May - MogNW

Morgan, Icon of the World
By Harry Miltner
Once upon a time, not so many months ago we found ourselves
on the shores of the Castro Brothers, Cuba to be exact. If
one must go, unlike the Canadians that have open visa, Yankee
travelers must go in a group, sponsored by a cultural trip planned
around the dance, art and music. Grand Circle, our favorite travel
group, put together just such a visit and we were first in line.
After acquiring the necessary visa, we boarded the plane in
Miami, Florida. Several hours later we landed in southeastern
Cuba, Santiago de Cuba to be exact. Santiago was an interesting
city, though very poor, with buildings needing repair from hurricane
Sandy. There were many people without work.
The arts calendar was just as advertised, a wonderful exposure
to Cuban singers, artists and dance groups. After four days, we
boarded a bus to travel along the western border of Guantanamo,
then northeast on the La Farola highway, over the Baracoa
Mountains to the small city of Baraóoa. The Baracoa were first
made famous on December 3, 1492, by the explorer Chris Columbus
and it was his first stop on his visit to the Americas:
"Climbed a mountain and saw a plain sown with calabaza and so
many other native vegetables that it was a joy to behold. In the
center of the plain was a large village."
The village had grown but we, too, found the Baracoa a joy to
behold. We again visits to the artists and lots of time off to explore
this wonderful small city on our own.
On the fourth day, we were taken on a long bus ride to a rural
indigenous community to hear Afro-Cuban music, dance and try
their ten course lunch, served in hollowed out gourds. Well, we
had a grand time dancing with the Nengon-Kuriba natives, the
lunch was outstanding.
When it was time to depart, I got the grand idea to actually
stay awhile and see how they lived, their homes and where they
worked. Our Cuban leader felt, too, that it would be educational
to visit their houses, so we proceeded up the long path to a rather
well cared for small shanty.
The owner invited us into the main living quarters and on the
far wall was a calendar. Even with my aging eyesight, from
across the room appeared some sort of foreign car on the front of
the calendar. I had to get closer and low and behold, it was a
Morgan sports car printed on a Spanish car parts company calendar.
The month of April, 2013, enabled Morgan to be shown to
the world.
Here we were miles from nowhere, and Morgan was with us
again.
MOGNW Autojumble
Editor’s Note: There was only one new ad; none of last issue’s ads were renewed.
AUTOJUMBLE RULES (PLEASE NOTE: SOME ARE NEW)
1) Ads are FREE to MOGNW members and non-member individuals
seeking to sell, buy, or find Morgans and Morgan-related stuff;
2) No commercial advertisers; 3) Ads run for one issue;
4) RENEWALS ARE NOT AUTOMATIC … YOU MUST NOTIFY THE EDITOR
MORGANS FOR SALE
►1965 Morgan 4/4 2 seater RHD . Marvelous driving and performing car
with aluminum body Car has uprated 1600 Crossflow with twin Webers .
Paint is at least 40 years old so the car has a great patina. Three year old
Everflex top and ½ tonneau . New door panels and door top caps. Two year
old leather seats. Full maintenance and mechanical history available to
serious parties. Price: $24,000. Brian Tomlinson at thomlinson2@shaw.ca.
NW-Mogazine Volume 33, Number 3 May & June 2013
23