Diaries Archives - Page 524 of 639

A Cuba Shoe Story

For the last three months I’ve had several experiences related to footwear. I went to stores almost every day for about a month but didn’t find anything appropriate for my youngest daughter.

Return to the 100th Street Dump

Returning to dealing with the “pretty” side of the city, I looked for information on the dump and I found out through daily newspapers that, with great fanfare, a state-of-the-art biogas plant had been set up there in 2008.

Obama’s State of the Union

When the Obama administration repealed some of the restrictions of the US travel ban I was surprised, and, a bit hopeful. I then thought that perhaps the subject of the longstanding blockade of Cuba by the US might make its way into Obama’s state of the union address.

Draw Your Own Conclusions

Hotels that charge in regular Cuban pesos don’t exist. What’s left for ordinary Cubans when they visit another of the island’s cities?

The Need for Abortion

I’ve always been around doctors: my mother, her friends, mine. Stories about dilatation and curettage as well as menstrual abortions came and went, but they never really stuck in my mind.

The Cojimar Gym

My friend Leslie spent about a year doing exercises with weights at a gym. It improved his figure noticeably, eliminating almost all the excess fat around her abdomen and building up muscular mass where it’s needed to show off a good figure.

The Critical and the Exotic: You Gotta Love’em

I’m not a mulatto, nor do I dance salsa well, smoke cigars or sell fruit. Nonetheless, it’s demanded that I too should somehow be “exotic,” that I should be a revolutionary and exotic blogger. This is the implicit demand I’ve received from some people commenting on my articles, particularly foreigners.

Doubts about Cuba’s New Provinces

So, “it was decided” that Havana Province would be divided in two provinces, called “Artemisa” and “Mayabeque.” The first will have Artemisa as its capital city, and the second province’s capital will be…San Jose (they gave the second province an “indigenous” name so as not to reproduce that of a Catholic saint).

Entertainment vs. Salaries

Subtly, as if by magic (now you see it, now you don’t), prices have been going up. Gradually the various forms of entertainment that can be enjoyed in the capital have been getting more and more expensive.

‘Ache’ for Taxes

“To go through sainting, to receive the warriors or the hand of Orula, to dispossess oneself, to remove a wuenba, to throw the conches, and Ache!” – these are some common expressions among our people.