There is no time

On September 2023 I published this photo in one of my posts.👇

Take a closer look. That's the Martí Stadium, which is right in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Avenida de los Presidentes, in Havana's Vedado neighbourhood.

As you can see, it was under repair. I was very happy about it, as I was with the feeling I got from a certain lady who ruffled my hair that time on the Malecón. It was good news to see the stadium being rejuvenated after so many cracks caused by saltpetre and well... by all the natural elements. I think there was even a fire there.

And then two days ago I went back to that place. The lady is still doing her thing in my hair.

But the stadium...

It has not been totally rejuvenated, although I cannot deny that some change is noticeable.

It's what I said in the title of this post: it seems that time doesn't exist.

The José Martí Sports Park was built in 1940. The Cuban architect Octavio Buigas remodelled it and finished it in 1960. It was one of the capital's favourite places to practice sports. Visitors could enjoy the gymnasium, two swimming pools and a diving tank. There was a children's playground and areas to play court, basketball and handball. _Source

Oncuba published this article in November 2023. 👆

Here everything is at a standstill... always.

With some thoughts I wandered around this area of Havana that brings back many memories of my college days.

I sat on a bench on the avenue from where I could see some of the buildings attached to the Casa de las Américas through these ‘Uva Caleta’ trunks, and I was also chatting with a dog who approached me in search of something she had hidden among the weeds.

Oh, I see you've found a bone, I said. 😀

She smiled... there you can see I'm not telling lies.

In the meantime, children between 9 and 13 years old maybe were bathing and splashing in the fountain that borders the stadium. That caught my attention, that there was water there. Even so, I didn't find it appropriate for them to be there. That is not the Trevi Fountain, which was perhaps cleaner at the time of the scene of La Dolce Vita. I don't know why I make this association, it just came to my mind. Anita Ekberg was holding a small cat in her hands... and I was now accompanied by a dog. I don't even know what I'm saying or writing.

Look at the water... I'm not making this up either.

Life is such a mysterious thing and one thing leads to another, so after being there for a while, enjoying the coolness of the afternoon, I decided to go and get something to eat. I already said it in my previous post. I had a large mug of beer and bought some croquettes.

From there I headed to the coast of 70th Street in Playa but first I wanted to do something I had been meaning to do.

I always carry a small empty container in my backpack so that if I find peanut bars along the way, I buy them and keep them there. They are a good fuel for cyclists and also a bit greasy. So I don't like to get everything dirty in my backpack.
This time the container was used to take a few croquettes to a friend.

I like to keep my promises. Spartacus could not wait a whole year and a few more months for my visit.

Spartacus is a charismatic stray dog.

He has many friends and lives his life quietly, without many pretensions. He may not have recognised me (the first time he was dozing), but we had our second moment in which, of course, I kept my distance.

This short film is hidden on my YouTube Channel, so only people who have this link can watch it.

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_{Original content by @nanixxx. All rights reserved ©, 2025.}