August August 2016
www.MoonValleyTattler.com
VOL 36 No. 8
Arizona High School Rodeo B Y J U L I A S TA R Z I N S K I
To Cuba With Love
S TO RY A N D P H O TO G R A P H Y BY PAU L A G . C U L L I S O N
Arizona High School Rodeo Wanderlust is great, traveling is bethas over 300 competitors from ter. With the upcoming lift of the embararound the state as well as some go to end the blockade and direct flights, who travel from western New more US tourists will seek to experience Mexico, southern Colorado Cuba. But be prepared, keep an open and eastern Nevada. For one mind and brush up on your Spanish. weekend a month competitors The flight from Miami is only one gather to compete in bareback hour; the distance from the Florida Keys riding, saddlebronc riding, to Havana is about 90 miles. It seems bull riding, barrel racing, pole hard to imagine that so few miles can bending, steer wrestling, tie down roping, team roping, reigning make such a world of difference, but it cow horse, cutting, breakaway roping and goat tying. For each does. event, points are awarded to the top ten. In July, based on the Tourists are treated royally in this Tourists ar year’s point accumulation, the top four competitors in each event square mil small island nation of 11.2 million inhabare recognized and are invited to compete in the National Finals. The warmt itants and 43,000 square miles—about in their cur Last year, I started high school rodeo as a freshman, competing such as En the size of Virginia. Air conditioned only Ameri in barrel racing and pole, and was limited Cub coach buses took us from place to place. one of only two freshmen who Even thoug The warmth of the climate is reflectrooms are advanced to Nationals in Rock accommod ed in the warmth of the Cuban people Springs, WY. This year, I added who remain very polite in their curiosity reigning cow horse and cutting frontdoors news.com frontdoors 24 APRIL 2016 about foreigners. During my eight days, I ront with most tourist sites in Havana, the As waterf the along and again advanced to Nationals, stop a with began city the of mettour tourists from a variety of countries the such as England, Wales, Ireland, France, Germany and Chevrolet, an cars like Americ old 1950s to see the statue erected to Elian Gonzalez, this time in Gillette, WY. e to provid await obile Oldsm Chile. It is important to remember that only American tourists had restrictions, because of our and flee to pt Ford attem her in young boy whose mother died What makes High School the d aroun ride quick a or e a servic Havan taxi in father his to Elian of embargo, which has limited Cuba’s ability totrade. 50 Cuba. plus years of the The return Rodeo unique is the sheer effort a photo op. . are over 80 hotels in Havana area political battle became an intens Evene though there andorover 300 on the island, most of the best it takes just to participate. My rooms are booked well in advance by large tour groups. anisinflux of American esplanade, tourists, a broad Malecón The With family, who I would categorize We visited the very impressive Revolution Square which is the stretches which ll seawa and se finding accommodations can be tough. ay Becau roadw Cuba. a, as New Jersey, city-type, hybrid political and administrative center of Havan tion Square was in the coast Havana, for five miles , Revoluwith a stop along the waterfront values Acaltour thel city began toalong see the statue erected to Elian cultura and of Malecon provides drivers, now own an F250 pick- of its historiNational Monument in 2010. The most important the Cuba. A walk along a declared Gonzalez, the young boy whose mother died in her attempt to flee Cuba.The return of Elian to Havana residents with an oppor tunity to up, a 36’ living-quarters trailer, structures in the Square are a tall star-shaped tower, and the his father in Havana became an intense political battle. relax or socialize. In high tide, certain a four-horse “smaller” trailer statue of José Martí, Cuba’s national hero and acclaimed poet off and Ford and As with most tourist sites in Havana, the old 1950s American carscordon like ed Chevrolet, d areas are rly forme affecte area an city, Square is located on the highest place of the tioncourse Revoluof for around town, list. and and journa g signs are warnin Oldsmobile await to provide taxi service or a quick ride around theposted area. or a photo op. We s. of the Jesuit as The Hillfour, three, known sometimes highly visited the very impressive Revolution Square which is the political and administrative center of World Herit eing in Old Havana / Habana Viejo, a UNESCO trained quarter horses. To get to Nationals in Gillette, WY, for and the José Martí Memorial began in 1953. With the triumph Plaza Civic the of uction constr The city was likea in its glory day Havana, Cuba. Because of its historical and cultural values, Revolution was the declared into what gets a glimpseSquare of the original example, we basically packed up our entire housetion and put itry in 1959, construction partially stopped and some in Janua ation/renovation wor of the Revolu the de is lifted National Monument in 2010.deThe mostción” important structures the in blocka the Square areand a tallrestor star-shaped la Revolu the trailer. Then we loaded 10 days’ worth feed were andmodifi our ed. Beginning in the 60s it was called “Plaza making it one of the Plaza an writer, fell in lov seshorse Americ purpoof s famou the Hemingway, square tower, and the José feet, Martí, Cuba’s national hero and Ernest acclaimed poet and journalist. 775,000of of statue area has an Square.”weRevolu lution or “Revoin horses and hit the road for 20 hours. Arriving Gillette, weretion Square 1961, and for over fifty years, Havana’s Revolution Revolution Square is located on the highest place of the city, an area formerly known as The Hillwith interest is lined the largest city squares in the world. Since a We wandered over to the Plaza de Armas which met by 1500 other competitors, 1300 oftrailers and 1800 horses. and political events in Cuba, thus becoming social major most of site the been the plaza was b has e when Squar of the Jesuits. Spanish colonial buildings dating back to 1584 The local Gillette paper said the event created the 9th largest city plaza. the nd symbol of the political process in the countr y. surrou y exercises. Now The construction ofbook thestalls Civic Plaza and It is like strol militar for in Wyoming! Everything about this sport is big, expensive and No matter where we went, the t in Paris withou SeineMemorial the along José the Martí beganwater. in 1953. With has square he friendly. I was surprised to and polite always a huge effort! were Cubans (Habaneros) the triumph of the Revolution in January many sed witnes one on Michael Jack such a variety of international books, including All I can say is, “it’s worth it!” Arizona consistently has popular impor tant 1959,as construction partially and y is the Ambos Mun s for sale. Nearb recordstopped well as vintage 33RPM one of the best Rodeo teams in the country, activit so the of a in Havan ies level Bells Toll. the wrote For Whom Hemingwaypurposes some of where the original of the Plaza Hotel mass rallies competition is very high. But beyond thatinclud we keep backin ing thecoming were modified. Beginning in the 60s it was delive g with Miguel Coy whichinFidel because of the friends we’ve made.… Being the Castro middle of red a Speaking of architectural design, our meetin called “Plaza de la Revolución” or intere “Revolution lasting lly typica His enthusiasm sting. fiery speeches most was ct, archite and r urban planne large city, it is hard to find horse people that are as dedicated as l Severa hours. l the severa Once of embargo is li for Square.” Revolution hassing. an area a was engros ing of HavanSquare the rebuild my family and I are. Luckily, Quinn Unrein, who also lives in large music concerts, such ials mater of(now buy tools and will be able 775,000 feet,to making it one the in short supply Cubanssquare rs II” t Borde Moon Valley, also competes and boards her horses at the same What Cuba n e withou hand. as “Peac at task huge plish this to accomin sive)squares expen largest city the world. Since 1961, ntous other mome another conc is ), and rs planne urban of ty scarci facility as us. Over the years Quinn and (2009 I have grown together The . Home Depot andnow forisover fiftyation years, Havana’s Revolution core, planners center events, including the Masses the of ing rebuild and restor With the as horse people and now we all travel the road together. Once offered by Pope John Paul II, construction. Compatibility is of key con need to also focus on new...Continued ...Continued on page 3 on page 3 a month Quinn and and Pope Benedict XVI.
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26 APRIL 2016
frontdoors news.com
frontdoors news.com