Fidel in Albuquerque

   . . . I woke out of my recurrent dreamscape of Albuquerque's North Valley, in which I visited various families . . . in the company of Fidel.  If even I am dreaming of Fidel, imagine the dreams of the Cuban people.

This landscape could be in Cuba, but it's the North Valley

Since that dream I've been remembering how I marveled at my lack of culture shock on my first trip to Cuba.  It was because living in New Mexico, as different as the two places are, had well prepared me.  Though they speak Spanish so differently, it's still Spanish and the place names are Spanish names.  Belén is Belén in both places -- which is how the Spanish name Bethlehem.  There are very many Beléns in both places.

   . . . It rained almost all of yesterday and all of the night too. The morning began bright blue and sunny, but now the clouds are back. So is the wind. Temps are already starting down to the promised night low in the 30's.

It's drizzling in Havana today. But it's still hot so very sticky -- not very comfortable. However el V's's happier though because he keep running into people as he walks around and then interviews them for the Billboard piece. I suggested he donate part of the Sarah Lawrence honorarium for speaking to the class last night to bringing home rum.  Bottles of Cuban rum will be quite useful for the Season.