“My mojito in La Bodeguita and my daiquiri in El Floridita.”
As one might assume, the Hemingway Look-Alike Society (HLAS) is a group of men resembling Ernest Hemingway.
Every year, on the writer's birthday, they host a weeklong festival in Key West–'Hemingway Days'–where they host their annual look-alike contest.
If you win, you become a 'Papa' and are in the HLAS fraternity for life.
Only a few contestants know that to be a 'Papa,' you need more than to look the part. It often takes years of contribution to their charitable causes.
As part of their ongoing commitment to charitable endeavors, the Hemingway Look-Alike Society recently embarked on a mission to Cuba, a country closely tied to Ernest Hemingway's legacy. This journey was a tribute to Hemingway's life and works and a significant humanitarian effort.
The group, comprised of 'Papas' who have earned their title in the HLAS fraternity, and 'Wannabes,' –several men trying to one day become a Papa–brought nearly one ton of supplies to assist the Cuban people, including the Gigi All Stars, a youth baseball team originally established by Hemingway.
The Hemingway's immersed themselves in the culture during their stay in Cuba. They stayed in local accommodations and supported Cuban businesses by dining at community restaurants. The presence of the Hemingway look-alikes was met with enthusiasm, as they were warmly received and treated like celebrities across Havana.
The visual story of this venture highlights the dual nature of their mission: providing tangible assistance to a community in need and strengthening the cultural and historical ties between Cuba and the legacy of Ernest Hemingway.
The photographs you see below were my snapshots of the little moments behind the scenes and were not intended to be a part of my photo essay, which you can find here. Enjoy.
