The Story Behind the Cuban Flag

   Designed by Venezuelan general Narciso Lopez in the year 1848, the "Lone Star" was granted the official status as the national flag only in 1902.

   The three blue stripes represent the original historic provinces, while the white bands symbolize the purity and justice of the liberators' motives. The triangle signifies liberty, equality and fraternity;  its color red is for the blood sacrificed by the Cuban patriots; and the white star within it represents the unity of the people upon the blood spilled.

   Fascinating stuff, but I didn't know anything about it when I was in the island's capital exactly one year ago. I just thought the flag looked pretty and I was impressed by how it seemed to be a leitmotif of Cuban life under all its aspects.   

Surprisingly, I found it in the most unexpected locations:

   And I was particularly excited about the huge one hanging on the wall of the inner courtyard inside the Revolution Museum. For about 20 minutes I tried to take an interesting shot with it, waiting for a helping hand from the wind, but my perseverance must have resembled a national threat, because a team of Havana's finest showed up. I don't know how other people are, but when the Cuban officer confiscated my camera without bothering to answer any of my questions, I suddenly had a sinking feeling and it wasn't the effect of the soft back seat of the police car, where I've been thrown. I'm not making a big deal out of it, but the suffocating sensation that I've just lost all my pictures, the drive to the station, the interrogatory in Spanish and the 2 hour wait on a bench in one of the hallways right next to some colourful characters, is definitely an experience that wasn't on my must do list. I know because I made the list and I didn't put any of that on it.

 Also, it's something that Plaza Vieja's fortune teller - Adelaide - somehow forgot to mention a few days earlier...

Next time I'll try predicting my future by reading the stars, not cards:

 travel.more.cosmin