English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
“Do not put me in the dark to die like a tractor” (popular parody of a line from José Martí) 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 25 February 2016 – Two pieces of news have raised hopes among Cuban farmers. One is that the United States company Cleber LLC will install a tractor factory in the Mariel … Continue reading “Tractors In Cuba, From Ghosts To Orishas / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, Havana, 8 February 2016 – A few nights ago my wife and I arrived in an almendrón [old American car in use as a shared-taxi] at the Ceiba little park just before the traffic light at Via Blanca and Lacret, in Havana. We we usually get off there when we are going home … Continue reading “Gang Warfare In Havana / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
Ivan Garcia, 2 January 2016 — Joel Castillo, 19, passed from expectation to frustration in 12 months. After graduating in 2014 in electronics from a technology school south of Havana, he still hasn’t been able to work in his specialty. “With the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States, I thought there would … Continue reading “A Glance at Cuba in 2015 / Ivan Garcia”
Cubanet, Miriam Leiva, Havana, 24 September, 2015 – I received the pleasant surprise of a brief visit to my little apartment by Msgr. Veceslav Tumir, secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Havana, around 11:30am on 19 September. It gave me great joy to receive the invitation to go to the Nunciature at 4:00 pm that … Continue reading “The Abuse of My Rights and The Repression Reaffirmed My Opinions / Cubanet, Miriam Leiva”
14ymedio, Orlando Palma, Havana, 29 August 2015 – Outside the market at 17th and K in Havana informal vendors gather despite the police raids. Niurka is one of them and her “offering” is reduced to selling plastic bags which she offers at one Cuban peso (about 4¢ US) each. “The last time they charged me, … Continue reading “Fines Do Not Deter, They Accumulate / 14ymedio, Orlando Palma”
14ymedio, Eliecer Avila, Havana, 7 August 2015 — It’s seven in the evening and at home we’re hurrying to eat early. We decided to try to the WiFi connection on the capital’s La Rampa, a stretch of arterial which extends from the Coppelia ice cream stand to the Malecon. The preparations are the same as for going … Continue reading “Let’s go to La Rampa! / 14ymedio, Eliecer Avila”
Juan Juan Almeida, 11 May 2015 — With the relaxation of relations between the United States and Cuba, speculation has been unleashed and is causing mischief. Some experts guarantee that several U.S. companies are ready to buy the famous “almendrones”* on the island. It could be the arrangement is real; there is always some nostalgic … Continue reading “Cuba’s Automotive Heritage Has Been Virtually Plundered / Juan Juan Almeida”
14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 2 July 2015 — Contrary to what one might expect in a country where communications are almost a luxury and not a right, the announced opening of a public network access at Havana’s La Rampa, which would expand Internet access in the capital starting July 1st, did not generate significant crowds. … Continue reading “Wi-Fi crashes at La Rampa / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”
Ivan Garcia, 10 June 2015 — A week before her Miami relatives landed in Havana, Milena hired a crew to paint the interior and the facade of her home in the bucolic Casino Deportivo neighborhood. After two coats of paint and minor touch-ups on the walls, they did a thorough cleaning, and just above the … Continue reading “Cuba, Remittances, and Scrooge McDuck / Ivan Garcia”
Cubanet, Ernesto Perez Chang, Havana, 7 February 2015 — More than a decade has passed since the first big purchase of busses from China and Russia was made in order to ameliorate the transportation problem in Cuba, and no improvement is in sight. Contrary to what was promised then, moving from one point to another … Continue reading “Corruption, the Cancer of Cuban Public Transportation / Cubanet, Ernesto Perez Chang”
Is the Cuban government considering declaring as “heritage assets” the classic cars that roam the streets? Cubanet, Camilo Ernesto Olivera Peidro, Havana, 2 January 2015 — Apropos of the imminent reestablishment of relations between Cuba and the US, General Motors (GM) recently expressed interest in exploring the possibility of doing business on the Island. Perhaps … Continue reading “Cold War, Hot Motors / Cubanet, Camilo Ernesto Olivera Peidro”
14ymedio, Havana, 31 October, 2014 – The Engineering Department at Diego Portales University in Chile has released a study that shows Havana as the city with the highest transportation costs relative to salary. The research looked at 20 capitals in the region and was published by the newspaper La Tercera and on Radio Cooperativa. According … Continue reading “Havana, the most expensive city for transportation in Latin America / 14ymedio”
14YMEDIO, Havana, Luzbely Escobar, 21 August 2014 – It is a little more than a week before the start of school and the youngest at home are already taking stock of what they’ve done on their vacation. They go to sleep thinking about what they’ll tell their friends in September and in their little heads they … Continue reading “Chimeras and Frustrations / 14ymedio, Luzbely Escobar”
14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, 1 August 2014, Havana – When you walk through Fraternity Park, amid the bustle of Havana, you hear the cries of masculine voices calling out possible destinations for trips to diverse places in the capital. Near the Aldama Palace they shout out that there are two spaces left for Boyeros and Santiago … Continue reading “The Many Faces of the Buquenque / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
Like Silvio, I think the people are screwed; unlike him, however, it didn’t take me so much time to realize it, but traveling outside Havana let me see it first hand. The domestic terminal at Jose Marti Airport is the original airport building. After checking your luggage you have to go up an escalator. “It’s … Continue reading “Postcard From a Journey (1) / Regina Coyula”
