Images of Güines

“Juan (or Nicolás) Ramos’s Pharmacy” located in the corner of Máximo Gómez and Havana Streets, in the same place where the “Agricultural Bank of Güines” building was built, later on occupied by “Núñez Bank”…

Norberto Martínez’s kiosk, located in the same corner occupied by that Ramos Pharmacy, in its front. There, Norberto would sell cigars, cigarettes, matches, lottery tickets and coffee and every time he brewed coffee, he would announce it by ringing a loud bell, and, on some occasions, sending into the air, a noisy rocket…

“La Sirena” (i.e., “The Mermaid”) clothing store, whose owner was the Spaniard Isidro Fernández, which was located across “Ramos’s Pharmacy”and in the same place where the “Hotel Plaza” building was constructed and that later on was occupied by “Vestal” shoe factory of Fernando Madera…

The great happening when the daring pilot Domingo Rosillo, landed in Güines, in his fragile light aircraft, in Exiquio Marrero’s little farm. In that place, “National Land Co.” later on developed “El Vedado” Division…

The ditty that due to this landing was composed by the unforgettable Güinero pianist Manolo Taracido, whose lyrics are as follows:

I don’t know how Rosillo,

Could arrive in Havana,

Without a highway or a road

Alone through the savanna…

Aviator, aviator, aviator,

I want to ride, Rosillo,

In your engine,

I want to ride with you,

In your engine.

I know the music of such ditty, but because I don’t know how to write it, I am not including it here…

“La Mascota” (i.e., “The Mascot”) sundry store belonging to Camilo Castellanos. Its building was destroyed by fire and the lot, on Havana Street and San Julián Street, remained the same way (seemingly forever)…

“Trabal” Restaurant, which was located in the corner of Máximo Gómez and Trujillo Streets, whose premises were demolished in order to build “Balerdi Building”…

“El Candado” (i.e., “The Lock”) Hardware Store, managed by the jovial Spaniard Pepe Varela. When it was located in the corner in front of the clothing store “La República” (i.e., “The Republic”) and also in front where after the before mentioned “Balerdi Building” was built, was occupied by the same hardware “El Candado”managed first by Fermín Mocoroa and later on by Isidoro Quintero…

“La Miscelánea” (i.e., “The Miscellaneous”) sundry store of Fructuoso Vargas, which was located on Trujillo Street, next to the before mentioned “Trabal” Restaurant…

The cigars, cigarettes, matches and fireworks deposit “El Pueblo” (i.e., “The People”) located in the corner of Trujillo and San Julián Streets in front of “El Paraíso” (i.e., “Paradise”) clothing store…