Covid struck while on a visit to Havana. He then fixed the building where he lived.

Nowhere in this world is this news. Perhaps not even a slight mention, but in Cuba it is quite an event, and applauded with fervor, that someone comes from Miami and decides to paint and repair an entire building — from windows and garage doors to the septic tank.

Decades  after the Argentine Carlos Gardel sang, Havana continues to show that filmic image that made the Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar say that “it was beautiful, but looked like a bombed city.”

Havana has not progressed much since then, when it comes to maintaining its architectural beauty and splendor. Its buildings require a fresh coat of paint and much fine tuning. If it’s not for one reason, it’s the other. And there’s all sorts of excuses. At the same time, responsibilities abound at every level.

The truth is that the city continues to cry out for a very serious once over. And I’m not referring to those emergency make-overs because of the visit of some important personality, an event to be held, or because some high-ranking Island official transits a certain road.

The case in question was of a visitor taken by surprise by Covid-19. Not rich and much less a millionaire, he invited several neighbors to “put some sweat equity” into the building. Between them they took on the task at a cost that the person in charge refuses to reveal. With the help of a brigade of private or cooperative workers they undertook the task with care and dedication under difficult circumstances; we know the high price of a bag of cement or a simple brick, not to mention paint.

Today the building built in the 1950s draws the attention of all who pass by it. Few realize how it was rescued it to its original beauty in such a short time and under the scourge of the pandemic.

The history of Alberto could be made into a movie. The narrative would depend on the scriptwriter and the director himself. Maybe made into a tragicomedy. 

He left as soon as conditions allowed after almost a year in confinement. And he left as Cuban as ever. Hopefully he will return one day with better epidemiological luck and new endeavors if the neighbors are willing to help.