Querida Gloria: Cherished Glory
Hello! Hola! Mar7aba! Oi meu amigos! How are you all? I wish you all a great New Year! I have been fantastic! I have just arrived in the United States from Cuba! I also spent a few days in Mexico first and went to Puebla, Oaxaca, Hidalgo and Mexico City. I went to Mexico to visit my Grandma Lila and explore a few new places with her. Also, I delivered some school supplies in “goodie bags” to kids all over Mexico. I started doing this a few years ago and I am grateful that my friends have become involved in this. They either donate money or supplies and I put the bags together and deliver them. Last year, I delivered them to an orphanage in Baja California and that was an adventure in itself! In 2012, I wanted to start a blog and encourage people to follow their dreams (hence the title of the blog) and to have a place to share my dreams.
Visiting Cuba has been a dream of mine for sometime, as I am fond of Che Guevara and want to learn as much as I can about him, I even went to Argentina to discover the place he came from. My other mission was to find out the Cuban people’s thought of Fidel, Raul and of their hopes for the future. So there I was, in Mexico City awaiting my flight to Havana with my knees trembling because this was finally happening. My intent was to find out some thoughts...instead, I found the love of the Cuban people.
Once I landed, I made the long line to convert my Euros into Cuban Convertible Pesos and waited for my 1950’s American taxi to the Cuban house in the Centro de Havana. It was as if I was in the movie, “Guys and Dolls” with Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra! These beautiful vintage cars were everywhere and the night’s mist gently kissed my cheeks. The next morning, I started off with the 2nd best breakfast I’ve ever had while traveling (the 1st best was in Cusco, Peru). The sliced papaya, pineapple and guava tasted as if they were picked for the gods! The famous Cuban coffee was intensely passionate--with an aroma that gave me goosebumps. I also enjoyed the company I had too. My Cuban hosts were friendly and had a beautiful sense of humor. They even mentioned I looked like a Mexican telenovela actress. If I had a dollar for every time I heard that one, I’d be rolling in the cheddar!
Visiting Cuba has been a dream of mine for sometime, as I am fond of Che Guevara and want to learn as much as I can about him, I even went to Argentina to discover the place he came from. My other mission was to find out the Cuban people’s thought of Fidel, Raul and of their hopes for the future. So there I was, in Mexico City awaiting my flight to Havana with my knees trembling because this was finally happening. My intent was to find out some thoughts...instead, I found the love of the Cuban people.
Once I landed, I made the long line to convert my Euros into Cuban Convertible Pesos and waited for my 1950’s American taxi to the Cuban house in the Centro de Havana. It was as if I was in the movie, “Guys and Dolls” with Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra! These beautiful vintage cars were everywhere and the night’s mist gently kissed my cheeks. The next morning, I started off with the 2nd best breakfast I’ve ever had while traveling (the 1st best was in Cusco, Peru). The sliced papaya, pineapple and guava tasted as if they were picked for the gods! The famous Cuban coffee was intensely passionate--with an aroma that gave me goosebumps. I also enjoyed the company I had too. My Cuban hosts were friendly and had a beautiful sense of humor. They even mentioned I looked like a Mexican telenovela actress. If I had a dollar for every time I heard that one, I’d be rolling in the cheddar!
First and foremost, I went to Havana Vieja (Old Havana). The Cuban people made me feel famous! They would stop and chat, crowd around with their friends and family to ask me questions and even wave to me when I rode in the Cuban bicycle taxis around town.Do they do this to all? I don’t know, but I felt their charm! I took pictures of all these historic places and even got my museums in--the Museum of the Revolution and museum of Cuban Art. Cuban culture is rich and smooth, with a story never heard anywhere else in time.
I was intrigued with all the pictures of Fidel and Che around. And frankly, I would have liked to meet both. As I mentioned before, I am a fan of Che, but haven’t quite made up my mind about Fidel. Many Cubans like him, but many do not. They loathe him for not allowing them to improve their lives or live out their dreams. Perhaps he had good intentions and things didn’t go as planned? In my days, I often ventured to La Bodeguita Del Medio bar and restaurant, a dream within itself! There is one in Palo Alto, CA, that I go to with friends, but this was the real deal with real Cuban puros (cigars). Crowds waited outside to be let in for a famous mojito and cigar. Of course, I waited too. I had to have a minimum of 2 mojitos a day and one Cohiba or Bolivar cigar. Why? Well, why not? I was also on the search of a few boxes of Cohiba Behike’s to bring with me to the US. Alas, they are so rare, I did not find any in Havana. The shops told me that only a few boxes are produced in the year and most of them end up in Europe. I ended up getting the Cohiba Maduro 5 Magicos. There is a beauty to them and their smell overpowers your senses. Wow, i should just be in a commercial!
I was intrigued with all the pictures of Fidel and Che around. And frankly, I would have liked to meet both. As I mentioned before, I am a fan of Che, but haven’t quite made up my mind about Fidel. Many Cubans like him, but many do not. They loathe him for not allowing them to improve their lives or live out their dreams. Perhaps he had good intentions and things didn’t go as planned? In my days, I often ventured to La Bodeguita Del Medio bar and restaurant, a dream within itself! There is one in Palo Alto, CA, that I go to with friends, but this was the real deal with real Cuban puros (cigars). Crowds waited outside to be let in for a famous mojito and cigar. Of course, I waited too. I had to have a minimum of 2 mojitos a day and one Cohiba or Bolivar cigar. Why? Well, why not? I was also on the search of a few boxes of Cohiba Behike’s to bring with me to the US. Alas, they are so rare, I did not find any in Havana. The shops told me that only a few boxes are produced in the year and most of them end up in Europe. I ended up getting the Cohiba Maduro 5 Magicos. There is a beauty to them and their smell overpowers your senses. Wow, i should just be in a commercial!
Now let me tell you about my wonderful new friends! I made many friends from all over the world, not only Cubans. I am grateful to now have new friends from Finland, Palestine, Israel, Venezuela and Brazil. I met many at bars and cafes, simply by striking up a conversation. What’s the worst that can happen? And what trip wouldn’t be complete without a dash of romance? Outside of La Bodeguita, I saw this handsome artist drawing landscapes daily. He was always so engulfed in his work, that he never looked up. I would pass by often, in hopes he would look at me. For days, he did not look up and one day, he did. I smiled and gazed into his teal blue eyes, so intense with passion and life. He stared back, but with no deal of expression. I was shy and didn’t want to be rejected, so I walked off, still smiling though--at least he finally looked my way!
The next day, I went back to La Bodeguita and had my mojitos and I decided to go chat with the handsome artist, even if there was a risk of rejection. I went up to him and asked him, Te puedo tomar una foto? “May I take your picture?”. He said yes and didn’t look up though, he was too occupied, gently drawing the details with his pen to look up. I was about to walk away, but then he looked up! He shook my hand and introduced himself. I was so ecstatic! We chatted about his art and then he asked me what I was up to that day. I told him I was going to the beach and he jumped up and asked if he could join me.
I know what you’re thinking, how could I trust him? I felt nothing but good vibes from him and I let him join me. We went to the beach and discussed everything under the moon! We spent the rest of my days there hanging out and exploring. He even asked me to marry him and I told him to get over the green card, he wasn’t getting it from me. He laughed and I told him my greatest dreams, of contributing to the world, but also my selfish desires...to have a simple life. To me, that would be a life of living in Cuba (or the Dominican Republic) in a small house, with a husband, kids, and maybe a career as a local school teacher. Alas, my life has never been simple and I want to become friends with the whole world!I will miss my friend Alberto dearly. Usually, I am the one that motivates people and talks silly talk about ruling the world...but this time, it was someone else that did that to me. It was refreshing and certainly motivating. After he jokingly proposed to me, he said, te quiero mucho...pero la gloria te espera. “I adore you, but the glory is waiting for you. You shouldn’t stay here and miss the opportunities you have out there. I am honored to have met you and don’t forget about me or the Cuban people!” Now, I can’t give up! There are more people counting on me to use my opportunities and knowledge and I refuse to let them down. Also, I must get my own political party started--the George Washington Party, because no one would dare vote against their founding father! Hehehe. I want to get into politics to help my country (USA) and to help the world. There would be no wars or if political leaders had issues with me, I would go over and chat with them face to face and we’d end up sharing a few mojitos and cigars!
Thank you, Cuba, for making me feel truly beautiful. Not for my appearance, but for making me feel like a beautiful soul. I promise to give my all in this life, not just for myself but for the world! Stay sane and humble my habibis and please, follow your dreams!
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