Images of Güines

When three young men from the best of Güines society, conspired and carried out a big joke on another young man belonging to the same group. (I pray the reader to excuse me but I do not want to mention any names. To this effect, I am going to “borrow” from Osvaldo Farrés’s song the names of four of his “Five Children”). And continuing, that due to the celebration of a great dance in our historic “Lyceum” society, preceded by an extensive propaganda, at a pre-determined time, when the dance floor was full, young “Pedro” made his grand entrance with a beautiful “young lady” at his arm (“Pablo” perfectly disguised as a girl and making all necessary feminine gestures as the best specialized actor in these roles) that attracted the attention of all present that saw her, among them “Jacinto” who immediately approached “Pedro” and told him:

"Hey friend, you have to introduce me to your lady friend, because I am anxious to dance with her."

To which “Pedro” answered:

"Look “Jacinto,” I think it is going to be impossible, because she told me that she would only dance with me, but nevertheless, I promise you I’ll do the best I can to please you."

Having said this, he went back to where the “young lady” was, who was seated waiting for him, standing up as soon as he arrived. “Jacinto” watched them from afar and he could notice the negative shaking of the head that the “young lady” was making on several occasions, until he saw that she, bringing her arms down, moved the head affirmatively up and down as a signal of approval. “Pedro” caught the eye of “Jacinto” who almost ran over there and was formally introduced to the “young lady” and he started to dance with her, she behaving very affectionately with his suitor until “Pedro” returned begging him to give him the next dance. “Jacinto” took advantage of that opportunity to go to “Lyceum’s” bar to get a drink and without being aware of, “José” followed him and tapping him on his shoulder told him:

"Hey man, they have played a dirty trick on you. You are dancing with a man…"

Because he couldn’t believe it, the confidant assured him that it was true and that the “young lady” was “Pablo.” After this assertion, “Jacinto” went out of the bar like a bullet towards the dance floor looking without success for the beautiful “young lady” and her partner. They had already escaped, disappearing from Güines for more than fifteen days. The two of them worked in Havana, but they spent every weekend in Güines. After that, the rumor of what had happened spread all over and “Jacinto” was the object of never ending taunts…

When due to the period called of the “Lean Cows,” “Amistad” (“Friendship”) Sugar Mill stopped making sugar for several years…

The street fair with kiosks from different countries sponsored by the “Lions Club” in “Central Park.” In such kiosks, typical food from the countries so represented were sold, attended by ladies and young ladies…

The inauguration of the “new” aqueduct consisting of the test carried out to prove the strength of the flow of water. To that effect, “Güines Fire Department” went to the park and connected the hoses directly to the hydrants and the water jets coming out of the spouts, overreached, in height, the cross on top of the Catholic Church’s dome, without any help from the pump engine. It gave the same appearance shown on the cover of #107, corresponding to the months of November and December 1982 of this magazine “La Villa,” but in this occasion, when Pepito Saavedra took the picture, the water was driven by the pump engine…

The staging of the incursion into Güines, during the Independence War against Spain’s armies, of insurgent troops under the command of glorious Güinero Colonel Clemente Fernández, the uncle of América, África, Asia and Humberto Fernández and of Julio and Ángel Oya Fernández. This re-enactment was carried out by the “Lions Club” of the Villa of Güines, when it was presided by the untiring and irreplaceable Professor Rafael Díaz Malherbe who conceived and fought to become into reality the efforts that ended in the placement of a bronze bust of the patriot in the corner of our “Central Park” facing Máximo Gómez and Habana Streets…

The ox carts full of sugar cane, pulled by three ox yokes that would travel on some of the streets of the Villa. Almost all the time the dog belonging to the cart driver walked under the vehicle. The most daring kids would hung, when we could, behind the cart to see if it was possible to get some piece of the delicious fruit and on some occasions we were the target of the leather strap that the cart driver had, behind the goading stick…

The performance at “Ayala’s” Cinema of the famous Argentinean singer “Charlo.” It was Gaspar Pumarejo who brought him to perform throughout several cities in Cuba. For his appearance in our Villa, the seats were numbered and one day before his debut, all seats had been sold. Many persons arrived to the ticket booth to purchase tickets to listen to “Charlo,” being told that there were no seats available, then they would say that it didn’t matter, that they (including the ladies), would be satisfied with only listening to him—at the moment, capturing the whole nation’s attention—standing up because that was the only way. Many of them with their regular downstairs tickets already purchased, would go to the balcony, which already was chockablock. Virginia, the ticket booth employee, after consulting with me, at that moment I was the Administrator, explained to those who wanted to purchase tickets that they would have to remain standing up and they gladly agreed. It was a case where more than three hundred tickets were sold after all seats were gone, downstairs and in the balcony. “Charlo’s” performance would be eight numbers sung by him, either accompanied by the piano or he himself playing the “bandoneón” (musical instrument related to the accordion). These numbers were announced in the program, but due to the roaring applauses of the audience, the artist, pleasing more than anybody else, started to sing, one, two, and three… I lost count of how many times the curtain came down and went up on the stage… To such an extent that the show that should have normally finished with a film, instead was ended by “Charlo” not at ten thirty but at eleven thirty in the evening and only because before singing his last number, he told the public: “You will have to forgive me, the next one is my last number, because I am very tired.” After a long applause, everybody started to exit from downstairs and the balcony, but the vestibule of the old cinema, that was really big at that time, was not big enough to accommodate everybody there, spreading into the porch and even into the street to say goodbye to the idol of the moment and the police had to create a necessary opening so that “Charlo” could reach his car waiting for him in the street…

The meritorious work performed by the former Public Proctor of the Villa, Francisco R. Martell Lorenzo, when as President of the Board of Directors of “Güines Civil Hospital” he threw himself into the task of collecting funds to obtain equipment and new furniture, so that the newly constructed building would be provided with the best possible items. And noticing that the cash received was insufficient for the purchase of what was needed, he started to work himself, repairing, scratching and painting all beds, furnishings and furniture worth saving, helped by several persons, when we had time. Due to those things that some times would happen in our country, as a reward for his efforts, when Miguel Mariano Gómez was elected President of the Republic, the resignation of the whole Board of Directors was demanded, starting with its President “Panchito” as he was affectionately called and ending with me as Secretary. The work performed was never taken into consideration. I never knew of any initiative developed by the new Board of Directors…

The candy and pastry shop “La Colmena” (“The Beehive”), located on Máximo Gómez Street between Clemente Fernández and Valdés Streets, in the sidewalk across Town Hall. His owner, due to his appearance, was the best propagandist that this establishment could have, because besides his candy shop, he had such a prominent abdomen, as the rest of his body and face, always smiling and offering as an extra to those kids he would sell their favorite sweets, a string of rock sugar…

“El Baturro” (“Baturro” is a nickname of a Spaniard native of Aragón) establishment, selling wines, fine liquors and Spanish sausages and meats, located in front of the side of the disappeared “Market Plaza” on San Julián Street between Clemente Fernández and Valdés Streets…