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The Consolation Prize

January 5, 2009 By Marta Darby 10 Comments

There are places that I remember in the Havana of my childhood that continue to fascinate me to this day.

One of those is the Hotel Nacional de Cuba.
Hotel-nacional-de-cuba
I remember driving by it as a little girl and thinking it was a magical place.  Built in 1930, it played host to the rich and famous who visited our island home until our world imploded on January 1, 1959. 

Still, that era (the 30's and 40's) and this hotel embody a sense of nostalgia to me.  I'm guessing it stems from seeing photos of my young parents during those years, but that's not important right now.

I exchanged some emails with my blog-friend and faithful MBFCF reader, Ody earlier this year in which I told her about my fascination with this place.

Just recently her husband was planning a trip to Havana.  She gave him strict orders to bring back a souvenir from Havana, specifically from the Hotel Nacional, for me. (Shut up. I know. =D)

I could just stop right there and gush about how generous and awesome Cubans are in general and my readers specifically.  How thoughtful is that?!

Well, the husband, José, took his trip.  And even though he had his strict orders, he wasn't able to get to the Hotel Nacional to get the souvenir (which, can I just say, would have made him a golden god, and okay, maybe I'm kind of disappointed even though I really have no right to be because I had no idea any of this was happening in the first place, but that's not important right now and hey, thanks for trying José!)

But José, being a good Cuban husband, was not about to come home empty-handed.

He brought back this Cuban artisan-type plate, which Ody sent to me and is now hanging in my studio on my RED wall where I think it looks very cool. 

It says Malecón de la Habana. The car and the El Morro castle are actually in relief so they pop out and I was a little worried, but now that it's actually hanging on my wall, I'm so delighted with it. Seriously.

In fact, there's a little more to the story…
Malecon plate

Like I said at the beginning of this post, there are some places in my hometown of Havana that fascinate me.  The Hotel Nacional is definitely one of them, but there's also something about The Malecón (the sea wall) that has always intrigued me….

The lights.  Those distinctive, funny looking, T-shaped lights (to the left this photo), along the Malecón that are also depicted on the plate.
Malecon

Those lights went up in the 1950's to illuminate the beautiful Malecón.  It was quite a big and prestigious appointment. Imagine being the Electrical Contractor on that job!  Those modern (well, for the 50's) lights that went up along the sea wall became an iconic part of the Malecón.

February, 1961. 

I remember taking a long, last look at the Havana skyline as our flight left in the middle of the night.  I remember catching a glimpse of the magical Hotel Nacional and then the amazing Malecón all lit up like a diamond necklace.

I could see those lights for the longest time.  It was the very last thing to fade as we headed north towards the Florida straights and our new lives.

And I remember thinking how wonderful it was that my Dad was the one who was responsible for making that look so beautiful.

Yes, my Papi, the Electrical Engineer. 

He never could have imagined that one of his company's last jobs would give me the very last memory I would ever have of Cuba.  Those iconic lights were the very last thing I saw of the land that gave me birth. 

Just like José couldn't have imagined that the silly plate he picked up in Havana as a consolation prize for this Cuban blogger in California would be so rich with meaning and induce such powerful memories.

I don't believe in coincidence; I believe in God.

Gracias, Ody and José for such a kingly gift.

You might also like:

The Most Beautiful Beach in the World Lighting My Way It’s in her blood Gracias.

Filed Under: Cuban-American Life Tagged With: blog friends, blogger friends

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ziva Sahl says

    January 5, 2009 at 11:57 pm

    Beautiful Marti, I believe in God as well, and pray for the day that Cubans will reclaim their homeland. You forgot the tissue warning, I’m crying.

    Reply
  2. ody from Miami Lakeso says

    January 6, 2009 at 6:39 am

    Oh Mari, I’m crying!!!! I didn’t realize how much that “tacky Cuban Artwork” meant to you. I am so happy that it reminded you of your Papi and all that you find to be so special for you in Cuba.Is that the picture I sent you of the canyon at the Hotel Nacional? I didn’t realize the Cuban flag was back there. DUH!!! I was more interested in showing the view from the Hotel Nacional towards the Melecon. What a nice surprise. I want you to know that you mean more to us than just a consolation price. You are the top prize in our hearts. Maybe one day we will be sipping coffee at the Hotel Nacional. God are you listening?!!!! LOL!!! 😉

    Reply
  3. Cigar Mike Pancier says

    January 6, 2009 at 6:44 am

    beautiful piece chica ….

    Reply
  4. Chantel says

    January 6, 2009 at 8:04 am

    Lovely. Happy Dia de los Reyes, Marta:)

    Reply
  5. Marc R. Masferrer says

    January 6, 2009 at 8:48 am

    Beautiful, thank you.BTW, http://www.cubaencuentro.com has a great slide show of photos from when the Malecon was constructed.

    Reply
  6. La Ventanita says

    January 6, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Beautiful plate and post. BTW, in Spanish there are no “coincidencias” only “Dioscidencias”. No clue how it would translate to English….

    Reply
  7. Ileana says

    January 6, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    I vividly remember taking walks along the Malecon with my Abuelito when I was very little, about four, almost 46 years ago … sigh.Gracias por las memorias, Marta.

    Reply
  8. Pam says

    January 6, 2009 at 5:15 pm

    Although you having to leave Cuba was so sad for you, if it would have never happened, we would have never met and my life would not have been as full! I’m glad you are here!

    Reply
  9. keb says

    January 6, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    deep sigh. I, like you, just love a good story. This is a wonderful one – & I do mean full of wonder. Imagine how many of these we’ll get to hear in heaven – it may take an eternity!

    Reply
  10. George says

    January 7, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    Marta,Your father must have been a “power” electrical engineer (just like my Dad). Cuba, at least in those days, only graduated EE with power emphasis (not electronic or computer emphasis).
    Being in Orange County, did he work for Flour in Irvine? (you don’t have to answer that if it’s personal). My Dad worked for a competing company C.F. Braun in Alhambra,CA.
    George

    Reply

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