Yahoo! News
August 23, 2001.
Cuba La Bella! Online postcard collection highlights Cuban heritage,
architecture and history
Thursday August 23, 5:06 am Eastern Time. Press Release.
SOURCE: Cuba La Bella
BOSTON, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- More than a million Cubans left their
homeland following 1959, carrying with them images of life in Cuba. Hilda ten
Brink, who left Cuba in 1961, was one of these Cubans, sharing memories of the
past through her collection of Cuban postcards that capture Cuba from 1899 to
the late 1950's. She now has around 2,000 postcards on her website
www.cubalabella.net.
Hilda's Cuban Postcard Museum online is made up of 86 categories that range
greatly. From images of sugar and tobacco industries, Bacardi Rum, to views of
Havana - especially of El Morro, and of the original six pre-Revolution
provinces of Cuba.
According to Ms. ten Brink, in the category "'The Way We Were' there
are postcards of water and milk vendors on their burros, of old houses and
buildings issued in the beginning of the 1900's,'' who now lives in Costa Rica.
"Cards of Cuban landscapes bring out the beauty of an island that was a
favorite tourist destination for Americans and Europeans.''
The collection stirs heartfelt comments from those who view the site. "To
look at your cards is to reencounter the past. I left Cuba on December 31, 1960.
I have never been back, but hope to see my country soon,'' wrote one visitor on
the online guestbook. Another wrote, "Thank you for sharing this wonderful
collection with us. I left Cuba at the age of 2 and wish I could remember it.''
Cuba La Bella also has appeal for those interested in the art, the
architecture and the history of Cuba.
A teacher wrote: "Thank you. I am teaching Afro-Cuban art to inner city
Cleveland children over the Summer, and your collection gave me a wonderful idea
of having the kids create postcards of what they have learned about Cuba and
then mailing [online postcards] to their parents.''
The collection illustrates the colonial architecture that was present in
Cuba at the high point of its development. There are many images of the Old
Havana, now a United Nations Treasure for Humanity, and many one-of-a kind
buildings.
Cuba La Bella came into being to allow Ms. ten Brink to share her collection
with others who might share a similar heritage or interests in Cuban history.
She believes the cards are some of the best-kept images of Cuba in its days of
glory.
Contact:
Hilda ten Brink
lamejor@racsa.co.cr
Tel.
(617) 306-3153
Cuba's Sotomayor Says He'll Retire
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) - Javier Sotomayor, the world record-holder in the
high jump both indoor and outdoor, finished third at the IAAF Permit meet
Wednesday and then talked about retirement.
The 33-year-old Cuban cleared 7 feet, 5 inches to finish behind Mark Boswell
of Canada and Iaroslav Rybakov of Russia, who both cleared 7-53/4 with Boswell
winning on fewer misses.
"Next year will probably be my last in competition,'' Sotomayor said.
He set the outdoor mark of 8-01/2 on July 27, 1993, at Salamanca, Spain. His
indoor record is 7-111/2, set on March 4, 1989.
Last year, Sotomayor successfully challenged a drug suspension and won the
silver medal at the Sydney Olympics (news - web sites). He finished fourth in
the World Championships in Edmonton this month.
In other events Wednesday, Russia's Svetlana Feofanova cleared 14-10 to win
the women's pole vault, beating Yvonne Buschbaum of Germany, 14-6, and American
Melissa Mueller, 14-4.
In the women's long jump, Russia's Tatiana Kotova won with a leap of
22-113/4, beating Italy's Fiona May and Niurka Montalvo of Spain. | 
