Cuban Stories on The Green Plantain

Manuel Barrio-Costolla's trip to Cuba in 1914 from Santiago de Compostela, Spain, was fraught with uncertainty and danger. Despite his enthusiasm and determination to start a new life, the events of World War I cast a shadow over his plans. But love was on the horizon.   El viaje de Manuel Barrio-Costolla a Cuba en 1914 desde Santiago de Compostela, España, estuvo lleno de incertidumbre y peli...

Dunia and her husband usually stroll around the Manzanillo glorieta in the evenings, but not tonight when the rainy day gave way to more rain, mugginess, and a suffocating evening.   Dunia y su marido suelen pasear por la glorieta de manzanillo por las tardes, pero no esta noche, cuando el día lluvioso dio paso a más lluvia, y una noche pegajosa sofocante.   #TheGreenPlantainpodcast #TheCubanStori...

Vladimir, his father, and his siblings were linked to sugarcane and the sugarcane industry. Their farms were located in the municipality of Veroes, Venezuela, where many farms are dedicated to growing sugarcane, oranges, bananas, and raising cattle. This story is a beautiful example of how humans can step up to be extraordinary in emergency situations.   Vladimir, su padre y sus hermanos estaban v...

In this episode we explore Cuba’s folkloric poetry, the Punto Guajiro, through a few verses written by my cousin José Luis Rodríguez Martínez, who lives in Fomento, Cuba. Punto is the poetic voice of our Cuban farmers. It consists of singings an improvised or learned stanza of ten octameter verse lines, with a rhyming scheme accompanied by string instruments.   En este episodio exploramos la poesí...

If you could taste the green of the grove of palm trees, the blue of the water, and the breeze on your face as you drive toward El Escambray, tell me. What do you think it would taste like? Would it be like marshmallows roasting by the fire or the smoke from the fire pit? Or would it be a combination of scents that transcend olfactory comprehension? If it is earthy, is it sweet? Salty? Definitely...

Here is a comical anecdote about finding a compatriot and amenable conversation about croquetas. He aquí una anécdota cómica sobre la búsqueda de un compatriota y una conversación amena sobre las croquetas. Recuerden que la parte en español viene después de la grabación en inglés.   #TheGreenPlantainpodcast #TheCubanStoriesProjectpodcast #Cubanstories #Cuba #cubanosporelmundo #cubanstoriesonthegre...

It was April 17, 1961. For over two years, Cuba had been suffering the quake of change that disrupted life as most knew it. It didn’t matter who or where you were: Teachers in the hills conducting a census of literacy En el campo vacationing at a friend's house or in the city. Word spread across the island like lit gunpowder as the much-awaited invasion was unfolding.   Era el 17 de abril de 1...

Today we bring you Episode 104 – Gabriela, a story set in a Cuba where 1950s Chevy convertibles still roam the streets of La Habana under a blue sky. Gabriela is a young, slim woman who inherited a bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume from her grandmother and a love for couture sewing.   #TheGreenPlantainpodcast #TheCubanStoriesProjectpodcast #Cubanstories #Cuba #cubanosporelmundo #cubanstoriesonthegree...

The love stories keep coming! This time, in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, a Cuban story from Ireland.   Her name is Sara, a woman who is passionate about her roots. #TheGreenPlantainpodcast #TheCubanStoriesProjectpodcast #Cubanstories #Cuba #cubanosporelmundo #cubanstoriesonthegreenplantainpodcast #untostonanyone #atostonanyone #Love #Ireland #Irlanda

Last month, we shared love stories, and in this microburst episode, we explore the love for an artifact that embodies the feeling of home for a little girl. This is an excerpt from the book Flight of the Tocororo, and it starts with a brief memory.   The Rocking Chair I don’t remember the heat of summer nor the coolness brought by the rain. But I can still feel the strength of your oak frame rocki...

Join us as we close the month of love with Episode 101 – My Only Love This story, like the previous one, begins with two families, the Salih/Gonzalez, Jorge from Syria, married to Adela, a Venezuelan, and the Martinez/Hidalgo, Fernando and Luisa, Cubans, and the turn of events that led to a fortuitous encounter between two souls.   In a small town like Sabana de Parra, Venezuela, often you find th...

We are celebrating our 100th episode with a very special love story about two very dear people in my life: Jannett Jewett and Manuel Rodriguez. Their love story reminds me of certain Hallmark movies where the boy stops at nothing to gain the girl's love. ~~~ Estamos celebrando nuestro episodio número 100 con una historia de amor muy especial sobre dos personas muy queridas en mi vida: Jannett...

Hola, bienvenidos al Episodio 99 – Folklor cubano en el Green Plantain - El podcast del Proyecto de Historias Cubanas. Un espacio bilingüe dedicado a contar las historias de quienes viven en la isla y la diáspora cubana. Los episodios, tipo Microráfaga, como este, son conversaciones cortas con mi familia y amistades, y no son editadas. En noviembre, visitamos a Nidia en Wellington, Florida y conve...

Los episodios, tipo Microráfaga, como este, son conversaciones cortas con mi familia y amistades, y no son editadas. Hoy les traigo una conversación con una poetisa cubana muy querida donde comparte con nosotros una poesia sobre nuestra bandera cubana. Prepárense para ser incorporados en una lectura llena de emocion.

Happy New Year! Do you know what has been celebrated on January 6th since the third century in certain parts of the world? Three Kings Day! El Dia de los Reyes Magos . It’s the 12th day of Christmas, when Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar rode their camels through miles of desert with gifts for baby Jesus and found their way to him guided by a new star in the heavens - the Star of Bethlehem. Long ag...

This episode, written by Dr. Martha H. Corvea, and is our second “first Christmases in exile” story, which brings home an example of sacrifices made by families to reach the Land of Freedom. As a family unit, her parents, brother, Abuela, and she lived like gypsies for months after leaving Cuba on a tourist visa.  They traveled across Mexico & Ecuador...

In December we celebrate our roots with stories of “first Christmases in exile.” In a past episode, I had shared a story about our family Chistmases in the United States but somehow, tucked away in the recesses of my mind was another first Christmas. One which came at the heels of the triumph of the revolution.   En diciembre celebramos nuestras raíces con historias de "primeras Navidades en...

In November of every year, we bring you stories of “first Cuban Thanksgivings.” Mixed with the emotions of living in a land of freedom, we were introduced to “the turkey” – the culinary centerpiece of the holiday and all its accompaniments. Also, as a new Spanish-speaking arrival in North America, we were faced with a different language and what seemed, at the time, strange words and letter combin...

Today’s story looks at genealogy research to find balance in present life. And how finding the missing parts of a puzzle brings peace despite the pain of our first Thanksgiving in 1964. This episode expands on the poem and the story Can I Learn to Walk without You ? From my book, Flight of the Tocororo , co-authored with Betty Viamontes.   El episodio de hoy analiza como la investigación genealógi...

En este episodio tipo microráfaga del podcast de Green Plantain, tengo el placer de compartir una visita muy agradable con mi prima Nora, la cual ya la conocen por medio de una historia en El vuelo del tocororo .  Aquí ella habla sobre los carnavales, nuestra familia y oirán los sonidos de Santa Clara con el bullicio del trafico y la radio. Quizás podrán oír a otra prima dando instrucciones a...

En esta Microráfaga del Green Plantain podcast, tengo el placer de bienvenir a Betty Viamontes, mi amiga y coautora de El Vuelo del Tocororo – Historias de Cuba y el exilio. Aqui nos lee uno de sus cuentos que se encuentra en la última sección de dicho libro. ¿Pero esperen? ¿Qué es un tocororo? Aqui lo sabran,,,,

El SS Satrústegui barco gemelo del Virginia de Churruca salió de La Habana rumbo a Venezuela y Colombia en marzo del 1961 a menos de un mes antes de la Invasión de bahía de Cochinos en abril. En este barco de la Compañía Trasatlántica Española iban casi una docena de mis familiares rumbo a Venezuela. Este episodio tipo Microráfaga es una conversación intima, y emocional, en español, entre mi prima...

In this Microburst, Jon Mueller shares with me a story about using his Fighting Lady aircraft carrier and Morse code to send messages to his dad. It is an endearing story. Perhaps you remember this type of toy from the 1950s. You can also listen to his interview with Mona regarding Memorial Day on her podcast Stories from A-Z with Mona P.

In this Microburst, Mona Posinoff was telling me a story about her doll when she was a little girl. It is an endearing story. Perhaps you remember these dolls from the 1960s. Thanks for listening. You can also follow Mona on Soundcloud: Stories from A to Z with Mona P.

Cinco Puntos con Pepín - Esta Microráfaga fue grabada espontáneamente y la lanzamos en anticipación al episodio de la semana que viene para que Pepín nos de cinco puntos que pueden ayudarnos responder preguntas y disipar algunos mitos sobre Cuba y el presente régimen.