Cuna and Pan called it the poet troubadour. And, without much effort, we notice that indeed Santiago de Cuba has given birth and nurtured many of the most basic definition of our country. It is the sound, rhythm and cadence that is, but also attitude to life: continuous party, tastiness walking, joy.
It is the rum, in its reinvention qualified by European techniques and oak barrels. And is the conga, that drags us and no longer distinguishes between lineages uncouth ears and absurd. Santiago is also energy ... and mobility.
As they say many of their children, "Santiago is a good living in Havana"; to swing laugh, with that other trait as not to admit him to the racket shadows.
From the Eastern capital of almost everyone references. Its steep streets ending in the sea or in the mountains. Their patron saint, cared very close. His heroic cemetery where are Martí, Céspedes, Frank País and Mariana. Where they are also Compay Segundo and Miguel
Matamoros.
If Havana has Industriales, Santiago emulates with Wasps. If ball is discussed in Central Park in the Plaza de Marte also it screams. If the Morro of the north coast of Cuba "Spanish soldiers" shoot a cannon down south are mambises which will be notified to the thunder of the Sierra Maestra. Santiago is much more than words and people. It is an experience to live.
Cuna y Pan le llamó el poeta trovador. Y, sin mucho esfuerzo, notamos que en verdad Santiago de Cuba ha dado vida y nutrido muchas de las más esenciales definiciones de nuestro país. Es el son, que es ritmo y cadencia, pero también actitud ante la vida: fiesta continua, sabrosura al andar, alegría.
Es el ron, en su reinvención matizada por técnicas europeas y barricas de roble. Y es la conga, que nos arrastra y ya no distingue entre oídos zafios y abolengos absurdos. Santiago también es energía... y movilidad.
Como dicen muchos de sus hijos, "un buen santiaguero es el que vive en La Habana"; a carcajada batiente, con ese otro rasgo tan suyo de no admitir sombras a la algarabía.
De la capital oriental casi todos tenemos referentes. Sus calles empinadas que terminan en el mar o en la montaña. Su virgen patrona, cuidada muy cerca. Su cementerio heroico, donde están Martí, Céspedes, Frank País y Mariana. Donde están también Compay Segundo y Miguel Matamoros.