Stardate V in Cuba- Part 3
[ Written by Willem H. Eickholt, May 23, 2006]
The tourist officials hang around a while
and I use the opportunity to question them about my crew's experience in downtown
Santiago the night before.
Their explanation is that Old Spanish customes die hard in the former capital
of Cuba. What were they wearing was a question. I told them, "Well, pretty
much the same as what they are wearing now. "You mean with those T shirts
and short pants?""Yes" I said.
At once it was all clear: Just like in Spain people dress up to go to a restaurant
or night club and despite the fact that the Spaniards have left almost 100
years ago their customs are still alife and respected. My boys got the cold
shoulder because they were wearing shorts.......
The next morning we have visitors from the Russian freighter which still shares
the pier with us."Yuri" introduces himself as the ship's electronics
engineer, then whispers something about X rated video. Ah...........,rumour
has it that we have some interesting footage aboard and the
bored Russian crew would be forever indebted to us if he"Yuri" could
pull some copies of our tapes.I have no idea how the Russians found out about
our porno stash and this isn't the right time to find out. More importantl
is to keep the Russians happy and the forbidden material a secret so I have
Lucho hand Yuri some of our video tapes. But Yuri needs to see our play-back
equipment and needs to make the copies aboard "Stardate" I am sorry
I went along with the request, but it is too late now. In no time flat has
Yuri transformed the saloon into an electronic laboratory that makes
the boat unliveable.All kinds of Russian equipment and miles of wire spaghetti is
gathered around Yuri who is dripping with sweat and cursing in Russian at
a project which obviously doesn't go as planned.
I ask him how much longer he'll need, but he shrugs his shoulder: He doesn't
know!!
We all leave the boat and call the Tourist Office, there is nothiong we can
do for Yuri.
I ask the Tourist agent if perhaps they could drive us to the Morro at the
harbor's entrance so we can visit the fortress turned museum. Minutes later
we abuse the old Lada 4seat sedan
with the weight of 6 guys again as we crawl up to the Morro of Santiago or
San Pedro de la Roca.
More Cuban Surrealism.
The Morro Castle, built by the Spaniards during the 17th Century, dominates
the entrance to the Bay of Santiago from an estimated 500ft high hill
top at the mouth of the Bay.
The building ravaged by wind, weather and neglect was beautifully restored
to its original design in the 1970s.Three foot thick walls open only where
drawbridges form controlled entrances.
20ft high ceilings and fresh ocean breezes give the buildings a natural coolness
not found anywhere in the City Of Santiago. The facilities are a labyrinth
of corridors, staircases, ramps
tunnels and ramparts with bronze canons seemingly ready to fire, In the floors
are metal rings anchored to chain prisoners and slaves. It is all very
museum -like. But what is that leaking Tropicola can doing on the 17th century
table and where do these kids think they are playing hide and seek under the
museum pieces,beautiful solid funiture where once Spanish Generals had commanded
the world's mightiest forces. The ribbons that seperate the public from the
works of art and antiques are embellishing the kids pants while keeping them
up.
The caretakers of the castle just laugh when we express our concern and disappointment.
When no one seems to have the slightest amount of respect for history, for
antiques, for art, we decide to make the surrealism complete and sit down
on the ancient Spanish thrones
grabbing old swords off the walls and shouting Spanish sounding orders that
echo through the cavernous spaces until everybody laughs............
When we get back at the boat Yuri is cleaning up his wire spaghetti mess,
showing a great big smile. He had managed to copy a couple of X rated movies
but without the sound track.
Minor detail! His crew buddies would have a terrific evening, thanks to the
crew of "Stardate"
We hear them laugh until late at night as they watch the pirated silent pictures
on a stretched bedsheet way back on the poopdeck.
to be continued....