This trip to Belgrade has been a preparation for the trip to Havana in June, an introduction to Cuba after two years. Sometimes I do not realize how much this Serbian city reminds me of my homeland, or perhaps many times I prefer to ignore it and just look at the pretty side of things. […]
May 1rst is a holiday in Belgrade. Unlike Cuba, citizens do not go to the Revolution Square waving the national flag. That kind of Worker’s Day celebration is history here. This morning the streets were completely empty and later the radio announced that the artificial lake, Ada Ciganlija, was absolutely packed with people. It does […]
We all know that these Castro hats are sold to tourists in Cuba. A couple of days ago I noticed that beer can tabs are used for closure. It made me think of how we recycle everything in Cuba, from plastic bags and glass jars to clothing and furniture. This is not the first time […]
Life brings unexpected surprises and also Facebook does. Yeah, yeah, I know Facebook is a social utility that connects people 🙂 but this time has really helped for me to see a long-time friend from Havana here in Belgrade. It turns out that this girl, that I have not seen in ten years is married […]
Everyday of my life that I sit in front of internet I type the word Cuba to get the latest news or whatever is hot out there about my distant home. Sometimes I find some interesting article on an online newspaper, sometimes a small post on a blog (these are usually the most informatives and […]
Each April 4th, Cuban students celebrate all over the island the Pioneer’s Day and the OPJM (Organización de Pioneros José MartÃÂ) organizes all types of political and cultural activities that remind the young pioneer of his function in the communist society and the need to watch for the progress and the continuation of the Revolution in […]
In the last few days I have been following the visit of the Pope Benedict XVI to Cuba. The island is in the news again so that keeps almost every Cuban abroad busy with any updates. I even know a couple of Cubans who are visiting their families in Havana during this time and were […]
It seems that I am big yucca fan among some of my friends as every time I meet them for dinner yucca with mojo is a dish they usually prepare for me. 🙂 Yucca is widely consumed in Cuba, specially during the holidays. In Havana, it is more expensive than potatoes or sweet potatoes so […]
There are not plenty of stories I can recall from the Cuban 80’s regarding religion. Being in primary school I was growing up to be a complete atheist, never baptized, never introduced to religion at home or at school. The vague idea of the existence of God I had was brought to me by very […]
Now that the American Thanksgiving is around the corner and all the stores are already full with Christmas decorations for sale I start thinking again of my holidays in Cuba, the family, my childhood altogether with the present time. Thanksgiving or “Acción de Gracias” was never celebrated when I was growing up. Some other American […]
Cuba has been all over the news in recent days! The long expected news about Cubans being allowed to buy a house has been approved, the same way the government authorized Cubans to buy a car, or a computer. From November,10th,2011, Cubans living on the island can legally sell or purchase a property and own […]
