| MONOMAD | The Present

First of all, I must apologise if, after a few "days of absence", I come across as more mystical than usual, but there is an explanation for everything.

Sometimes life places us in situations that are hard to absorb; moments in which anyone might lose their way, even those with unwavering faith. You pause, you reflect, you process... and silence becomes a wise companion. It helps to arrange everything within oneself.

But yesterday (it’s still the 6th of September here in Cuba), I stumbled upon... something tucked away in a forgotten corner. It read: Ask the Universe for proof that you are a powerful manifestor. Tell it to deliver a present tomorrow—let it choose whatever it wishes to give you. Let it know you are open to receiving whatever it may be, and that you’ll delight in being surprised.

😃

And so began my day today, which I shall now recount in reverse, as my contribution to this #Monomad Challenge, with warm greetings to the wonderful team behind this Community.

This photo holds so many details, you’d need to zoom in to catch them all. At first glance, it’s easy to think it’s simply the reflection in a car window. But there’s a story unfolding here: two photographers caught in the frame, a car bearing a sign that reads Jesus Christ, taxis, a building propped up with supports, a bricklayer making repairs, a man sipping something, a woman crossing the street... and surely, somewhere in the mix, a ghost.

(If something else catches your eye, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.)

There’s an invisible photographer in there somewhere... I do hope you spot them. 😁

Havana is such a photogenic city. These were the last images I captured before heading home, feeling joyful after receiving an early morning invitation to do a bit of street photography.

Those of you who know me and follow my posts will be aware that I’m usually on my own—and most of the time, on my bike. This time, though, I left my two-wheeled friend at home.

It’s actually a mattress brand, but in the story I’m telling you, these shoes belong right here. Mine weren’t particularly comfortable for all that walking, I must admit.

And this—believe it or not—was an old window someone was selling from a doorway. I crouched slightly, brought the camera close to its shutters, and aimed in that direction. The Universe, in its quiet mischief, made sure the sign on that building read “white”—because just above it, the light of my angels, I suppose, would go on to overexpose the photo.

“Fin de siglo” is a sign that’s been there for centuries—well, almost!

Let me tell you: the building once housed a thriving bazaar, owned by Galician immigrants. It opened its doors in 1897 and, over the years, came to rival some of the finest retail establishments in the world—think El Corte Inglés, for instance. That was until 1960, when it was nationalised...

They say that if you want to manifest a wish, you must repeat it three times. Perhaps that’s why the person who wrote “You need to be happy” didn’t settle for just one line. 🤷‍♀

Don’t think I’m going to leave you with half the story... Let’s recap: it all began with an invitation to do some street photography.

Photographers do tend to adopt awkward poses for the sake of a shot, don’t we?

I’m not quite sure what she was photographing, but I documented the pose.

There we are, on the wall of the Malecón, inching closer to the place where it all began. Still, I invite you to check out her Instagram profile.

I truly enjoyed watching her work and chatting about photography, and the personal meaning it holds for each of us. The gleam in a gaze lit by passion can effortlessly spark the fire of inspiration.

This was the only shot I managed to take before a police officer asked everyone to leave—it’s forbidden to remain on that stretch of coastline. In the distance, you can see our lighthouse at Morro Castle.

It was here, on Playa del Chivo, that she invited me to wander through Havana together, camera in hand. How deeply grateful I am—to her, and to the Universe—for this present.

I had another lifer today—a first sighting!
This one was an American Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), and we went there because members of the Birdwatching Club had planned to gather—those who could—to celebrate World Shorebirds Day by doing a count.

It seems the great migration has already begun.

Early in the morning, I got into a taxi from my home to Old Havana, where I was meant to meet eekahlo so we could cross the Bay Tunnel together in another vehicle.

I suddenly realised I was short—missing 100 CUP in cash—and didn’t have enough to cover the fare. I must have pulled a face of quiet panic, because the man sitting beside me noticed.

The thing is, although I had money on my magnetic cards, I knew it would be a problem once I had to explain that to the driver. Lately, no one accepts transfers—everyone wants cash. And that man, without hesitation, took 100 CUP from his wallet and gave them to me.

No matter how much I insisted on transferring the amount to him, he refused.

It was the first present I received on this day—something I truly needed.

The Universe works in mysterious and beautiful ways.

That’s the thought I carry now, as I write these lines for you.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these modest images too.

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_{Original content by @nanixxx. All rights reserved ©, 2025.
Every image I include in my posts is mine. When it’s not, I credit the source in a caption.}