This past weekend my daughter Tania visited Caimanera, the town here in Guantanamo Province just north of the US naval base; it was her first time. Previously she had been told about the existence of the nearby American base, when and how it arose, and what it means to most Cubans.
Read MoreA piquetero (a jitney station attendant) could be the name for the occupation of those who work in a piquera: a terminal of jitney taxis, which are cars that carry a number of independent passengers along pre-set routes.
Read MoreMany Cubans who immigrate to Miami are seeking to improve their standard of living. There, within easy arm’s reach, lies everything needed for the family shopping basket, which seen from the island appears more like a divine satchel of riches (except for health care, of course).
Read MoreAt one point in her life, Amelia acted with violence. She stabbed her husband. He simply pushed her to the edge.
Read MoreI don’t believe there exists any culture in the Western world in which a visit by one’s in-laws doesn’t translate into something like a slow-motion nightmare with hints of tragicomedy.
Read MoreThe first time I heard about the “Ladies in White,” I considered these women to be exceptionally brave to protest and demonstrate in Cuba, a country where holding an opinion against the social system is a crime punishable by law. Since then I’ve read more about the group online.
Read MoreI met some writers from Havana Times a little over two years ago. They were intelligent people who had a lot to say and knew how to say it. The online magazine was the medium.
Read MoreYesterday, in the midst of the tumult of trying to get on the bus, a friend who was with me was hemmed in by two pickpockets set on stealing her camera. She managed to fend off the assault by clutching the small apparatus and staring squarely into the eyes of one of them with a menacing stare.
Read MoreThis was the second time I came out for this poetry festival, and on both occasions I perceived a street vibe with loads of swing and lots of irreverence and creativity within the framework of the performances, which were always in line with the urban nature that characterizes these events.
Read MoreThe city of Sancti Spiritus doesn’t smell bad. There’s no garbage set out along the streets or perpetual mounds rubble or the suffocating odor of diesel. Instead, when the sun sets, the city’s gardens give it the fragrance of night-blooming jasmine.
Read More