The “frazada de piso” (cloth that is used to clean the tile floors in Cuba) disappeared from Havana stores for over a month. Rumours has it that the factory was closed, nothing was of course said on the national television, regarding that common matter. I was visiting Havana for a month and the floor cloth […]

About a month ago La Chucheria bar opened in Vedado (1rst St. btw C and D). This place is a great example of a private business, one of the many flourishing in Havana at the moment. Two apartments on the street level were purchased to build a restaurant on one side and a 3D cinema […]

I am sitting at home in Havana writing this post on a notepad. Hopefully I will be able to post it on Internet soon. The summer rain kept us in the house today. The Cuban sun has filled my heart with joy in the last couple of days although I have to say that the […]

Toronto, March 21, 2012 To: Mr. Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Council of State and Ministers. From: Dr. Rafael González Pupo, a Cuban citizen residing abroad. Subject: Circumstances for entering the country on humanitarian grounds.   I am Dr. Rafael A. Pupo González, and I graduated with honors and as a student of exceptional […]

Toronto, Marzo 21 de 2012 Sr. Raúl Castro Ruz. Presidente de los Consejos de Estado y de Ministros. De Dr. Rafael Ángel González Pupo. Ciudadano cubano residente en el exterior. Asunto. Situación de entrada al país por Razones Humanitarias. Distinguido presidente: Le escribe el Dr. Rafael A. González Pupo graduado en 1994, especialista en cirugía […]

Estimados pasajeros: Se acabó lo que se daba! Después de cuatro años de que la Aduana de la República de Cuba permitiera la entrada de alimentos a la isla exentos de pago y de que los cubanos celebraran no tener que subir la maletica repleta de latas a la pesa del aeropuerto una nueva nota […]

Abierta al viento la turgente vela Y las rojas banderas desplegadas, Cruza el barco las ondas azuladas, Dejando atrás fosforescente estela. El sol, como lumínica rodela, Aparece entre nubes nacaradas, Y el pez, bajo las ondas sosegadas, Como flecha de plata raudo vuela. ¿Volveré? ¡Quién lo sabe! Me acompaña Por el largo sendero recorrido La […]

One of my favourite Spanish dishes are Huevos Rotos (Broken Eggs). The preparation is very simple and the result is pretty rewarding. All the ingredients that you need are olive oil, potatoes, eggs and any cured meat of your choice. Ham and chorizo are my top options. Something salty or spicy puts a lot of […]

En mi lenta misión de actualizarme con los filmes cubanos he encontrado esta película de Chijona en Youtube. El elenco es brillante, de lo mejor del cine cubano, así que vale la pena echarle un vistazo sólo por eso. Hasta Yotuel, el integrante del grupo Orishas, tuvo su rol en esta comedia. El guión no […]

Most of barbacoas (barbecues) in Cuba are indoors and do not involve meat or sausages at all. This is already hard to explain to a Spanish speaker who is also not familiar with this second use of the word, but as I commonly say, Cuba is on one extreme and the rest of the world […]

Summer is coming and some friends, specially students, want to visit their families in Cuba for a month. Purchasing an airplane ticket from Canada could be tricky if you want a direct flight to Havana. For Cubans living in Toronto the options are few: Air Canada and Cubana Airlines. Until 2005, Taca used to fly […]