animal testing policies and useless ingredients I returned to my first love and bought a container or beloved washing grains. The instructions are to apply to a damp face and use circular motions. This lovely fine dust smells very slightly of lemons and sort of creams when it hits water. The result after 2 days is by skin is luminous and my pours are tighter and oddly my skin looks youthful.

Is it the washing grains or my memory?



If my favorite cosmetic company made these I would not have strayed, but what's a girl to do? But now I search the internet in hopes of making my own because at $32 a container- this love affair is doomed.

transportation Cuban style

transportation Cuban style, originally uploaded by jill y.

sticky & sweet

click on image to enlarge

Joyero...

Joyero..., originally uploaded by jill y.

every day I put more and more up

6- The view from the Bacardi Building, towards Florida, originally uploaded by jill y.

You can watch for more photos and look at what's up here.

if only I know now what I knew then

stalker

Oh my..

2 of my favorite bloggers are coming to town.

Mightygirl and Dooce will be in Vancouver.

Their blogging names make them sound like superheroes. I can imagine the floodlights. The film noir setting and finger wave curls and handbags. And Heather and Maggie in wonderwoman outfits with gold wristbands and red caps flapping in the wind.

I'll be the stranger in the fedora and trench coat asking if they want to buy a vowel. And you can just call me "More Kisses Please".

No, but seriously. What do you say to 2 people that you read about their lives via the Internet. So nice to meet you finally?

Oh whatever. I'm a goof. I'll take them some of my favorite soap and call it a freaky day.

on the move again..

02- 04 June- Scottsdale, Arizona
17- 20 June- Chicago, Illinois- CANCELLED and too bad for the Art Deco. The date with my camera will have to be postponed.

shortness of trip would suggest these are NOT leisure tours- but I do hope to catch some Art Deco in Chicago.

cross these off my list

I can cross off a few things from my list of 100 things to do before I die.

#16- pay someone's rent for 1 month- I have another candidate for this- but while a Cuban doesn't technically pay rent, I gave a Cuban couple 40 Convertible Pesos which is the equivalent of almost 1000 Cuban Peso.

#45- Inspire someone- Sonia says she is inspired to go to Cuba after hearing of my trip

#54- Visit Cuba before it's too late- it's never too late, but I'm glad I went.

keeping it alive

keeping it alive, originally uploaded by jill y.

it's a lonely planet

it is a lonely planet, originally uploaded by jill y.

I saw him sitting in the heavily tourist area of Havana Veija. He was a street beggar and maybe an alcoholic. His pants were soiled and I'm not even too sure if he grasped the fact that he was on hundreds of Lonely Planet Guide Books all around the world.

I wonder if they got a signed release or if he was paid?

I'm back. I'm working on my photos in bunches of 40 or so. It will take a while to get 800 photos up but you can keep an eye on them here.

modes of transportation

For all the different ways to get around in Cuba, I think I have tried it save for one or 2 (horse cart and shared taxi). I have done the freaky and life threatening Hersey Electric Train. I have taking a trip in the equally freaky and life threatening old belching 1940 Ford car's that clearly outnumber any other type of vehicle on the road. I took the horse drawn carriage ride, which was very lovely and advantagous to taking photos along the Malecon.

And today, I needed to go to Vedado and looked for a taxi. I saw a motorcyle with a sidecar and a little sign that said "taxi". Oh great fun!! So- off we went. I asked for a little tour and near the Plaza de la Revolution, we got a flat tire which I helped to change.

All part of the adventure.

Grateful for the help, the driver waited for me to get my posters and drove me back to where I started, the Hotel Floridita, all for 10 pesos.

Today, is my last day in Havana, save for tomorrow morning before I go. I am tanned, relaxed, tired of the humidity and pollution, grateful and looking forward to being home. I bought 3 year old rum and plan on having mohito's in the park on Sunday!

xox
Jill

the water is warm

I have left Havana on a overnight tour. What a wonderful way to travel. Really, it is just too hot to not go comfortable in an air conditioned coach while you jump off and see the best parts with a local telling you all that is signifigant.

Quite note to say I am on the beach on the south coast of Cuba outside Trinidad. I have dipped my toes in the Caribeean Sea. In case you want to look, I´m at Hotel Ancon.

More later..

Havana - Obispo Street

Havana - Obispo Street, originally uploaded by Macnabbs.

I walk down Obispo everyday. My Casa is on this street.

day tripper

I ususally find the idea of organized tours hideous and cheesy and remind me of school trips where I was scolded for breaking away from the pack- like that time we went to a ghost town and I was facinated with the inside of the building and the contents. What did those scraps of paper on the floor SAY?? I was reprimanded and sent back to the bus to wait for all the others. It was dangerous to go inside the building and shame on me. I still do it. I wander down the side street for the unexpected and of course, I still want to go inside the abandoned building and see what's what.

But I relented and took 2 day trips. Look, I'll just be straight up. Cuba's transportation system is a bit..ahem..troubling. They have been running Ford's from the 1930's and 40's on tractor motors. I saw a rigged up radiator from a 1 litre bottle and a tube duct taped to the outside of the fender!! So, it's not surprising that the electric train from 1910 was about to bounce off the tracks or stop working in the middle of nowhere.

I have made attempts to find my own way. The train station was a sea of madness with no oasis in sight. It was about 80 degrees humidity inside and I quickly became discourgaed to only sit on the curb with my water bottle and wonder if I should bother. But I did and I have to say the 2 days I spent travelling in airconditioned luxury as we wizzed past people trying to sell bricks of homemade cheese and bbq'd chicken in the middle of nowhere was, alternately guilt ridden and confortable.

I spent one day visiting Pinar Del Rio and and cigar factory- where I wandered down the street and took a rather captivating photo of an old farmer. Vinales valley and horse back riding on a ranch, hiking in old caves with a boat trip in the underground stream and walking through Vinbales itself- where I was left behind by the tour bus for lagging behind- shame on me!! (They came back and got me.)

The next day I went to Las Terrasas- which is an eco village and a national park. We had lunch of roast pork, rice, beans, cucumber, tomatoes, taro chips, coffee and custard in a beautiful old hotel with trees growing through the middle of it. We visited the ruins of a coffee plantation and I picked limes and mangoes growing on trees. I took a "canopy tour" where you get in a harness and get attached to a cable and zip down a line through a valley. It was nothing short of amazing!!

Tommorrow, I am taking an overnight trip to Santa Clara, Trinidad, Cienfugos and Santi Cristi. I leave at 6am Tuesday and will get back late Wednesday- which leaves me with Thursday as my last day in Havana and I fly home on Friday.

I have also found the mother of all Cuban souveniers. No it is not cheap cigars or rum. I found a place that sells hand screened Cuabn independant movie posters for about 12 apeice. The art is amazing and startling and freaking wonderful. Some of them are very 60's looking and one was in an Art Nouveau styling. I bought 5 but I will go back and buy more and keep my fingers crossed that they are not confinscated at the airport.

So Mom, if you are reading this.. that is what I did with my birthday money.. bought day trips outside of Havana and bought beautiful old movie posters.

By far- I have to say that this trip to Cuba has been the most relaxing and enjoyable holiday I have ever had. Better than Prague. Better than Paris. Better than 6 months in Europe. I have never felt so relaxed or at ease in so long. Maybe it is because no matter where I go, what I see or who I meet- there is no North America- McDonald's, Starbucks, Levis, or Coca Cola and oddly no Americans or Canadians either. Most people I meet are from South America, Mexico or Italy. Lovely bunch.

Love,

Jill

I have just discovered the tourist office a few feet from my Casa!!

Tomorrow I am on a full day tour of the valley of Vinales, that includes caves, mountains and a tobacco farm.

Sunday I will be off on another tour of the Cuban wilderness and countryside.

Mom- Happy Mother's Day if I don't have a chance to contact you.


xoxox

checked off

-visited the Revolution Square
-knocked on the grave of La Milagrossa
-taken a ride in a 1950 Buick (likely with a tractor engine)
-drank a Mijoto
-got lost in Vedado
-rode the only electric train in Cuba
-haggled and had a trip on a bici-taxi
-walked Calle 23
-did not drink in one of Hemigway's many drinking spots
-had a coffee with a local in a peso bar
-washed my clothes by hand
-cut the legs off my pants
-cut the sleeves off my top
-got a sunburn
-got shortchanged
-ate the local cuisine of grilled fish, rice and beans, cabbage and papaya juice
and
-bought a souveneir that was not Che related

bird song

Someone, every day, opens the window and steps out onto a ledge that overhangs the street of the green building across the street from my Casa. They hang a little rusty bird cage on a nail. A pretty little songbird flutters inside, but outside. Fresh air and a cool breeze is readily available. Someone gives the little bird a bit of food and water everyday. No need to fight, for this little bird. It can sit on it's perch and sing, happily, as long as the day is bright.

I see this birdcage every day and see an ornate antique cage. It's rusted bars contrasting against the tranquile tourqoise green. The little bird inside must be teased relentlessly with the freedom just on the other side. The other birds that swoop, flutter and perch at will, wherever they please.

Today I met a couple in their 60's. They asked me if I was Norweigan or Dutch. We had a friendly conversation and I asked them where they were from and they laughed and told me they were from Havana. With shared English skills we chatted and strolled and they told me their story over lunch. They told me of life in Cuba. Of their careers as an accountant and a secretary. He told me of how he lost his job for making a remark in the street against the goverment and how it was overheard. The told me of the ration card and the average salary. I was startled to learn that I had without a thought, spent a months salary in a day wandering around Havana.

I bought them lunch and slipped 40 Peso Convertables into his pocket. I told them I was very lucky to have such a good job and with opportunity. I told them I was lucky to be so free to travel and see this beautiful city that reminded me so much of places like Paris, Barcelona, New Orleans and a bit of Marrakesh thrown in. I told him I was grateful that no one cared whether or not I liked the goverment or voted. I told them the day of conversation, of sharing and their company was a great gift.

They walked me back to my casa and I pointed out the little birdcage hanging from a nail high up on a wall and I saw that they too have the cool breeze and fresh air available to them, that they are provided with food and shelter, but they too are caged and not free as they should be to sing their heart's song. Alberto and Teresita, still, manage to be heard.

I am privledged and happy, I hope, to count myself among their friends.

Hershey Train

HersheyTrain, originally uploaded by BikeTrip.

adventure to Hersey

The train rolls into Casablanca late and to cheers of dusty and sweaty travellers. The man with a wrench cuts rusty wire and climbs onto the top. The trolley is broken- again. We wait. He hammers the trolley and attaches more wire. I take photos while we wait. A young man in a white shirt, old Frank Sinatra hat tipped to the front, watches me from behind his newspaper. He later gets off in a small ramshakle town and shuffles he black dress shoes in the dust.

Aboard to dusty and worn green velvet seats and broken windows, the same from 1917, I'm sure. We roll off into unknown places, slowly at first then picking up speed. This train is a death trap on rails and I wonder what I have goten myself into. It bounces and swerves. Resigned to my 3 peso fate, my head whips from side to side, my shoulder slams into the window at the train's velocity. It courses down on it's predetermined destiny of Mantanzas.

As I watch out the window at the Cuban countryside of wind wipped palms, dried grasses and tinshack farm houses, I notice something dark, large and unusual. It's a cow. It's falling down the ditch. Fallen when I focus my eyes against the distance. It's legs straight up, head twisted- one eye looking. We pass, but only to stop a short distance and then back up. Passengers crane their necks out the windows and doors swish open. The train hit the cow and we backed up to make sure of something. Not sure what as no one got out and helped the cow up.

When we arrived in Hershey- the site, I presume of a chocolate factory, I figured that maybe this train adventure was a bit too much. It would be another 2 hrs to Mantanzas and I had no water or food. I got off and sat down and pondered my fate in Hershey. As the train rumbled away, I wondered still what sort of adventure I had gotten myself into. The return train to Havana wouldn't be for 2 hrs.

He sat down with his translation book and spoke a little english. I waved to the other with the tattoo and motioned to mine. The 3 of us became an unoffical pack for the day. One who spoke a little, one who spoke none and a book. I wondered what the day had in store. We walked across the street and bought fresca limonada served in cut off beer bottles. We walked through Hershey and they pointed out the broken factory, the old hotel from 1920 that was near demolished, the police station. We went to a market and bought a pineapple and with a pocket knife cut peices for one another and washed our hands with bottled water. I said Ola! to everyone who passed and they laughed. We laughed.

I took photos of the beautiful and decrepet stately houses, left over from the chocolate boom. Photos of the horse cart taxi's and chickens in the street. I tried to bribe 3 girls with a peso for a photo but they went running away laughing. We bought breadsticks from a vendor and sweets from another. Laughing, I said the nonesense phrases in the Language book, "Does Hershey have a bullring?" "Does Hershey have a recycling program?" and I helped them learn the months of the year in English.

These 2 waited until the train arrived. It had to wait as another train on the track was broken. I made origami birds from ripped out pages from Lonely Planet Cuba and gave them to the little girls on the train. I folded origami boxes and made everyone laugh when I blew them up. They waited and entertained me for a long time and then both gave me a kiss when the train was leaving and we exchanged adios.

Now dark, the Hershey Electric Train rumbled, bounced, careened and crackled into the night. Large electric flashes from the working trolley flashed bright green and illumanated the scenery for a moment almost as brightly as my 2 compadras during the day.

taking the Hersey electric train

Today Iamleaving Havana Veija and crossing an inlet to Casablanca. There, is the only electric train in Cuba. In 1917 the Hershey Chocolate Company built this line to Matanzas. Apparently it stops at every pit stop along the way. I'm hoping it will create a breeze. And I'm hoping I won't get lost.

Like last night. I started walking and walkingand the next thing I knew I was in sketchy sketcheramaand it was dark and everywhere I looked it got darker and darker, weirder and weirder. I put my camera away. There are these bicyle taxis everywhere. I found one and 5 pesos later I was back at Hotel Florida (of which I can't help but pronounce it Flo-RI-da. Look it up. It was a Hemingway favorite.

Other observations:

The elevator in my building goesout of commision for certain hours of the day. It is a rickety thing and there is a crumbling cement gap between the floor and the elevator on the first floor. It jerks to a start and slammsto a stop on your desired floor. Yesterday it didn't want to stop and sort of jerked between floors. I was slightly drunk from Mohitos and didn'tseemto mind but fretted that I might sweat to death in it's chamnber. Maybe I should walk up the steap narrow stairwell instead??

Off in the distance someone is playing The Beatles "Yesterday" on oboe. The big hotel are cool oasis with internet and cheezy music.

Off for the Hersey Train!

xoxo
Jill

veija

DSC03938, originally uploaded by Simon 2000.

At the end of the day I see these cars belching caustic fumes, rolling down the slick ashphalt streets packed with Cubans like salty sardines in a blue tin can. Transportation is dismal. If there are buses, there are no route maps. They are inevitably packed if you see one, or the bus stop has 50 people waving bits of paper in their faces in effort to create a breeze.

It's hot.

And the women wear the tighest clothes. Only tourists are in gauzy coton skirts. I packed foolishly. I will not wear the jeans and sweater I packed for Toronto. You sweat geting dressed. I will likely wash out and wear everyday my cotton cargo shorts and my 2 coton tops.

The food is meat and bread focused. Anyone who says you will find times of no food is mistaken. You can get food everywhere and all hours. There are even ber vending machines on the street. It's hard to find vegetables. Salad is cabbage and carrot. Probably because they last the longest in the heat. I did have a cheese platter in hopes of Cuban cheese, but it was cheddar, edam, and parmesan. The bread was slightly toasted and stale. The lemondade was real.

No one sems to have a decent coffee.

All the music is slight cuban versions of bad lounge music. Barry Manilow type stuff. No Gypsy Kings yet, thank god. Buena Vista Social Club is closed.

BTW- this is not my photo, but I have sen this frame- old car, many cubans investigating. Another day and it's impossible to take a bad photo.

Habana

Habana - Cuba 17, originally uploaded by Helio Rocha.

Umm. she sits here and sells Cuba to the tourists. Today she is all in red. Mmn. I will watch and see what she is wearing tomorrow.

I look forward to showing my own photos. I have found it is difficult to take a bad one.

Having lots of fun on my 1st day in Havana. It's very beautiful, lovely and hot.

Habana

All is well in Havana.

Strange and wonderful, old, hot, busy, crumbling and lively.

Last night I got on my flight and I wish it hadn't have been in the middle of the night or the view from the window would have been more spectacular.

Observations of last night:

-was photographed coming into the country
-pass through security and xray of luggage coming in to Cuba
-woman standing next to me at the luggage carousel was smoking
-everyone wanted to be my cab driver
-the cab ride from the airport was fast
-lots of car stopped on the side of the road
-people standing around along side the road
-this was at 2:30 am??
-saw buses full of people going places
-lost 20 pesos somewhere between money exchange and counting money on casa bed

My Casa Particulare or room in a private home is very nice. Only a top sheet and another sheet on the bed and 2 pillow. You don't need anything else. It's hot. Very hot.

My host was very pleased when I gave her a giant slab of soap. I was asked for soap when talking to someone. Apparently it is hard to get?

My Casa is on Calle Obispo. A very busy and lively street in Old Havana.

More observations:

-lots of selling Cuba to the tourists
-someone dressed up as Che, another woman in traditional costume smoking cigars.
-small bottle of water 5 pesos, a few blocks a way- 1 litre is 1.50
-lots of small stray dogs. Some of them look dead just laying on the ground. I feel sorry for them.
-it's impossible to take a bad photo.
-lots of old fords just like you hear.
-the big hotels are havans of coolness and luxury.
-found one with this Internet access and the whole lobby and entrance is beautifully tiled.

Everything is well. It's lovely and I'm having a great time. I feel safe, but sweaty.

xoxo
Jill

bliss

bliss, originally uploaded by jill y.

chelsea garden

chelsea garden, originally uploaded by jill y.

Good news for the Chelsea Hotel. The oppressive and diabolical management staff that ousted long time manager, Stanley Bard has been fired.

Bard is largely responsible for fostering the bohemian spirit of the Chelsea- long allowing people to defer rent payments to art. He turned an eye to the rock musicians, drunkard authors and creative spirits and let them roam free through the halls and gilded banisters.

I hope he get's his job back.

Good news!!

in case you were wondering...

I'm off to Cuba in a day or two. I hope to successfully remove myself from the internet. If you see an update- be surprised, very surprised that I have torn myself away from old cars, mohitos, and the fact that I am in Havana.

xoxo
Jill

touch me

touch me, originally uploaded by jill y.

Blissfully unaware of the 1970's

Blissfully unaware, originally uploaded by jill y.

"Convert the World to Your Methods"

not happy 1, originally uploaded by jill y.

Tips for getting a great tattoo:

1. ask for a quote
2. confirm work and time line involved

I have a lovely tattoo on my right arm (showing left in the photo), in a beautiful Art Nouveau design of wheat and rosebuds. It shaded with black and grey ink, with white ink. Over time, this has turned to a bluish- grey. I commissioned a complimenting piece for my other arm. Same style, wheat, this time with open blooms and barbed wire.

I booked my appointment and went through the back and forth of designs. I was not told of the fact my chosen artist was booked to the yingyang or offered a 2nd booking. I sat for the initial outline and when told I would wait 7 months for a 2nd appointment, asked for an alternative. She would see me after hours at an increased rate from 160/hr to 180/hr. I agreed.

side note: my 2nd appointment clearly interfered with some plans with a friend as the friend showed up and was told, "sorry, Jill has an appointment." Said friend returned with an hour left on the session. After paying $700, the friend said, quote: "Now get lost!" and right in front of the tattoist. Clearly it was fucked up attempt to cover her annoyance of her "friend time" interrupted by my tattoo booking. The next day I saw the same girl in a grocery store and point blank told her to her face it was "really rude", "made me feel like shit after sitting for a 4 hr tattoo and $700 later" and "it had really bothered me and I was glad to get it off my chest." I do believe the choice to speak my mind has affected the future course of my tattoo.

After my piece healed, it was hard not to notice and wonder what exactly I had paid for. The lines were noticeable fainter, paler and washed out. Lines that had been tattooed TWICE. This is not fun on sensitive spots. So- I called to discuss. Being that my tattoo artist is "so booked up", you can't just walk in and talk to her. The receptionist said to write an email so I did and because I continue to be pissed at the $1100 dollars I "spent" getting this amount of work, the rudeness of her friend in front of her, and the lack communicated "time lines" or cost.. I'm posting the emails unedited except to remove names.

From: Jill

Sent: April 1, 2008 8:52 PM

To:________

Subject: wheat tattoo

Hi ________,

I meant to write this a lot sooner than today.

Without trying to offend you- I’ll just jump to the point.

I’m having a few concerns with the tattoo on my left arm. The issue is the current cost and darkness of the tattoo. It is noticeably paler than the older tattoo on my right arm.

This concerns me because I have sat for the initial outline and another session to shade. My understanding was that there would be further sessions to shade the barbed wire and color the flowers.

The tattoo line work has been done twice and shading once but the result is much fainter and paler and the 2 tattoos do not match in tone. Because I have paid approx $400 for the outline and $700 for the 2nd session and with the result- I’m not happy with it.

I did mention to you that I wanted the flowers to be a light washed color and showed you some drawings in a Charles Rennie book, but it has always been my intention that the 2 pieces match in look, design, tone and shading and I thought you understood that as well.

I’m not sure where to go from here. I would prefer that you sat me for no charge to have the tattoo brought up to match the other arm in shading- minus the shading in the barbed wire and color of the flowers.

Please let me know what your thoughts are on this and where we can go from here.

Thanks,

Jill

From________

Date: April 11, 2008 1:09:03 PM PDT (CA)

To: ________

Subject: RE: wheat tattoo

Hi ________,

I haven’t heard back from you regarding the email I sent earlier.

I have attached pictures that show the issues I am unhappy about.

I would like to hear your response about this. I don’t know if I should come in to talk to you directly as you’re pretty booked up. However, I do need to move forward as I want the tattoo to be completed. Are you willing to help me resolve this situation?

I hope so.

Thanks for your time,
Jill

From:________
Sent:April 15, 2008 8:42 PM
To: ________
Subject: wheat tattoo

Hi Jill.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you as I was away in Ontario and just got back. I take care of all ________'s correspondence so it was not that she was neglecting to respond.

She has now read your e-mails and has asked me to relay the following information.

________absolutely did understand that you wanted the two pieces to match in look, design, tone and shading but as you wanted the 2nd arm to be shades of grey as opposed to black lines and shading (or the colors of the original) it is a process which takes time. The look would have always been somewhat different as the first arm had green and white in it, but would have been complimentary and well matched. She was clear on your intention for the flowers but they had not yet been started.

The cost for the 2nd session was $80 above what it would have been at the regular rate and was proposed by you as compensation for getting in immediately and not waiting the full 8 months for a standard opening.

For ________ there is the additional issue of your missed March 12th apt with no notice. We were unable to fill that spot on such short notice and so lost income on that day.

________ understands that at this point you are unhappy with your piece but feels fully confident that by the time your final session was complete your pieces would have been completed as per your original request. She does not feel that there is cause for her to complete your tattoo free of charge. She is willing to finish your piece but it would be at her regular rate and in the time frame that her current bookings allow. She understands if you choose to get your piece finished elsewhere as the two of you seem to have reached a point where your views differ significantly.

Please let us know if you would like to book a further apt and if not she wishes you well.

Thanks

________

From: ________
Sent: Tue, 15-4-2008 9:14pm
To: ________
Cc: ________
Subject: RE: wheat tattoo

Hi ________

Thanks for the response.

I'll take a moment to comment back...

The entire look of the 2nd arm was to match the 1st, as Teresa understood in "look, design, tone and shading". My first arm is shades of grey with white and black line work. Currently, the basic black line work of the 2nd^ndtattoo is noticeably paler than the other arm and has been tattooed twice. Regrettably, it was not discussed openly the “time it would take”.

My right arm or 1st^sttattoo does not have green in it. It was done with black, white and grey ink in shades of grey and a very light pink in the rosebuds.

I apologize for missing my booked appointment but as that was booked after hours; I am unclear how Teresa lost income on that day with the short notice preventing her from filling the spot. I was unaware she normally booked after hour appointments and only did so by special request and additional cost. Once again, my apologies for any inconvenience.

I am surprised that an expression of my disappointment, and the request for discussion along with what I felt might be a solution is met with a statement that our view points “appear to differ significantly”. I was hoping to be able to meet a compromise of sorts, if possible.

I continue to be disappointed in the result of the current tattoo with the length of time and cost incurred thus far. With ________'s response of how to continue forward and with the consultations I have had with other tattoo artists of the work, I feel that I am better suited to have the tattoo completed in a more agreeable timeframe, to my schedule and wallet with someone else.

Thanks again for relaying the information and the follow up.

not happy 2, originally uploaded by jill y.

By the way- both these tattooes cost the SAME- $1100.00, but she stands behind her work??

So let this be a lesson. Ask what they are doing. How long they are doing it for and how much they think they will eventually milk from your wallet. If their friends are point blank rude in front of their customers- think again about where you take your business.

Bess is one helluva photographer!!!

diaper change, originally uploaded by bess grant.

covet

covet, originally uploaded by jill y.