III Harley Davidson Rally (Encuentro Harlista!)

This past weekend, I was thrust into one of Cuba’s most prismatic and emblematic subcultures and scenes: I rode along on the country’s first Harley rally, when over 50 riders made their way to Varadero on pre-1960 bikes from as far as Pinar del Río and Camagüey for three days in hog heaven. As you may imagine, my muse was working overtime in this new and captivating environment, populated by cool people with their own language and subtext. Since everything I know about biker culture I learned from Easy Rider and Altamont, I was keen to experience the 1er Encuentro Nacional de Harlistas Cubanos firsthand.


  • Havana Howlers 7’s Rugby Tournament

    Havana Howlers 7’s Rugby Tournament  LH 4

    Lets be honest, Havana is not known for it’s rugby so it was something of a surprise to see rugby posts erected and some pretty formidable looking men (and woman) limbering up last weekend at the Edua …

    Cubadanza

    Cubadanza  LH 4

    The two-week long International Workshop on Cuban Modern Dance, Cubadanza, aims at professional dancers and students, teaches different Cuban popular rhythms and dances from which Cuban modern dance d …

    2012 Havana Dog Show: Mad dogs & Englishmen

    2012 Havana Dog Show: Mad dogs & Englishmen  LH 4

    Even an Englishman out for a stroll in the mid-day Caribbean sunshine might be tempted to loosen his tie, perhaps even lose the jacket, and as the humidity rises to 100% and the temperature dial goes …

    The Havana Carnival: 1573 to 2014

    The Havana Carnival: 1573 to 2014  LH 4

    Today, the Havana carnival provokes mixed feelings from Habaneros. On one hand, the complaints that locals voice are numerous: too much reggaeton, too much drinking and, of course, too high a possibil …

    Pampered pooches at the Havana Dog Show

    Pampered pooches at the Havana Dog Show  LH 4

    Collectively, the Cuban people are crazy about dogs—literally, certifiably crazy. A clinical diagnosis might be mass bipolar disorder, with some Cubans abjectly irrationally terrified of the fluffiest …

    Festival Romerías de Mayo: Memoria Nuestra (Our Memories)

    Festival Romerías de Mayo: Memoria Nuestra (Our Memories)  LH 4

    On May 3, 1790, the Franciscan friar Antonio de Alegría placed a cross on the hill that marks the geographic north of the city of Holguín. The people of Holguín would make pilgrimages each year to the …

    Premio Casa de las Américas 2014

    Premio Casa de las Américas 2014  LH 4

    Initiated in Havana in 1960 to draw attention to the most significant literary production in Latin America—and at a later date, the Caribbean, too—in the genres of poetry, novel, short story, essay, t …

    Caldosa & rum for the fiesta del barrio

    Caldosa & rum for the fiesta del barrio  LH 4

    “Yanisleidys! Do you have any cumin?” “Are you ever going to learn to buy cassava?” “Caballero, if you drink all the rum now, all you’ll have for the party will be water!” From street to street, neigh …

    Romerías de Mayo

    Romerías de Mayo  LH 4

    As every year, the city of Holguín is getting ready to receive hundreds of creators from every manifestation of the arts. In its 20th edition, 200 artists from 25 countries have confirmed their partic …

    Marcha de las Antorchas: A tribute to José Martí

    Marcha de las Antorchas: A tribute to José Martí  LH 4

    The writings of one man have enlightened and inspired Cubans for over a century. This man is José Martí, and every year on January 27, students and workers gather together to celebrate his birth in th …

    « 4 of 8 pages »