English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
The writer Orlando Luis Pardo (OLP), 34-years-old, is like a box with buttons. You press a button and out comes a stream of ideas. OLP is bursting with talent. He has published several books of stories. He has a pair of blogs, among the best being done in this 21st century Cuba. He’s a high-flying … Continue reading “OLP’s Intifada”
It spread like wildfire all over Cuba. Beginning November 1st, potatoes and split peas would be available without rationing. They would now be sold at higher prices than what they cost through the rationing system since the State would no longer subsidize their cost. A pound of potatoes that costs 0.40 cents in Cuban pesos … Continue reading “Potatoes for free”
At nine in the morning an official looks, with boredom, at the citation we have presented at the door of the 21st and C station. We are left waiting on one of the benches for about 40 minutes, while Reinaldo and I take the opportunity to discuss all those things the dizziness of daily life … Continue reading “The Reprimands of Wednesday / Yoani Sanchez”
There are things you never forget, even though they may seem insignificant. There are words that, like the tea of Proust, provoke the same memory, with the precision of a reflex mechanism. The word substitute, for example; I refer to the start of Bulgakov’s novel, The Master and Margarita. At first reading, the word stumped … Continue reading “The three faces of Soy”
The signing of the International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on Civil and Political Rights is a done deal. I saw it on the news with the oaf and the slogans, so there can be no doubt. There are two aspects that draw my attention: The first is the disappointing pronunciation of … Continue reading “My ‘new’ rights…”