A Pig For Me

 

“You’re coming to visit? Good, we’re going to get you a pig.”

My first thought – I don’t need any pets.

No, my Cuban family is going to slaughter it and roast it for me.

It’s a huge party. Everyone enjoys it. What’s not to like – friends and neighbors, food, drink, cigars, treats, and of course music. Constant music.

The Roast is started early. It’s hot and smokey and must be constantly turned.

 

The women peeled and boiled some yucca, a root vegetable high in starch, but little flavor.

 

Puti  made her delicious congri over a charcoal fire. It’s always delicious.

Saute the garlic and onion.

Add rice …..

…and the cooked beans…..

…mix well…

…and simmer.

 

Aymara made a fresh salad with cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumbers with vinegar and oil dressing.

I brought something to drink.

 

Of course everyone poses with dinner.

Then, expert hands made quick work of removing the meat.

Everyone had plenty to eat.

 

While the women cleaned up ….

…the men sat on the porch with coffee, cigars and rum.

The remnants.

My Cuban family has done this for me several times. It’s a treat for me and for them.

Nothing says love like sharing a freshly roasted pig.

 

 

 

Can’t Live Without Water – Update

In case you missed part one:

Can’t Live Without Water:    https://wp.me/p4fUlX-18y

 

I am happy to report that our friends who live in the country now have plenty of water. Water in both houses, water in the kitchen, and water in the bathroom.

It took quite an effort to locate a submersible pump. One was found several provinces away.

Installed and wired.

Lots of water.

Two tanks were purchased and delivered.

One for the main house …

… and one for the smaller house.

Now:  a working shower.

and water in the kitchen.

Also a faucet located near the new semi-automatic washing machine.

Again, this would not be possible without the support of my small group of friends, most of whom have been to Cuba and know the hardships people are forced to endure.

The family thanks you and I thank you.

 

 

Tobacco Farming – Orlando

We met Orlando quite by chance early one morning while we were photographing. After introductions he invited us back to his farm to photograph.

Now, Orlando is a businessman as well as a farmer. He caters to tourists, providing horseback rides, guide service, and tours of his farm. We all knew this, but he was such a nice guy and the photo-ops were great. Besides, it was only 8:00 am and the light was good. What photographer would want to go on a tour at noontime?

We walked back to his house and went inside.

We were offered coffee.

Orlando lit a small wood fire

Then got to work grinding some beans.

His mother, Marta, took over in the kitchen.

She put on quite a show smoking a cigar and boiling the water…..

…..and making the coffee.

The coffee was good!

Next, we had the cigar rolling demonstration.

One for me.

Of course we bought some cigars and even some guayabita rum.

 

Tobacco Farming – Vinales

The western province of Pinar Del Rio in Cuba is noted for producing some of the finest cigar tobacco. The little town of Vinales is a favorite destination of mine.

In late January and early February the tobacco is harvested by hand.

The leaves only have a short span of optimal quality. A few days one way or another can make a huge difference. It takes skill to know which leaves to cut and when.

Of course, all the work is done by hand.

A razor sharp hook-knife is used to lop off the chosen leaves just below a split in the stalk.

This allows the cuttings to hang freely over a pole. Later the poles are stacked in a barn to dry and cure.

 

 

 

 

 

Can’t Live Without Water

Whenever I visit Havana, I always set aside one whole day to visit with this wonderful family on their farm.

They live about 45 km south of Havana, near San Jose de Las Lajas.

I’m treated like one of the family now.

I sit on the porch, relax in the quiet, breathe the fresh air, converse, and reflect on how fortunate I am to have these beautiful people as my friends.

 

I pass out gifts that I have brought: vitamins, poligrip, zantac, Kool-aid, underwater flashlight for the brother that spear fishes, crankshaft and piston for the motor on the bicycle, towels and soap, coffee, clothes for the two children and of course chupa chups.

I make a new list of things that I will try to bring next time: cold medicine, aspirin, and more vitamins for the children, sneakers and socks for the women, movies in Spanish,  bandaids, neosporin, a knee brace, duct tape, cell phone ….. The list goes on and on.

The women always come up with something deliciously prepared. Congris, salad, and some kind of meat. I bring the Rum, cola, orange soda and, lately, chocolate from the U.S. for dessert.

The children usually want me to read to them. I read “The Cat in the Hat” (in English and Espanol). I read the English and Melany reads the Spanish, but I always tell her that next time she will read the English.

The water on the farm comes from a well via a hand pump. This water is needed for cooking, drinking, washing clothes, bathing, and flushing the toilet.

Lately, the old well pump has been breaking down regularly. It’s an American made pump, so it’s old. The casting is cracked and broken. The parts below ground have been welded and re-welded. Everything is wired together. Just last week the pump broke for the last time.  A similar pump is impossible to obtain new and any used pump that might be found would surely have issues.

The neighbors have been donating water, but it’s 1/2 kilometer away and must be hauled  in a horse-drawn cart.

The wife of the youngest brother on this farm finally e-mailed me and told me of their troubles (apparently the men were too proud to ask for help). Sometimes it takes a woman to get things done!

I was able to transfer enough money for them to purchase a submersible pump. (although the search is still on for a suitable size, I am assured that water will be flowing soon).

Again I wish to thank my small group of friends for their generous financial support and trust in me. These are all friends who appreciate the difficult task of survival in utter poverty.

Thank you Rob, Victoria, Louise, Kate, Susan, Pamela, Tracy, and Faye.

Check out the series:

Living Off The land

Living Off The Land

 

Libetsy

Libetsy is a precocious three-year old. She is the daughter of Yoel’s brother Tatico and his wife Aymara and live on the family farm outside of San Jose de Las Lajas.

  https://wp.me/p4fUlX-HH

On my last visit I brought for her an old trac phone. It does not function as a phone in Cuba, but it does hold music and games. Now she wouldn’t have to play with her father’s phone.

It also has a camera!

Didn’t she feel special taking photos of everyone!

She will steal your heart.

Where They Live – Two Brothers

While exploring a dirt road on the distant outskirts of Trinidad, Cuba my fellow travelers and I were waved into the homestead of Antonio and Jose Manuel Verde. These two brothers wanted to share their hospitality and show us around their farm.

 

Antonio did most of the talking, explaining when the mangoes would be ready to pick and guiding us through all the different crops that they harvest.

Cooking with charcoal.

Jose Manuel made us some of their home-grown coffee.

 

 

 

Motosierra Update

Motosierra Update

I had the opportunity to once again visit the farm of the family of Yoel.
I was, of course anxious to see how the new chainsaw was working out for them. Yoel says that the work is almost fun now and saves him many hours of swinging an ax. Yuniel, the brother of Yoel is now more eager to help too.
When I return next I will bring another chain and a spare spark plug.

It starts easily.

Even Yuniel like to work with it.

Yoel starts a soup by searing the meat.

Home-made salsa added.

Starting the vegetables.

Final slow cooking over a charcoal fire.

Delicious!

A swing made from an old hose.

Libetsy with her grandfather’s hat.

Simple decorations.

 

 

 

 

Living Off The Land

Part – 6

The House Out Back

The House out back is where Imara, Juniel, and Libetsy live.

Everything is neat and clean.

Outdoor kitchen area.

Backyard where a some animals are raised.

Modest living arrangements.

The genuine smiles of mother and daughter.

Yuniel and Libetsy.

Motosierra

Living Off The Land – Part 6

Motosierra.

…..continued from: Making Charcoal –

Living Off The Land

Yoel told me that he could save 3 or 4 days work if he had a chainsaw. I had already realized this when I saw the ax beside the pile of logs.

Upon returning to Havana I started to investigate the possibility of purchasing a chainsaw. I hate to see anyone work harder than they have to.

I asked my “Cuban daughter” Sussy, where we could buy a chainsaw. “Very expensive in the store” she said. “But, I will look on the internet”.

It seems as though there is a sort of Craigslist/E-Bay available if one knows where to look. She found several, with photos, in Havana. Capitalism at its best. They even deliver!

Brand new. Still in the box. Just the right size. A deal was struck.

I called Yoel and with some translation help, asked when he could come to Havana because I had a “special gift for his family.” He was able to come two days later and I presented him the “Motosierra”.

I explained to him as I will explain to you now, that this gift was not from me alone. I have a very small group of close friends who travel with me to Cuba. We have met good people there and want to help improve their lives. These friends are not able to travel to the island as often as I am, but they provide financial, emotional, and moral support to the wonderful families that we have met. I am merely an agent.

I want to recognize and thank Louise, Kate, Pam, Susan, and Robert for all they do to help our friends. This is only one example. The list is too long to detail all the purchases and construction projects they have been involved in and all the goodwill they have spread. Thank you all.

Photo by Robert Ortiz

Photo by Robert Ortiz