Walking on Central Park

I was unable to estimate how many people circulate everyday on the Central Park, but I got something even more pleasant: feeling as part of a city full of wonders

By: Ana Margarita Sánchez Soler  asanchez@enet.cu

Have you ever thought about the places in our city that take the most steps? I refer to the most visited places by people of any region of Cuba and even foreigners every day. Sometimes thoughts take unsuspected courses and without realizing we are filling it with questions of all kinds. While walking on Prado Street a few days ago, I went as far as the Central Park of Havana.

Once in the center of the significant architectural space I tried to estimate the number of footprints it receives every morning. I had no response other than the information grasped by my senses. Around me the hustle and bustle of the people and the cars, the typical sunny image of the afternoon and in the middle of all that, a sculpture of Martí as a witness of everything moving around him. Since 1905 the sculpture has been there, but the park was built in 1877.

It is imposible for a Cuban to walk through the Central Park without thinking in all the history it collects in its stones. It is probably one of the constructions in the old Havana which merges more patriotic traditions related to Cuba’s National Hero. The structure of the construction itself signifies it, there are 28 royal palm trees as a reference to the day of Martí’s birth. In addition the traditional march of torch with which its birth is remembered every year, ends there.

This place is a kind of multicolored spectrum in which the Cuban character is combined. Just sit a few minutes to contemplate the passers-by, their habits, way of speaking, diversity of appearances or the so popular “hot corner”, where baseball is the main topic . You just have to get carried away by the prevailing environment, prick up the ear and try to feel beyond the usual, to transcend the daily way of seeing and capturing.

We will find magical sensations caused by a site that has carried  the steps of so many people. for 138 years

Finally, I did not know how many steps circulate daily through the Central Park, but I got something more pleasant: feeling as part of a city full of wonders. I remembered the privilege that I have when leaving my own footprints in an emblematic piece of my city.

Translated by ESTI

Impactos: 0