Three days with pork, rum and salsa

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN CUBAN PROVINCES Andrew Simpson, an engineer on the eve of the coming of 2007 we arrived in Gibaru - a charming little port town on the northeast coast of Cuba. We were invited to conduct a range of Cuban family friendly New Year's dinner. Celebrating New Year in Cuba lasts three days. Men traditionally roast pig, competing, who better to cope with this task. We arrived there about seven o'clock in the evening. The entire men's masters of waiting our appearance at the door and happily welcomed us. Their cheeks were burning: seven hours they were working with pork and, as usual, drank rum. The house was full of people gathered here, all four generations of relatives. Since cooking the main dish at local stores we have not found anything suitable for a holiday, we brought biscuits, juice, soft drinks for children and rum for the hosts. Festive table just bursting with delicious dishes. They all ate with great pleasure, but the most exquisite, in our opinion, was the taste of crispy fried crust. I think even the most fastidious connoisseurs of meat would put pork rated "excellent". A festive table after dinner we went to the town square "Fish Square, where they could dance and have fun all night long. We asked what time it is, but we were told that this is not entirely irrelevant, you just need to wait a bit, all becomes clear. For a moment everything seemed quiet, and suddenly heard a violent ringing of church bells - come the New Year! "Feliz Nuevo Agno" - (happy new year) was heard on all sides. The air was filled with laughter and rousing rhythms of salsa. Religious paraphernalia with this music it was impossible to stand still, we started to dance. Not knowing a single parameter, we danced together all until dawn. Seemed to have united the party, all kissed and congratulated each other as relatives, though every one, regardless of age, have become brothers and sisters. It was all our shared, and joy, music and dancing, and a bottle of rum. In the end, rum was completely sold out in all shops in the city Families celebrated the New Year with your friends and neighbors. Met on the streets, even with strangers, many of them stopped and exchanged greetings. One of those who invited us for a holiday - Nelson Labrada Alvarez (left), rather well-known Cuban artist in the city were not many tourists, they seemed a little shy and were afraid of meeting with local residents. After eight hours of Fish Square was filled with people again. The popular Cuban band "Eddie Kaye" came to congratulate the citizens and for them to perform their original music. Girls wearing nice, eye-catching dress, forcing her men a little jealous. We listened to music and danced in a circle, put a bottle of rum in the middle. The evening was a noisy, busy, but it was not a single quarrel or a drunken antics - the police and guards strictly monitored procedure. One of his works, Nelson Labrada Alvarez performed on a huge wall in the courtyard of his house the second of January, many citizens are also not sitting in their homes and spent time on the area or in a cafe. There was a time of quiet and peaceful celebration. At Fish Square was empty, nobody was dancing, and music was played. For all five days of our stay in Gibare it was only a quiet evening. Later we were told that this is due to the fact that the next day - working, so people need to relax and tune in to a serious mood. However, the fun continues in the bars on the beach. Here everything is as loud music played, sounded like folk songs, people danced in the sand under the slow melodies. Without doubt, we will never forget this New Year! See also: On New Year's holidays - abroad, The heart of the revolution in the Western Hemisphere Visiting Liberty Island - a serious test for the digestive system of the realities of Cuban hotel - choose the private sector market illustrative example the Cuban province of Misty landscape of Cuban tobacco plantation town of happy people place on Liberty Island last revolutionary battles in Cuba What the Spanish colonizers did not come to pass, failed to make the last half century you want to dance in a nightclub? Come to the cave! How to spend Christmas in Iceland