Here’s to a great AtoZ!
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This year I traveled to Cuba. You know, it’s that little island that’s spitting distance from Florida and should not be visited without special dispensation. I wanted to see it before MacDonald’s arrived. I’m so glad I did. I learned a lot and I met some wonderful people. It seems they like us. Now there’s a change!
I’ll add a short T/F quiz to each post the same as I did last year about Burma, and I’ll post the answers to the questions the following day.
Answers to your T/F Quiz for J.
FALSE 1. The U.S. doesn’t import tons of Cuban sugar each year and hasn’t since the embargo in 1960. Cuba can sell to other countries; we don’t stop that commerce.
FALSE 2. Rum isn’t made from rum berries grown in the Caribbean. It’s made from fermented sugarcane (molasses).
K is for Kidnaped
Juan Fangio at the Grand Prix |
In 1958 Juan Fangio, the winner of the World Drivers’ Championship five times, was kidnapped from the Lincoln Hotel just before the big race in Havana. Castro guerrillas held him captive until after the race. He always said he was well-treated and never divulged where they held him.
During the race one car’s oil line broke and Cifuentes’ Ferrari careened out of control into spectators. Forty people were injured and seven killed. So Fangio’s kidnapping may have saved his life. It certainly brought attention to the people’s revolution, while frustrating Batista’s attempt to show the world how great things were in Cuba.
Today the Lincoln Hotel is a rather seedy run-down place off the Prado, but it does house a small museum in the room Juan Fangio stayed that fateful year.
Your T/F Quiz for K:
1. The first Cuban Grand Prix was held in 1957.
2. Following the successful revolution in 1959, organized motor racing in Cuba ended permanently.
Answers tomorrow.
Birgit says
I have a feeling they took him away for his own good. I know the communists don't think much about racing.
Juneta Key says
Good story, enjoyed the post.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Tamara Narayan says
A kidnapping that may have saved a life? Wait! That was a premise in my first novel!
Natasha Duncan-Drake says
I'm glad they gave him back unharmed. Sounds civilised 🙂
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
J.L. Campbell says
I'd say number two is true. Also, rum is made from sugar cane.
Medeia Sharif says
I've never heard of this before. A lot of intrigue there.
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
Yes, I got them right yesterday. I'm saying two trues for today's questions.
Susan Says
sage says
I never heard of that kidnapping, interesting.
D.G. Hudson says
Kidnapping doesn't usually end well, but neither do professional drivers in those high speed races when there's a crash. One little change, as in a little twist of Fate.
Lexa Cain says
I had to look up Batista as I didn't know who he was. (History was always my poorist subject…) Now, I'm pretty horrified by both Batista and Castro. They're each dreadful dictators in their own way. The racecar driver is real lucky he wasn't killed by Castro or killed on the track that day. The race sounds kind of fishy to me, like things were sabotaged. Ugh. What a messed up country. Even dopey Russia dropped communism, and China is looking pretty capitalistic for a communist country. Only the good old Castros are keeping Cuba in poverty with what is obviously an idealistic form of government that never succeeded historically (and never will).
Roland D. Yeomans says
Sometimes what see as awful is actually a blessing, isn't it?
Yvonne Ventresca says
Interesting, and how fateful!
Yvonne V
DMS says
How interesting that the kidnapping could have ended up saving his life. Crazy!
~Jess
Donna McDine says
Yippee…got the first one correct, the second one I was wrong! Sounds very scary to be kidnapped!
Yolanda Renee says
I got one right, yah! Such an interesting way to influence things, but it probably did save his life. Horrible thing to happen at the race. I've no idea on the new quiz. Can't even guess. 🙂
Patricia Lynne says
That is a crazy kidnapping tale.
~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
A Tarkabarka Hölgy says
Huh! Interesting… I never heard about this…
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
The Multicolored Diary
MopDog
Stephen Tremp says
One of anyone's worst fears; being kidnapped. Or having a family member kidnapped. I'm all for the death penalty for kidnappers.
Elizabeth Seckman says
It's good when bad things work out for good.
My grandma served Castro at a Brown Derby restaurant (she was a waitress), she said he was a good tipper. That doesn't make up for all the human right's violations, but it's a reminder to tip well…people do talk.
Shooting Stars Mag says
How interesting! I had never heard of this. I mean, I'm glad he wasn't treated bad and if it saved his life, that's awesome. Crazy story though all around. haha
Pat Garcia says
I would say for the first question false. For second, I would say true.
Thanks also for the history concerning racing. I am not a motor racing fan so was totally unaware of this part of Cuba's history.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
DEZMOND says
Bravo for Castro!
Unknown says
That's an interesting story! Who could have ever imagined that kidnapping could actually do some good?
Cheers!
Modern Gypsy
Melanie Schulz says
Who ever would have thought that a kidnapping could be a good thing.
Nicola says
Sounds like he was kidnapped for a reason. I'd love to know more. Very intriguing. Thanks for yet another great post.
Kathleen Valentine says
I finally found your blog!!! Very interesting and, yes, he was lucky to have been kidnapped!
Meet My Imaginary Friends
#AtoZchallenge http://www.kathleenvalentineblog.com/
Bish Denham says
One wonders if the oil line was sabotage… I don't know the answers to either question, and won't guess. I suppose I could cheat and look it up?
Pat Hatt says
I guess that was a great time to be kidnapped.
Christine Rains says
How interesting! I'm going to say true to the first and false to the second.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Sometimes things happen for a reason, like the kidnapping in this case. Great picture. I don't know about the quiz. Wild guess: yes to both.
nashvillecats2 says
What a story, great to read….still can't get a right answer to your questions.
Yvonne.
Sarah Foster says
That's an interesting story! I guess the kidnapping did save his life.
Mason Canyon says
I'd say the kidnapping probably saved his life too.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I got a quiz question right!
That's a lot of injured people. The kidnapping may have indeed saved his life.