My Blog: Buenas Dias en La Habana

March 10th, 2011

(HAVANA) I am going to miss my morning coffee at Café El Escorial in La Plaza Vieja in old Havana, as I am leaving today for Paris. It’s become a ritual, waking up in the morning and walking down the street to have a cortado, the short creamy coffee of the island, and a cigar. I have had a number of smokes, but my favorite so far in the morning has been the Bolivar Gold Medal because of its balance and finesse. Shame they are not made any more.

It’s a wonderful start to the day to see the city come alive with people walking in the streets, talking and collecting their thoughts. There are always sounds of machinery, whether larger trucks full of drinking water pumping their cargo to tanks above the colonial buildings, or used noisy buses carrying workers to their destinations. And there always seems to be a jackhammer pounding somewhere. This part of Havana seems to be in constant renovation.

The latter is probably the most compelling thing for me, leaving the island this time after having visited at least three to four weeks every year for close to 20 years. This place IS changing and we all know what it’s changing for. I think you will be here soon.