off to the Big Revolution in the sky

On the streets of Havana. Che is on the passenger door. This was the first Fidel I saw, which made me realize how outnumbered he was by the images of Che.

Fidel Castro died last Friday, at the age of 90. Although he had been ill for many years, stepping aside from the presidency in 2006 and then resigning in 2008 and passing the office to his brother Raúl, he was still a powerful and polarizing figurehead. Holding office since 1959, he was perhaps one of the most recognizable heads of state in the world. However, on the trip to Cuba I took a couple of years ago, images of Che Guevara – who was actually from Argentina – were much more prevalent than those of Fidel. Perhaps since Che is dead, and can’t say how his image is used, or maybe it’s the martyr aspect, that he’s been iconized, become shorthand for “Revolution” and commoditized for the tourists. In any case, here are the images of or references to Fidel I came across in my travels. And maybe it’s not the Big Revolution he’s gone to, but a neverending ping pong game that he always wins.

Statue at the Museum of the Revolution. Los Barbudos (the bearded ones) – Che, Fidel and Camilo Cienfuegos

Photograph at the Museum of the Revolution

Postcard at the Museum of the Revolution. History might have been different if he were a better baseball player.

In a shed at the farm we visited in the countryside.

Billboard along the highway on the way back to Havana.

At the ice cream parlor in Havana.

At the ice cream parlor in Havana.

At the airport.

If Fidel was scarce, Raul was even more so. This was the only reference to him that I saw.

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