Mi Moto Fidel
Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba
by Christopher P. Baker
Overview
From the Publisher
Equally at Home on the Elegant Avenidas of Havana and the washboard trails of the Cuban countryside, Christopher Baker's gaudy red motorcycle proved to be the perfect vehicle for touring our nearby unknown neighbor. The bike drew stares, broke the ice, and made friends for Baker throughout his three-month, 7,000-mile Cuban ramble. As "a single male on a motorcycle, loose on a libertine isle," Baker felt free to pursue -- and chronicle -- a wide range of adventures. His faithful moto exposed him to a revealing cross section of society: From farmers and fishermen to habaneros chafing under Castro's faltering rule, Baker explores the tensions simmering below the surface of a beautiful island gripped by poverty and poised for political transition. Mi Moto Fidel is an exotic escapade that fires on all cylinders.
My thoughts
I gave this book two stars out of three, but only because of the sexual content of the book. Either the author is God's gift to women or everything he says about the sensuality of Cuban women is true! The man gets lucky a LOT! I suppose to omit that from the story would be omitting a huge part of Cuban life, but just the same I can't give the book three stars when I don't really agree with the concept of that lifestyle.
Having gotten that out of the way, this book was a great read. I am still confused about Cuba because it seems to me he spoke of many different countries. There was the Cuba that came across as very American. There was a Cuba that was filled with anger and contempt for communism. There was a Cuba that thought the status quo was probably OK. There was a Cuba that was full of Big Brother. It was very interesting and complex.
Having just finished reading a book about Hemingway's travels that took him to Cuba, a land he loved, I particularly enjoyed this book as it was filled with many of the same stories, lending credibility to both books. It felt familiar as I read about the places Hemingway frequented.
It was a very well-written book about a complex country. I'm glad I got to see it through the eyes of Christopher Baker. He's an interesting traveler and a good storyteller!
Favorite Passage
CDR - for Comite de Defensa de la Revolucion, or the local neighborhood watch committee - is found on every city block in the nation.
I break out my Canon EOS and snap off a few frames.
A fellow in a green MININT uniform down the road leaps onto a bicycle and furiously pedals my way. His scornful look suggest trouble. Before I can stash the camera and roar away he is upon me, dropping his bicycle in the road and leaping before me with his flat palm signaling, "Halt!"
"Why are you photographing this factory?" he snaps. "Are you working in Venzuela?"
"I liked the scenery. Especially the old yanqui car," I reply nonchalantly.
He is nearly apoplectic, hopping about as if he might wet himself. "But you took a photograph of the factory!"
"It's a very nice factory, senor. Very impressive. A wonderful example of the accomplishments of socialism with which to impress the rest of the world," I obsequiously respond, appealing to his socialist pride.
Amazingly he thaws, then waves me away.
The ubiquity of petty control irks me. Little Communist Hitlers like this get my back up. I can't help feeling that way. I've always rebelled at authority - never a good move in a police state such as Cuba.
