EXPERIENCE
Cuba
reaching up to touch the baby ’ s head . I don ’ t know her story , but the woman ’ s posture conveyed a sense of hopelessness . Oddly , it was a hauntingly beautiful tableau , and the woman almost seemed to be a component of the sculpture .
I never did learn the name of the tune that lured me to this sacred spot , but I ’ m glad I followed it . Otherwise , I wouldn ’ t have gained insight into this intriguing aspect of Cuban culture .
THE PEARL OF THE SOUTH
Cienfuegos , known as the Pearl of the South , is a French-influenced port city whose elegant historic core centers on Parque José Martí . A statue of the Cuban national hero that is the park ’ s namesake stands in the midst of this picturesque plaza studded with flowering trees .
As I passed a group of teenage boys on a park bench , something struck me – they were actually talking to each other , laughing at each other ’ s jokes . Not one of them was texting or checking email on a mobile phone .
Of course , that shouldn ’ t be surprising since the internet only arrived in this time capsule of a country last year and is highly restricted . Residential broadband internet service is unavailable , but there are a few Wi-Fi hotspots in public places , usually the town square .
Thanks to our lightning-fast connectivity , many Americans seem to have a desperate need to communicate with everyone they know except those who are physically present , but Cubans have yet to pick up this vice . They still have one-on-one conversations , and you can tell what they are feeling by looking at their face instead of an emoji .
A highlight of this inviting city was a private performance by the world-famous a cappella group , the Choir of Cienfuegos , at Teatro Tomas Terry . A rousing repertoire of Cuban and American songs was almost enough to make the audience forget the historical venue ’ s lack of air conditioning .
76 FoodTraveler l Winter 2016