Enduring Cuba- By Zoe Bran

This is one that I had finished last night. I was a bit unsure of picking this one out of my mom's library of books, but I thought I would give it a go. My first thought was that it was going to be oen of those boring historical books about Cuba. But actually as soon as I started to read it, it was more than just that.

Sure it gave some history into Cuba such as Velazquez and Columbus (they're the only ones that I remember at the moment!), but it gave a detailed insight into the lives of Cuban people and theire day-to-day life. Even though it was a book published in 2002, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the problems raised in the book are still around today. It is still a communist society, as far as I am still aware anyway. It's hard to keep up with politics in Hispanic countries when living in England though...

Though the strange thing is, although according to the book, people were always complaining of their lifestyle and always wanted more, they all seemed to be very patriotic and love the fact that they are Cuban. I suppose the issue at hand, is that they feel that they have nothing material-wise, not the fact that they live in Cuba. You can still love your country, but hate your government at the same time.

Actually, when thinking about it, I did watch this tv programme while at my mom's over Christmas about Cuba. It doesn't actually seem all that mmuch different to what I read from this book that was published in 2002.

Cockfighting
This was certainly one bit of the book that I didn't enjoy reading. Although I am not a vegetarian, I felt absolutely disgusted by this hobby and form of gambling and taking advantage of these animals. Though to be fair, I don't think you need to be vegatarian to care for animals. I can recall when I went to Spain in summer 2008 and watching the bull fighting. I nearly wanted to cry watching this poor animal suffer for a pointless, human sport. Yes, it may be tradition and so forth- but shouldn't we really be modernising our ways. It is 2010. Though I suppose it is a completely different country from here and not too much different fromt he fox hunting that takes place here in some places .


Loads of references on Hemingway and his timeless book, the Old Man and the Sea. I can't recall reading this book, I think I was quite young when I did and I didn't really enjoy it. Though Hemingway actually based this story on a real person, a Cuban person, LIVING IN CUBA, that he knew personally.



There was also a bit about Bran witnessing a Santeria sacrifice of a goat. It sounded just horrible. Something I hope to never witness myself.










And then of course there is Ernesto "Che"Guevara. A Cuban icon. Although not actually cuban, Che was actually Argentinian. I never knew that until watching the film 'The Motorcycle Diaries' about 5 years ago. There are tons are references to Che in the book.

I think the thing that I enjoyed the most about this book is that Cuba is somewhere that is familiar to me. I have never been there but I do know lots of people who are or whose heritage is Cuban. So for me it is a really interesting read. It's close to home as well, seeing as though Cuba is only 90 miles away from Florida!

I have just recently bought The Olive Garden: travel through Greece which is also a part of the Lonely Planet publications, as is Enduring Cuba. I'm looking forward to that one.