The Glorified Gypsy

The Glorified Gypsy

The travel writings of a vagabundo

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Hurricane Irma Aftermath

January 01, 2020 by Carlitos de Jeffers in Cuba

If you did take a wrong turn in the days after Hurricane Irma hit and ended up on calle San Lazaro by mistake, one would be forgiven for thinking it blew hardest through this part of town. The sides of buildings missing, balconies torn off, debris everywhere. But Prado, with its bronzed lions lining the pedestrian boulevard, is the dividing line. To the east, the preserved UNESCO world heritage site. Havana’s money maker. To the west of Prado is the real Havana. It may look like a hurricane has just ravaged it but in reality, it’s the 60-odd years of neglect that’s responsible.

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January 01, 2020 /Carlitos de Jeffers
Hurricane Irma, Calle San Lorenzo, poverty porn, UNESCO, La Habana Vieja, Centro Habana, Central Havana, Old Havana, Prado, Malecón
Cuba
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Tony Montana (part 2)

August 14, 2018 by Carlitos de Jeffers in Cuba

He broke off our gaze to thump at the door again.

“Maria!” he bellowed. “Abre la puerte!”

A loud but indecipherable female voice barked back. A chain lock jangled inside and the door swung open. A thin woman stood in the doorway, her hand on her hip. She was barefoot, wore a pink faux-leather miniskirt and green vest which she had rolled up above her small pot belly. A trail of thin black hair stretched from the waistband of her skirt to her exposed navel.

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August 14, 2018 /Carlitos de Jeffers
Tony Montana (part 2), Cohiba, cigar, Raul, mistress, wife, Malecón, la Habana, la Habana Vieja, Old havana, moneda nacional, Maria
Cuba
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Tony Montana (part 1)

July 02, 2018 by Carlitos de Jeffers in Cuba

He introduced himself as Tony Montana, an ugly grin on his face. “Say hello to my little friend,” he quipped. 

I smiled politely.

“You ‘ave seen Scarface?” he asked, unsure by my reaction. 

“Claro,” I said.  “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse,” I effortlessly mimicked, quoting another famous line.

Tony was unmoved.

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July 02, 2018 /Carlitos de Jeffers
Viva Cuba Libre, Havana, la Habana, Vedado, Jose Martí Airport, Lada, Tony Montana, Scarface, Malecón, Chinatown, Tony Montana (part 1), casa particular
Cuba

Send your questions, travelling dilemmas, or requests for Carlitos to sign your backpack to: theglorifiedgypsy@gmail.com