It is hard to spend a single day in Cuba without being constantly reminded of the revolution and its principles. Such reminders come in the form of billboards, newspaper or television propaganda. However, nowhere is Cuba have I felt so close to history as in Santa Clara.
As a brief reminder, Santa Clara played a pivotal role in the revolution, which had its origin in the east of the island and gradually spread west from the Sierra Maestra. The final battle was fought in Santa Clara, the mot important city of the center of the country. 300 revolutionary fighters defeated over 3000 Batista troops and ambushed a supply train with would, had it arrived, have made victory almost impossible. This cunning defeat was led by no other than Ernesto Che Guevara. Two days after the fall of Santa Clara, dictator Batista fled the country and the revolution had been won. It is of little surprise that Che Guevara holds a special place in the hearts of Santa Clarans.
After visiting the Che Guevara monument and museum I return to my host family’s house and start to talk about history with my 62 year old host. He proudly tells me about his memories of the battle of Santa Clara (he was 15 years old at the time) and his father was a commander in the revolutionary army fighting side by side with Che Guevara. It is one thing to walk through a museum of Che Guevara artefacts, but to talk to someone who has personally known him almost brings history back alive.
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