Journey to Cuba Through the Eyes of a Friend

Baudelaire, in “The Invitation to Travel”, tells us about a region named Cocagua, that mythological land where by sexual intercourse could be freely acquired, the temperature was generally pleasurable, the wine never ended, and every person remained youthful endlessly. The textual content speaks of a singular place, “plunged in the mists of our North, and which we might phone the East of the West, so that in it the ardent and capricious fantasy has distribute, so that it has illustrated it, affected individual and obstinate, with its sensible and delicate vegetations.

But fact is often richer than poetic fantasy. I was capable to verify this on the vacation of a mate and his spouse to Cuba, the place they went on their honeymoon. If there it is not the mythological country of Cocanha, think me, audience, it is better that way. “Cuba was a little something outside of my imagination,” my good friend tells me. “Because of every thing. Havana has preserved, historic architecture from the time of Spanish colonization. I saw youngsters in the streets, but in faculty uniforms, performing actual physical education and learning in the plazas.” Contrary to what the right wing suggests, he walked everywhere, no cost, without the need of a manual and with out concern of remaining robbed. Clean up streets, no rubbish. And he informed me of his appreciate from the minute he landed at the airport. “When the aircraft landed in Cuba, I felt a excellent emotion.  In Havana, all people likes Brazilians. He, who is familiar with some European countries, informed me: “In the Old Earth I was discriminated in opposition to. In Havana I was loved. They welcomed me as a brother”.

 And as good as his words and phrases are the visuals that he sent me. By means of his eyes, I came shut to the memory of Ernest Hemingway, in the Bodeguita del Medio.

With his watchful eyes, I noticed a portrait of Che Guevara on the residing space wall of a home.

What a beautiful flagrant!

My close friend and his wife went to the Buena Vista Social Club. There, when they listened to that they were being coming from Brazil, they sang and played. Under pleasure, the musicians from the band Legendários del Guajirito interpreted Aquarela do Brasil, as witnessed in this video clip.

Wherever, in Cocanha, could I present a taxi driver with the shirt of Sport Club do Recife? My buddy did this for me to a small driver, who has the facial area of my family members. There is no larger proof that we are all brothers. How can I not say, with this gesture, that I was not in Cuba?

In a content coincidence, the purple-black shades remind Cubans of the 26th of July Motion, started in 1954 by Fidel Castro towards dictator Fulgencio Batista.  Search at Activity listed here

Last but not least, with my close friend and his wife, I went to the library of the Centro de Información Antonio Rodríguez Morey in Havana. I was there, as you see:

Essentially, at this hour I am continue to in Havana. It was fantastic, it was wonderful to go to Cuba by means of the eyes of the mate. I have been there, am there, and will be back again.