So I'm back in the US after an amazing whirlwind journey in Cuba for 8 days, then through Mexico, TX, NM, AZ, & CA in 4 days!!!

Our days in Cuba were jam-packed; meeting local politicians & community & church leaders; visiting monuments to Che & other Cuban heroes; talking with veterans who fought with Che; walking through historic Habana & Trinidad; visiting hospitals, nursing homes, & the Latin American School of Medicine, where aspiring doctors from areas with poor medical services can study for free; visiting an organic farm cooperative & being treated to a feast complete with a roast pig; attending a modern dance performance & hearing lots of local music. There was also a concert where hip-hop artists from Cuba & the US performed together.

I'm still trying to sort it all out in my head. I took lots of photos which I'll add to my tribe profile at some point (getting internet access on this trip has been challenging). My fellow caravanista, Janine, has an amazing blog complete with photos & audio & video clips. Check it out: cubajourney.blogspot.com

I leave tomorrow for Wolf Creek, OR for a permaculture & sustainability gathering. I'll be back in Van on Aug 4. Till then...

Hi folks,

We've made it to Salt Lake City, via Seattle, Bremerton, Olympia, Portland, Boise, & Pocatello, ID. It's hot & dry here!

We have an event tonight at Mestizo coffeehouse, sponsored by the Brown Berets (a latino youth organization). Tomorrow we head to Las Vegas.

Events have been going very well - some are well attended, others are smaller, but everyone we've met has been really supportive & hospitable.

Don't have time to fill in the details now, but will try to post more soon. Janine, one of my fellow caravanistas, also has a blog, complete with photos, audio & video interviews. Here's the addy: cubajourney.blogspot.com

Hasta la vista,

Jim ;-)

That's how I spent the day today. We had a free day in Seattle, so I took the bus to Ravenna Park & I walked through Ravenna Ravine - a nice bit of wildness in the city. Then I continued on to Lake Washington & walked along the shore. I enjoyed the views across the lake, the multitude of birds, the cottonwoods, & a beautiful community garden. I caught the wrong bus home, so still had to walk 40 blocks back to the house. All told, I was walking from 2:30 til 9 PM, including breaks & bus rides.

Last night we had an event in Seattle at El Centro de la Raza, an old school which has been converted into a vibrant latino community centre. There was a very hospitable & supportive group there who treated us to their potluck dinner. We spoke about the Cuba caravan, then helped fill a pickup truck with aid for Cuba. The aid was sent on to Olympia to be transferred to the bus which we will take for the remainder of the trip.

Tomorrow we take a ferry to Bremerton in the afternoon, attend an event at the Unitarian Church, then continue on to Olympia for the night.

That's all for now.

Here are the details for upcoming Pastors for Peace events in Bremerton & Olympia:

Wednesday, June 18. 6 PM
Unitarian Church, 4718 Perry Ave, Bremerton
potluck dinner & caravan speakers.

Thursday, June 19. 6 PM
Media Island, 816 Adams Street, Olympia, Washington

I'll be there. Will you?

It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday as we gathered at Peace Arch Park for the start of the Cuba Caravan. There was a large group of people there from Van. Is, Vancouver, Bellingham, & Seattle. We sang songs, listened to speeches, & ate food, then we (the caravanistas) walked to the border crossing. We had anticipated problems with the authorities, but they just asked us our citizenship & waved us through (my easiest border crossing ever). We were supported by a large group holding banners, chanting, & singing. There were also several vehicles from Victoria loaded with aid items for Cuba which also crossed the border. Then we loaded the aid into other vehicles, got into cars, & drove to Seattle.

I've met some very interesting people, including my fellow caravanistas. Seven of us crossed the border, including a woman from Manchester (Hazel). She has travelled extensively & has a good sense of humour. Our group is a mix of younger & older folks, but they all (except me) seem to be very involved with activist & Cuba solidarity organizations, so I feel like the new kid on the block. The folks we're staying with were pioneers in the activist community in Seattle.

Tonight we're at a potluck event at El Centro de la Raza in Beacon Hill, Seattle. Tomorrow we have a free day, then ferry across to Bremerton on Wed for an event at the Unitarian Church (4718 Perry Ave, 6 PM).

I'll send another update soon from the road.