The
first meal in La Habana
The
outside world when wishing to criticize Cuba talk quantitatively about salaries
etc, but never mention the quality of life here. Here I use the first meal in
Havana at the home of my neighbours as a metaphor for life in Cuba compared to
USA or Europe.
They
had known that I was coming today and when I arrived at home, they had come to
greet me and welcome me. Before leaving the lady said: Dinner tonight is at 8
pm.
If
I did not have that invitation, if I were like a tourist to this country, I may
have to go out and look for a place to eat, and of course it would cost money.
I
went to the neighbours house at 8 pm. It was Shabbat so I had lit the candles
and wished my family all over the world well.
The
dinner was simple but ample by any standards: pollo al carbon, chicken cooked
in a grill with carbon, they had made eggplants with a touch of vegetable
masala as they know I like it, rice and extremely delicious black beans made
savoury by some spices, and a simple salad of tomato and cabbage. I had taken
down a bottle of sauvignon Blanc from Chile, which is always welcome at any
dinner table.
We
sat and ate and talked for about two hours. I am always overwhelmed by Cuban
hospitality, which is much pro active and very considerate.
The
next time you hear or discuss how little money Cubans make, please say to
yourself, how may of my countrymen would pro actively take care of your needs:
whether a meal of welcome, or transport or meeting you at the airport, or
making sure that your fridge is full of essentials that you like: sparkling
water, brown sugar, butter and eggs (which is rather hard to come by these
days, after the hurricane season)
I
am happy to be in Havana.
