Diaries Archives - Page 558 of 639

What You Can Buy with One, Three or Ten

This is a short inventory of some common expenses purchased in regular national currency, because that of hard currency, called CUCs, is another thing.

Pedrito the Town Hawker

In Santa Cruz live engineers, microbiologists, doctors, laborers, merchants, cooks, photographers, writers… and Pedrito. He continues selling, with his gray hair, walking with effort, pushing his two-wheeled cart.

Is Cuba a Violent Country?

One of the things I have always praised Cuba for is its safety. Lately, however, looking closely at everyday life around me, I have found signs of violence – restrained, but ever present.

Just Between You and Me

I’ve spoken to several people in Cuba who have opened up to me about their political views and personal life experiences in this country. Each conversation is always proceeded by a verbal agreement to not repeat what is being told to me; the person then looks around to make sure no one else is listening, and, in a lowered voice, begins to tell me what things are “really like” for them here.

The Other Joy

Yesterday was my aunt’s birthday. She’s an 80-year-old woman, with soft gray hair (that she conceals with dye) and who wears glasses (that she uses only to read). Her husband died a year back and, as is still customary among older men and widows, she dresses in black and doesn’t like for music to be heard in her home.

Rastafarianism in Cuba

My first impression of Rastafarians came from those semi-hard matted locks —so close to being natural— that grew from their heads. To this was added their music, which touched my African roots, so accustomed to percussive rhythms.

Crossing the ‘Gulfito’ Bridge

The changes in Cuba resulting from the Special Period crisis of the 90s, causing an opening to external influences, a gradual process of privatization of life began, if not at the institutional level (which has indeed begun to some degree) then at least in terms of family life. In this, Cojimar has been at the head.

My Unpleasant Experience with the Russians

During the 80’s there was a “ghetto” in my neighborhood called “Los Rusos.” It was made up of several volunteer micro-brigade-built apartment buildings —all the same— which were inhabited by Soviet military advisors and their families.

Speaking of Kidnappings

One of the common forms of violence in Venezuelan cities is kidnapping. Interested in greater economic rewards, thieves are no longer content with snatching gold chains from the necks of naïve wanderers; nor are they so interested in demanding at gunpoint what a driver or a pedestrian has in their pocket. Kidnapping pays bigger dividends.

For What Are We Cubans Prepared? (Part 2)

Though this might seem like an avalanche, it’s not, because these issues are addressed with such superficiality and indifference that they’re soon forgotten. In addition, the characters represented in Cuban fiction (on TV broadcasts) cannot commit the sin of touching each other – much less kiss or portray characters in sex scenes.