By: Ariel Causa
We have casual Fridays and crossed out Wednesdays, we have sadness on the go and partial goals, we have lean streets, desperate sunsets, the moon of the jagged suburbs and the most desperate confluence of hormones. We have birthdays, anniversaries, homages, national celebrations and, above all, we have those occasions in which we celebrate just for the fun of it.
I have a proposition to make you, escape with me every once in a while, for no reason once or ever. We all know these especial occasions are as necessary for the soul as a dental check is to the useful art of biting.
Just one thing, one rule that must be obeyed: time, money and prior commitments are out of this equation.
Let’s meet at Lobby Bar Quinta Avenida at Meliá Habana for the ritual initial libations, a quite fresh set of aperitifs for the night is long and the temperature is that fire we already know. After fulfilling the traditions, we board our recently captured specimen of almendrón.
We ask the driver to take 1st St, to see the sunset in our rear-view mirrors, hanging over the line of the page the sea is, like a sign.
We go for 7 Días because no sea is too much sea. We need it to invade our eyes and lungs.
Entrèes for the entire table, tostones, the chef’s delights, and the proud of our nation: frituras de malanga with honey. A Miniature feast. I ask for the shrimps in coconut liquor sauce and you join me on that one.
White wine was fine, but it is an escapade, so we asked for beer, clear as crystal.
We part for Café Fortuna Joe in a hurry, we go for some café Fortuna (milk, chocolate, vanilla and butter) and some Emerald coffees (coffee, cocoa liquor, cognac, cinnamon, powder chocolate and milk cream). A digestif or two that night is still young and we don’t want to spend the rest feeling heavy. Santiago 11 años, served in cognac glasses. Cuban alternative and Cuban traditional and alternative music, candle light, quite a discreet corner, conversation among friends, tales of Cubanía, profusion of national hospitality.
We depart for Espacios, a place where we, most likely be surprised by the dawn.
Barefoot and singing, that’s how we go, down 10th street, waving at a cab, back to the magnificent Meliá Habana , longing for a good sleep to rest the bones until the next adventure.
