Spending a night in Cancun on a Planet Hollywood-Hard Rock Cafe ridden strip was not our idea of fun, or intrepid low-rent travel. But that's just what Paul, Jeannie and I had to do. Our diva compatriots, sound woman Pam and shooter Cheryl got stuck in Nassau. At least they got clam fritters. All we got were frat boys with Platinum cards on spring break. Darn that El Niño.

NO ESTAMPILLA? The Cuban officials didn't stamp our passports at customs. Strange. I guess they're keen to the typical American's dicey political situation when traveling to Cuba. Arriving in stormy Havana a day late made for quite a scramble in our premiere interview with diva cum filmmaker Gloria Rolando, who is headed out of town. It was worth it though. Her drive to create films is infectious and she articulates her philosophies so well. The admirable fall-out of conviction I guess.
      We cruised Chinatown, where Gloria grew up and wove in and out of vegetable stalls. Taking in the sight of hulking pig heads (limply attached to sagging, fly-covered, carved-to-the-bone torsos) with mouths propped open by rosy red apples, quickly curbed our appetites. The neighborhood was tiny, and oddly lacking in people of Asian descent. We will have to ask Gloria about this when we hook up with her at the end of the trip.
      Gloria's latest film is about the American Black Panther Assata Shakur, who broke out of prison in the United States in the mid-seventies and sought asylum in Cuba. Gloria has greased the way for us to meet her. Shakur isn't on our "schedule," but heck if we're going to pass up an opportunity to meet such a controversial character in American political history. Shakur was called "the soul of the Black Panther movement;" vilified by the New Jersey State police, martyred by the left. I vaguely remember pinned up posters of her on hippie walls.

— Holly