Cuba Archives - Page 140 of 519

Suffering to Celebrate

My grandmother’s birthday is approaching, perhaps her last, and my mother is pulling out her savings. My grandmother asks for a cake.

Highs will be between 31 and 33ºC (88 and 91 F), and the lows at 24 and 25ºC (75 and 77 F). The sea surface temperature will be 30ºC (86 F).

“People underestimate garbage, especially in this poor country, but some throw away things that are still useful: wood, rebar, furniture.”

A ration of personal hygiene supplies that are reduced to soap, toothpaste and perhaps a little detergent to wash clothes.

Almost 10 years have passed between this and my previous publication in Havana Times. A lot can happen in a decade.

Just when the heat is at its peak in this country, the government acknowledges the existence of another serious crisis in power generation.

A friend’s father passed away. He was a young man, 66, but had many illnesses: diabetes, hypertension, and he smoked like a chimney.

Today’s featured artist is Alex Cuba from Cuba with an NPR Tiny Desk Concert recorded in 2023.

The big surprise at the Caracas gathering was the reappearance of opposition leader María Corina Machado before thousands of supporters.

There is no water, the toilet bowls are full, it stinks and the doors are broken. Girls are the ones who have it the worst.