LIFE IN TRANSIT: PUBLIC ENCOUNTERS
Santiago de Cuba, 2022-2023
In Santiago de Cuba, the rhythm of daily life hinges on public transport. For most residents, private vehicles remain out of reach. Yet, traveling by public transport is more than a practical necessity—it is a lesson in navigating scarcity. Since the 1990s, Cuba has faced enduring shortages of fuel, vehicles, and spare parts. These challenges have left the public transport system strained. The waiting times have increased, and so have the fares. The gaps in the system are filled by a fleet of trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, horse carts, and even a small bus once part of an amusement park. Each day brings uncertainty—waiting at a bus stop becomes an act of patience, with hours often spent anticipating a ride that lasts mere minutes.
Amid this uncertainty, mobility in Santiago is shaped by countless interactions. Passengers exchange information about the day’s available transport and offer help to the most vulnerable, upholding a sense of solidarity. Conversations and shared humor transform waiting into an opportunity for connection. Together, passengers navigate the unwritten rules of horizontal organization: ensuring safety, collectively addressing disruptions, and reminding one another of Covid-era precautions with kindness. This photo series, taken in 2022 and 2023, offers an external view of mobility in Santiago, capturing the spontaneity and resilience of these shared journeys, shot through the eyes of a visitor.
