CUBA: A trip of a lifetime. For me the opportunity to visit Cuba came when my friend Charlie A. Serrano, a mission coordinator, invited me to go come along with the Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha International delegates. Lambda Alpha obtained a license to visit Cuba from January 6 to January 13, 2013 through the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury “People to People” program as a professional academic and cultural research exchange mission. Lambda Alpha began in 1930, has chapters all over the world and is the Honorary Society for the Advancement of Land Economics. The mission was in collaboration with the Antonio Nunez Jimenez Foundation in Cuba.
Charlie Serrano |
MY JOURNEY began with meeting the Lambda Alpha delegates, Coordinator Serrano and his assistant, Carlos Jimenez, at the Miami airport. From Miami, we boarded an American Airline charter plane which took approximately 25 minutes to land in Havana, the largest city in Cuba. Once through Cuban customs, we boarded a modern air conditioned bus which was built in China but had an American motor. Our Cuba guide on the bus was Alejandro Infante a.k.a. “Allie”. Allie did a great job sharing a lot of information about Cuba.
Carlos Jimenez |
August Sallas and a 1953 Chevrolet |
THE CITIES we visited were Havana, Pinar de Rio,
Cienfuegos and Trinidad. All of them beautiful, unique, exotic, and rustic. At
the Antonio Nunez Jimenez Foundation, we saw a Cuba museum and heard a lecture
about land development in Cuba. A meeting was held with representatives [Cuban
Lawyers Assn.] of the National Justice Union of Cuba [Union Nacional de
Juristas de Cuba] at their headquarters. Introductions were made in Spanish by
Cuban Justice Dra. Dorys Quintana Cruz. Cuba is a Spanish speaking country and my
Spanish helped our group throughout the trip. During that meeting we were told how
several of Cuba laws are changing relative to business and land ownership.
Alejandro Infante |
August Sallas holding cigars made by Benito. |
IN CIENFUEGOS [100 Fires]: We made an impromptu
visit to the tobacco farm of farmer Benito. Benito welcomed us into his home
and gave us a tour of his large tobacco barn, explaining his work as a tobacco
farmer. He gave us a quick demonstration on how Cuba cigars are made and gave
us the samples to smoke and enjoy. Cuba was wonderful to visit. It is a warm and
friendly country whose people are beautiful, courteous and kind. My Cuba trip will
be continued.
TO THE
POINT: Do you need your knives or scissors sharpened? To The Point sharpening
business will set-up shop at the Little Village Community Council, 3610 W. 26th St. to sharpen knives and scissors from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. No appointment necessary. First come,
first serve.PRICES: Pocket knives $2, Blades up to 4” $3, Blades up to 6” $4, Blades up to 8” $5, Blades up to 12” $6 and scissors $5 - $7.
MOVIE MATINEE: The movie “Juarez” starring Paul Muni, Bette Davis, Claude Rains and John Garfield made in 1939 by Warner Bros. will be featured at the Little Village Community Council, 3610 W. 26th at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. Public invited. FREE ADMISSION.