https://www.facebook.com/100064274816186/posts/753172390168581/
Merry Christmas and happy New Year
First cars in Cuba
There was no stopping prosperity in Cuba. All she had was 50 years. Imagine if Fidel had kept his promises…..
https://www.facebook.com/100063281165019/posts/664766765642690/
Cuba 1930 vs 2023
https://x.com/citizenfreepres/status/1719527635628273873?s=61&t=9HT07qgIps9Mp284_4HU8Q
There was no stopping this precious pearl. She was on a roll to prosperity that couldn’t be stopped. Then came Fidel.
Beautiful essay about fashion designers in Cuba. Do you recognize the man in the third picture?
De la pluma de Dulce Zanon de Castilla (source- Recuerdos de la Cuba de nuestra niñez.
Compartimos…. La cubana se vestía de “Figurín”, con Modistas y con cortes de tela seleccionados al gusto en las tiendas que se especializaban en materiales. En La Habana además había calles de almacenes de este tipo como la famosa calle Muralla. Había Modistas y Costureras, desde cortar en el cuerpo como Modistes Parisinos, o tomar medidas y preparar la “prueba”. Los figurines “ revistas de moda” más exquisitos europeos como “L’Official”, “Vogue” etc. hasta las revistas domésticas como “Vanidades”, “Ella”,y demás pero, solo para aquellas que habilidosas sabían coser, se veía un “Simplicity”. Mis dos tias Catalanas eran Modistas. Tenían clientela exclusiva pues ambas eran verdaderas artistas profesionales. Mamá y yo además nos cosíamos mucho con Mercedes quien tenía un taller de asistentas y cuyo esposo fue Presidente del Club Atenas en La Habana. Mercedes mujer de gran gusto y encantadora, cortaba la tela en tu cuerpo, o sea era la reina de los “retazos” pues no desperdiciaba material. Mamá adoraba hacerse blusas con ella. Hacía maravillas con bordados en mostacillas etc. Aún tengo y uso un chal de lana negro, tipo “rebozo” bordado en cuentas y mostacillas que le hizo a mamá. Tuvimos suerte de salir de Cuba en 1961 con Visa turística lo que nos permitió sacar mucha ropa… Mi tía Felisa era un hada con sus creaciones también, recuerdo de niña a señoras parar a Mamá en la calle para admirar uno de los vestidos bordados por Felisa. Si, la mujer cubana, todas, en proporción a su situación económica, era muy elegante y daba mucha importancia a su apariencia. Este sombrerero o la famosa Eva, me lo hizo recordar. La Habana era Meca hasta para Dior con exclusiva presencia en nuestra inolvidable tienda El Encanto. La Habana era una ciudad cosmopolita que, si bien con sabor propio, como en sus divinas creaciones de hilo para rendir culto elegante a nuestro clima, tenía un sabor internacional en la moda. Y eso era en toda Cuba, en cada capital o pueblo…Eso nunca lo olvidaré y como mujer, fue una de las mejores herencias que me llevé de Cuba. Las cubanas, con más o menos dinero, siempre lucimos!
https://www.facebook.com/100064274816186/posts/716455223840298/
Tony Bennett in Cuba
Vintage Cuba/ FOTO CON HISTORIA.
LA HABANA DE OTROS TIEMPOS.
TONY BENNETT en el CABARET MONTMARTRE junto al bailarin TOMAS MORALES.
La foto pertenece a la Coleccion de Vicki Gold Levi.
https://www.facebook.com/100064789026076/posts/721804689989159/
As early as 1898
Did you know automobiles arrived in Cuba as early as 1898?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cubanosilustres/permalink/6578327418925365/
So many people think Fidel brought education to Cuba, this is 1905
https://x.com/camaguey1514/status/1702813986641584149?s=61&t=
For more information about education in Cuba before and after Fidel, consider reading my book.
The two animals playing golf.
This is the first time I see this picture. Many thoughts come to mind but, in choosing one, I have to say this is the Zenith of irony. If you know anything about Fidel Castro, you should know he, like Hitler, was consumed with envy and had an inferiority complex. One more game, Fidel, before you erase class, style and anything that fed your complex.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1022910171130452&set=gm.593076070860946&type=3
A poor neighborhood in Cuba, 1940s.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6631488356939244&set=gm.2532735563561644&type=3
Everyone got along. Yes, there were humble neighborhoods, but dreams were alive and attainable. This neighborhood looks like paradise compared to the destruction the Castro’s brought to every city in Cuba.
When Cubans had milk
That’s a lot of milk for the rich only! Of course I’m being sarcastic.
EL CAMION QUE REPARTE LA LECHE.
San Bernardo productos lácteos.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6561372060617541&set=gm.2519108208257713&type=3
Finca
A farm house in Isla de Pinos (now Isla de la Juventud). Since the postcard states “mango trees,” it could be a mango farm.
https://twitter.com/camaguey1514/status/1689355401303666688?s=61&t=9HT07qgIps9Mp284_4HU8Q
Las Tiendas
What Cubans used to call las tiendas, were located in the center of every city in Cuba. The major park (parque) in the middle was surrounded by four covered tile floor corridors. In the City of Parks, Holguín, the four corridors surrounded Parque Calixto Garcia.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/258586570976566/permalink/2508977225937478/
Movimiento 26 de Julio, M-26-7 Do you know why Fidel selected the colors black, red and white?
Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. On this day seventy years ago, a young Cuban attorney, Fidel Castro, and a group of rebels attacked el Cuartel Moncada (Moncada Barracks) in Santiago de Cuba. Although the attack failed, it was the beginning of Fidel Castro's history, the birth of the Cuban Revolution, and the beginning of the Cuban people's love affair with the young Castro.
On this 70th anniversary and 53 years after I left Cuba on April 20, 1970, I signed my retirement papers and signed up for Medicare and Social Security.
Below is an excerpt from what Cubans saw as a glorious day of better days to come.
Fidel selected July 26, 1953, to assault Moncada because July 25 was the feast of Santiago's patron saint. It was carnival time in a city that produced the world's best rum. With rum selling for a nickel, Fidel thought everyone would be drunk, including the army.
If you want to know how it all came about, and you have a sincere desire to experience Cuba before and after the revolution, I invite you to read Lights Out: A Cuban Memoir of Betrayal and Survival. It won't disappoint. The Spanish edition is also available on Amazon.
Statistics
Good morning everyone:
For various reasons, I haven’t blogged in a while. As promised, I’m sharing the statistics for the book. Keep in mind most self published books sell 100 copies. Most self published authors won’t publish statistics, but I think these numbers are significant.
From Amazon:
Choose a date
Lifetime
Reporting view
Filters
Units ordered
1,291
All 2 books
Aug 21, 2016 - Jun 22, 2023
Aug 21, 2016 - Jun 22, 2023
Kindle
Print
Total Units
Title
618
673
1,291
606
655
1,261
12
18
30
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