So when does the Dalai Lama arrive?
HAVANA — Between presidents, special envoys, personalities, journalists, political has-beens, and gossips by birth or profession, the revolving door to the island never stops.
It is habitual by now to see, on the front page of Granma, pictures of Raúl Castro shaking the hands of those who — in the president’s judgment — deserve to be received in the palace of government, while others, in the inside pages and presumably second- or third-level visitors, meet with assorted ministers or chat with the manager of a sugar mill.
And that’s not counting the incognito visitors, who are certainly not few.
Half the world (not to exaggerate) keeping their eyes and ears open to absorb life in Cuba. What’s even more important, focusing on the process of reestablishment of diplomatic and commercial relations with the United States begun by presidents Castro and Obama on Dec. 17.
The reason is that, ever since Man stood on two legs and walked, we’d rather witness events than being told about them, particularly if the storyteller had a bad night.
Hyperactive ambassadors and aides write down figures and evaluate possibilities so that, in code or in a diplomatic pouch, their assessments and recommendations may reach their presidents as soon as possible. “So what’s your opinion?” is the most frequent question.
A separate subject: the yanqui “invasion.” Rare is the day when we don’t see a group of outsiders or some solitary individual evaluating, sniffing around, or lining up future interests. But Havana remains unfazed by the flood of foreigners and lets them carry on. Accustomed to that sort of coming and going, the city keeps its composure and seems to caution them in several languages: “Slow down and line up.”
I wouldn’t be surprised if some day we learn that, on a nonstop flight from his residence in Dharamsala, India, the Dalai Lama arrives to see first-hand what is happening or what may yet happen.
Ladies and gentlemen, a French official has just arrived and not far behind we see an African prince on his way.
