Diaries Archives - Page 547 of 639

Vargas Llosa: A Person with Attributes

Like most other Cubans I was introduced to his work late (in the 1990s). Since his writing was prohibited on the island after the early ‘70s.

Cuba’s Workers: Between a Rock & a Hard Place

The workforce restructuring plan that will soon be implemented in Cuba is worrisome to everyone: State employees as well as retirees, homemakers, self-employed workers and students. In one way or another, they will all be affected by the half million who will shortly find themselves without jobs.

The Invitation that Didn’t Invite

Fifteen days in advance we received the invitation. It was for a meeting of lesbians and bisexuals to be held in a public place. Hum! “Sounds interesting,” I thought.

Unknown or Known?

It’s not that I’m a man of another era, but one day when I was walking through Havana’s Plaza de Armas, I ran into a man who was tall, with light-colored eyes and almost blond hair.

The Return of Wheelbarrow Vendors?

I never thought I’d witness in the streets of Havana a traditional wheelbarrow for selling vegetables and tropical fruits. I had previously only seen them in photos from “back in the day,” as these had disappeared soon after of the arrival of the Revolution.

In a Neighborhood to the East of Habana

I met Yoilan in one of those brief periods when he wasn’t in in jail. Our relationship wasn’t really what you’d call a friendship; it was more like company, or guys who’d occasionally hang out on the corner together.

Night Watch in Our Neighborhood

I have no doubt that applying this method led to frustrating actions that were being directed against the population, but the fact is that the 1960s is now 50 years behind us.

Today the Ice Cream Tastes Different

I can’t figure out what type of iconoclast revolution has occurred at the Coppelia, but the ice cream tasted especially rich on that occasion, and it was easily digested.

Havana Debate Space Exclusion

Officials of the Cuban Institute of the Art and Film Industry (ICAIC) arbitrarily prevented me from accessing the Last Thursday forum, a monthly setting for debate organized by Temas magazine.

What Will Be, Will Be?

As it turns out, the country’s recently initiated process of economic restructuring aimed at ending waste has hit higher education. The number of professors —by no means squanderers— has been reduced on various community-based campuses.