I can’t say that I was all that fond of Cienfuegos, Cuba. Having an international airport contributes to the city’s intent to be a major tourist hub, but I came away with the impression that the city was rather dirty. Not because there was trash in the streets – if Cuban streets are anything, they’re very clean – but rather because a cement factory on the edge of town was constantly belching out smoke and dust. We became accustomed to it after a few days, but it wasn’t until we passed back through the city later on that we realized just how thick the air really was.

I don’t remember what the guidebook told us about the city, but as with most areas of Cuba, it’s usually better to ask around for the things worth doing. In Cienfuegos, people recommended that we catch the ferry and go to the other end of the Bay. There were islands you could visit, a tour of the Moorish castle that was originally built to defend the mouth of the bay, and a derelict nuclear power plant on one shore that remains 80% complete after the Soviets pulled out in the 80s. It didn’t sound overwhelmingly touristy, but frankly, just being out on the water sounded pretty good to me.

After checking out the Moorish fort, our little group found itself waiting for the ferry’s return. I spent the time roaming the shoreline, looking for something to take a picture of. I saw a skiff tied to the shore and worked my way across the slippery rocks, trying to get a good angle on it. I remember taking care to get both the dilapidated house and the bobbing boat into the frame – I liked they way they seemed to balance each other out. I wasn’t until I had the photo blown up that I noticed all the other activity going on in the background; The old woman washing clothes on the porch, the tugboat going around the bend, the lone seagull flying in front of the swelling clouds…

I enjoy photographs that hold little surprises for people that take the time to give them more than just a cursory glance.