Sometimes in life, some things get missing, Could be food in war time,
Or could be running water in a developing country, and in worst cases (for me),
Cigarettes could vanish from those shelves in the supermarkets, but in Cuba,
Fortunately all the above items are available; still many other things are missing,
But they are mostly minor things, which we can live normally without them,
Like my favourite shampoo, or Gillette blades.
But one of those missing stuff which annoyed me a lot, were lighters (Forforera in spanish).
If you check La Habanna shops, you will very hardly find any of them selling lighters or matches, which is very strange in a country that is very famous of its cigar and tobacco.
So if in Sweden or Pakistan your friend’s usually never return your books or pen,
In Cuba the first target is your lighter.
I came from Sweden carrying two lighters, which I thought should be enough for two months
stay In Cuba, but they both vanished in one week, I stayed a lighters bagger for two weeks,
Once had to go down to the street at midnight to borrow a lighter and after waiting for so long I saw a guy carrying a cig. In his hand, while trying to explain him what I want in my bad Spanish (La forforera, Por favor), he through it away, then I came to know he does not have
A lighter , so I kept running after the cigarette he threw away on the street, what a shame!!!
Then a Cuban (friend) blackmailed me and bought me four lighters for $10, plus few nice dinners, and never revealed to me from where he got them.
Once again, three out of my four lighters have gone so far, and I’m still keeping my last lighter, wrote my name on it in block letters, carrying it with me everywhere I go,
Toilet, kitchen ,while sleeping, simply it never gets out of my pocket, and I’m ready to defend it up to my last breath .
So one of the most important lessons I’ve learned here, (LOVE YOUR LIGHTER, OR QUIT SMOKING), you can never know if you end up in Cuba one day.
Or could be running water in a developing country, and in worst cases (for me),
Cigarettes could vanish from those shelves in the supermarkets, but in Cuba,
Fortunately all the above items are available; still many other things are missing,
But they are mostly minor things, which we can live normally without them,
Like my favourite shampoo, or Gillette blades.
But one of those missing stuff which annoyed me a lot, were lighters (Forforera in spanish).
If you check La Habanna shops, you will very hardly find any of them selling lighters or matches, which is very strange in a country that is very famous of its cigar and tobacco.
So if in Sweden or Pakistan your friend’s usually never return your books or pen,
In Cuba the first target is your lighter.
I came from Sweden carrying two lighters, which I thought should be enough for two months
stay In Cuba, but they both vanished in one week, I stayed a lighters bagger for two weeks,
Once had to go down to the street at midnight to borrow a lighter and after waiting for so long I saw a guy carrying a cig. In his hand, while trying to explain him what I want in my bad Spanish (La forforera, Por favor), he through it away, then I came to know he does not have
A lighter , so I kept running after the cigarette he threw away on the street, what a shame!!!
Then a Cuban (friend) blackmailed me and bought me four lighters for $10, plus few nice dinners, and never revealed to me from where he got them.
Once again, three out of my four lighters have gone so far, and I’m still keeping my last lighter, wrote my name on it in block letters, carrying it with me everywhere I go,
Toilet, kitchen ,while sleeping, simply it never gets out of my pocket, and I’m ready to defend it up to my last breath .
So one of the most important lessons I’ve learned here, (LOVE YOUR LIGHTER, OR QUIT SMOKING), you can never know if you end up in Cuba one day.
Written in Havana May 2007
The picture was taken in Cienfuegos Cuba
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