Diaries Archives - Page 467 of 633

More Details on Destroying Woods for Officials’ Homes

The Guardabosques Project has discovered more information about the cutting down of a grove of casuarinas trees in the town of Santa Fe. For the time being, all of the construction work has halted.

Cellphone Blues

In my friend Magaly’s opinion: “You have to have a goal for maintaining a cellphone line in Cuba, and my main goal is to stay in touch with my daughter who lives in the United States?”

Robin is the driver for an important trade union leader. In our conversation we shared jokes and exchanged anecdotes. He even made a few confessions about his job that he’s had for three decades since he was eighteen.

Camila Would Rather Forget

Camila Estrada is happy now. After having been dogged by domestic violence for years, again she’s enjoying the company of her family. It’s like a dream from which she doesn’t want to wake.

The Universe in Our Image

With a long cut on her face, she seemed to have nothing to do with me; nevertheless the two of us were entering the church. Maybe she’d pray for her husband who beats her. I was going to make devotions for my partner who left me without leaving a trace.

‘I Met Him Chatting’

It’s difficult to know the number of people who — desperate to make a decent living as soon as they can — make use of our limited Internet access to establish a “romantic” relationship with a foreigner.

Cuban Customs, Nothing New

The look of Havana’s Terminal 2 airport is always the same. Throngs of people pressing up against the security tape – all of them nervous, excited and a little worried.

Under the Totalitarian Rule of Kitsch

At every step in the life Cubans are beaten over the head with officialized kitsch, from posters with the faces and names of the “Five Heroes” forming a star or the crappy neighborhood decorations for the annual CDR festivities.

America According to Americo

Near the end of the 15th century, and after 24 days of sailing, a man came to our continent who would give his name to it for centuries: Americo Vespucio.

A Hard to Come by Spoon

I have a friend who got sick during his last trip to Cuba, maybe because he didn’t adjust to the hot weather and the high humidity that persists on the island most of the year round.