DC Public Library System

Havana without makeup, inside the soul of the city, Herman Portocarero ; photographs by Joaquin Portocarero

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 257-264) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Havana without makeup

bibliography

1002129283

Herman Portocarero ; photographs by Joaquin Portocarero

inside the soul of the city

"Havana without Makeup is the ultimate insider's view of Havana, a wide-ranging exploration of its complex facets as seen by few. Its aim is to capture the soul of a city and a society that have evolved on their own terms at the moment before they face inevitable transformations. Opening on the eve of the announcement of reconciliation between the U.S. and Cuba, the book then looks back at the cultural, political, economic, and religious influences that led up to this historic moment and beyond. Readers are led by a brilliant renaissance man and writer who has been at the vanguard of the city's struggles for more than twenty years. Portocarero's anti-tourist guide to Havana examines the built environment of "the most sensual ruin on the planet": why are large parts of the city so neglected, and what changes may we see over the coming years? Examining all things Cubania--racial issues, la revolución, baseball, Hemingway, communism, synagogues, Santeria, Cimarron culture, and much more--Portocarero overturns every stone in his endeavor to bring us inside the city he loves. Illustrated with original photographs, this is a unique and essential account of Havana's history, its present, and what its future may hold."--Goodreads.com

Walls of illusion -- Exceptional -- Nocturnes (Havana by night) -- Afro Cuba -- Havana in black and white -- Rumba -- Santería -- Santería and the racial divide -- Communist orishas? -- ¡Salsa! -- Asia de Cuba -- "Achinado" -- Sex & Cenesex -- ¡Tremenda mariconada! -- Havana's Hour Zero -- Proposal for a controversial monument -- Good money, bad money -- The economy as a book and a beast -- Looking west--to Asia again -- La mula como vaca de leche (The mule as cash cow) -- La libreta (the ration booklet) -- El cañonazo -- The last salvo -- 1762: British occupation and a defining moment -- It takes (at least) two to rumba -- Sitting down (and more) with Europe -- Cuba no soy (I am not Cuba) -- Traffic lights of history -- Ghosts of revolutions past -- Much louder ghosts -- Napoleon in Cuba -- The Orestes Ferrara secret -- The cave at the end of the world -- Conversation in Café del Oriente -- Palacio de la Revolución -- Who's the terrorist? -- Parque Lenin -- Playas del Este -- Jardines de la Tropical -- Two shore of Art Deco -- Rum and cigar wars -- Wave over the wall -- Patria es humanidad es patria (Homeland is humanity is homeland) -- Havana's Palestinians -- Next year in Havana/Jerusalem -- Cantos de ida y vuelta (Songs of coming and going) -- Mulatas de rumba & puellae gaditanae -- Alma mater -- God's crocodile -- La fábrica (The factory) -- Mercenaries -- Bloggers' breakfast -- Primero de mayo -- The pen & the sword -- Prima ballerina assoluta -- Le Parisien -- Hatuey & Huracán -- Todo el mundo canta -- Who's the boss? -- The Holy Spirit on the Plaza del a Revolución -- Winners and losers -- Jacobins & dinosaurs -- Other churches, other gods -- Misionero del a misericordia -- Mozart in Havana -- Art & politics -- Pelota (The ball game) -- The united mobsters -- Una mal criada -- Hollywood Havana -- Pirates of all kinds -- Elián -- New York connections -- Music has no enemies? -- El paquete -- Hemingway -- Fuster -- The last Cimarrón -- Fabelo -- KCHO/STAINLESS/CUTY -- Casa Verde -- Río Almendares -- Havana and the chocolate factory -- Tallapiedra (Havana high line) -- Radio Reloj & Radio Bemba -- La muerte -- Apotheosis -- Postscript