Jose told us of the “Special Period” which occurred during the 1990’s after the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Under Castro Communist Russia subsidized and controlled the Cuban economy. When the Soviet Union splintered Russian money was withdrawn. As a result the people of Cuba were thrown into a condition of extreme poverty. Castro named this time when Cuban people were forced to accommodate daily hardship and deprivation the “Special Period in Time of Peace”. In 2012 people talked of the “Special Period” with irony-laced tongues. Though things were getting better for people, they were still troubled by uncertainty and dread.
On our last afternoon in Cuba we visited the Fine Arts Museum. Cuba has a lively and thriving art culture that is unique to Caribbean island countries. As well as more contemporary art works the museum has a renowned heritage of Spanish and other European painters on exhibit. Art works are hung in rooms according to the time the artists painted them. Jose led us through the rooms telling us about the paintings and artists. Jose’s second favorite thing, after leading bicycle tours, is leading people through the art museum and introducing them to artists and their work. I loved especially seeing through the eyes of Cuban painters. Then we arrived at the room where art work of the 1990’s – the ‘Special Period” – was hung. The paintings screamed of chaos. Red paint thrown so I could feel the anger in the hurler’s arm. Fires of destruction, maybe purification. Eyes of monsters fiercely glowing. Paintings torn in confusion. Sculptures of bent and twisted bodies. Tears of ravaging grief. A canvas of total black.
This is Cuba, too.
poetrybyheart.me 
Wow what a shock to see the reality in the art , you have let us glimpse this period of terror in very strong images here and the terror is that these images are real , what a people , my heart goes out to them. Thanks again Viv for sharing your story it really has been a wonderful journey and there are still a few more to read for me thank you. Blessings and hugs from Kathy.xxx
Thanks Kathy. I’m glad my strong feelings came through in my writing. The Cubans are a special people to me. They have an enduring place in my heart. ❤