Since my first visit to Cuba in 1991, I have as often as possible visited a farming family in the valley of Viñales, in the eastern part of the country. The family has become like a second family for me, always welcoming and always happy to see me again. As I am to see them.
After being done teaching this year’s Cuba workshop, which I have already written a couple of posts about, I once again returned to the family. I spent a couple days with them, unfortunately not having time for a longer stay. It was nevertheless a pleasant reunion.
Since the first time I more or less coincidently came across them, the family has transformed notably. Some of the family members have died and new generations have been born over the years. I first became acquainted with the old couple, Miguel and Catalina, who were the head of the family more then 25 years ago. Both are now deceased. Miguel died nine years ago, while Catalina passed away last year.
Today it’s their two sons and their daughter who is taking care of the family’s land. And grandchildren are already securing the next generation of farmers. The three families—the sons and daughter, included their spouses and kids—share the land and live the same simple life the family has done for as long as they can remember.
They don’t have much, but they always want to share whatever they have. Food, coffee, a smoke or just the evening under an open sky talking together. I always leave the family in Viñales feeling richer and more grounded than when I arrived. I am moved by their hospitality and joy of life—despite the hardship making a living of the land.
I have written about my family previously in these posts: Back from Cuba, Where Time Stand Stills, A Family of Farmers and My Second Family.
In Flow with Otto 
It’s wonderful you share your 2nd family with us. You give us a glimpse of their lives and it feels like we have watched them grow as well. Beautiful photos, lovely memories.
Thank you for the lovely response, Michelle. Sometimes I am wondering if it gets too personal, 🙂
I agree with Michelle’s comment. And I don’t think it’s too personal at all. I’m grateful for the opportunity to feel a bit of a personal connection with people I could never know otherwise.
I actually agree with both of you. Thank you, León.
I love that you have this connection with the family. I’m sure it does feel very much like going home.
It sure does. Thank you, Mary.
I am always very touched to see that throughout the world there are families which go on working the land, as have done their parents, instead of running to the cities hoping to become rich!!💐My very best regards Martina
That is both touching and beautiful I think. Thanks, Martina.
excuse me, Otto, my adding that going to the big cities may also be positive, if one doesn’t get dependent on food produced by Nestle or other such companies! All the best Martina
Oh, I agree. I love cities (but not companies like Nestle).
👍💐🦍🌃
Very touched what you wrote @Otto, lovely people with their usual lives, amazing!
I am glad you think so. Thank you, Della.
You write a beautiful post on your family. How nice to meet again!
It was indeed very nice to meet again. 🙂
I could feel it in your narrative.
How lovely to be able to revisit and see their changing lives, which also stay the same. Nice post.
Thank you. 🙂
Very nice pictures. We can see the real live. I was in Vinales in 2002. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Viñales has changed quite a bit since 2002. At least the town itself, if not the family I keep visiting. 🙂
Love it, and love country parts of Cuba
Thank you, Francine.
How fabulous for you to have made such a connection with this beautiful family!
Wonderful pictures, Otto
Thank you, Dale.
Marvelous photos and story to accompany it. How fortunate the family and you are to know each other.
I do feel very fortunate. 🙂
Great share 🌸
Thank you, Kymmiee.
This sounds like a wonderful experience with this family. I’m glad you are able to spend the time and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
Thanks for the comment, Ken.
Lovely story of this family, bet they were proud to have you as a ‘friend, from so far away.
As I am proud to have them as my friends. 🙂
Thank you, Otto for sharing your special time you spent with your second family. I’m moved by your stories and beautiful photos.
I thank you for the lovely words, Amy.
This is a beautiful post, Otto! Farm life, the old kind, IS very grounding and joyful… when i was young, i had two uncles, they each had a farm, one was new technology, the other was age old ‘technology’… and i much preferred the age old farm, where the animals were happy and so was everybody else… i wanted to move from the big city to be on that farm.
Of course such life is also very hard. I know your feeling, but also know it’s easy to idealize and romanticize the simple farm life. And I know it wouldn’t be for me. 🙂
i know, I would NEVER live on a farm now, but I sure wanted it as a child… but as a small child I never had to do any work lol
Wonderful! What a lovely post, full of caring compassion and a love of human values….brilliant that you are able to spend time with these people, Otto
I feel the same way. Thank you, Sue.
😊
Beautiful, makes one long to be there away from the hustle and bustle and tons of people…
Definitely one of the beauties of being in a remote place like this family’s farm.
Wonderful testimony of a warm relationship that has stood the test of time!
That is really the characteristic of a relationship, isn’t it.
A very nice story of your visit to the family and your long relationship with the family from the parents to the current generation. I can feel the happiness of the family living of the land and simple life.
It’s not an easy life, but in general they are very happy.
How wonderful it must be to reconnect with a family over many trips (and generations). Living a simple life with only the basics is something we can all benefit from. I think we better appreciate the good things in our own lives.
Love these shots, especially the 2nd and 4th images. They speak to me.
You’ve definitely changed something in your style of photographing people, Otto. There’s something different about the way you capture the essence of the person. It’s subtle but noticeable. Can’t exactly put my finger on it. The images seem more candid than ever before and as the viewer, I feel more connected with the people within the frame.
How you describe my photographic approach to people is something I really appreciate. It may be new or just and a continues development of my photography, but it makes me happy to know that I may be able to connect more strongly through my photographs. Thank you for the lovely feedback. Vicki.
Great series of photos Otto. Enjoyed reading about the wonderful relationship you have with this family.
I am glad you did. Thank you, Simon.
Wonderful photographs Otto and how nice to have this relationship with this family.
I do feel lucky to have become acquainted with this family. 🙂
Such lovely photographs, I am especially captivated by the young girl twirling the hem of her skirt and the boy who tends the goat. How fortunate are you to be connected to this beautiful family.
She is quite a character. I have a photo of her in a different post twirling her skirt. Thanks for the comment, Holly.
She’s adorable !
Hej Otto! Har varit inne hos dig en bra stund nu…har njutit av Cubabilderna, både från landsbygden och från Havanna…visst är väl några därifrån?, tycker mig känna igen vissa byggnader och vyer…men jag har kanske fel.
Hursomhelst så känner jag mig tillbakaflyttad för en liten stund och speciellt bilderna och berättelsen om “din familj” griper tag och gör mig ännu mer intresserad av att åka tillbaka.
Genuint, äkta och ärligt…det är alltid en lisa för själen att besöka dina sidor.
Joda, flere av bildene (unntatt i denne posten er fra Havanna. Jeg må innrømme at forholdet mitt til familien i Viñales er en av grunnene til at jeg så ofte vender tilbake – og det er veldig kjekt at det oppleves sånn i bildene. Jeg takk for de vakre ordene dine.
What a beautiful story of relationship and family. 🙂
I happy to hear. Thank you.
What treasured memories. I am fortunate to have similar memories and more from my month in Vietnam. I went with a colleague, we stayed with her family and traveled about the country. None of the tourist stuff. Perhaps one day I will get to Cuba? It was always on my list. However, since becoming an ex-pat and spending my time exploring France, I really have no desire to be elsewhere… 🙂
There are so many place in the world, but if you are happy where you are, then enjoy it there. No? Thank you for the comment, Léa.
So true and I’ve had some wonderful experiences in a variety of Countries. However when I moved here I found the home I had searched for all my life. It doesn’t get any better Otto. Enjoy!
I had a family like that when I first came to Alberta, a friend whom I met in the city took me to her family who lived on a farm. Nothing fancy but there was always plenty and I felt loved and included in all the holiday celebrations.Once I left my toothbrush there and it stayed in the holder beside the sink, and was always there for me when I came to visit. Your photos have that feel to it, of being home, like the colours in paintings of the romantic period.
It is quite special, isn’t, to feel loved and included in a place far away from home. Thank you for sharing your own experience, Jane.
There’s so much here that’s familiar: the bucket filled with grain or water: the chairs on the porch; the generations sharing life together; the kids just a little on the fringes, soaking it all in. It’s a world I recognize, even though the details of their life differ from the one I grew up in. It’s wonderful that they’ve allowed you in — but then again, not surprising. That’s what strong, stable families do. (They also nurture skirt-twirlers quite well!)
You description makes me laugh. And yes, you are very right, that’s what strong families do. Thank you for the lovely comment, Linda.
You are lucky to have such a long continuity with this family. Its no surprise that you feel richer and more grounded after spending time with them. Your photographs are just terrific – I love the colors, all the diagonals, the action, the heart.
I am happy to know that you like the photos. Thank you.
How wonderful to have such a special 2nd family, Otto.
Thank you for sharing here!
And thank you for the comment, Lisa.
It shows that people can be happy with the simpler things in life instead of just accruing constantly.
I so agree. Sometimes more is less, not only in photography. 🙂
It’s your good fortune to have more than one family to love. Thanks for sharing them with us.
I am very fortunate. Thank you, Linda.
These are members of the ‘Salt of the Earth’ people, the ones who teach us many lessons and who embrace us into their families. Time slows down, and for me, I wonder, “Do I really need to disconnect from this?” Obligations and responsibilities patiently await; we recharge our batteries and are stronger and better people when we leave….
I think being connected to people of the salt of the earth is good for maintaining one’s own balance and view on the meaning of life. In the moderne and technological world we too often get caught up in need for things that aren’t really important.
I met a very grounded and amazing man from Venezuela last night. A gifted and talented photographer, he traveled South America three years ago on his motorcycle and recently returned to his all -time favorite place – here in Jama… Our mutual friend was dumbfounded when she heard this – what was so special? Of course, one sometimes has to experience lots before appreciating that Salt of the Earth community.
It’s all about putting things in perspective, isn’t it. Before we know better, we dream of big life, money and what not. Only after having seen it all (if not having lived the jet set life) do you start to appreciate the simple life of the salt of the earth community.
What a wonderful gift that you have this family in your life!
I do feel like I am very lucky. Thank you, Max.