Miércoles de feria pinareña(es/en)

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  VERSION IN ENGLISH

Paraphrasing the master, now I say: where does all of Pinar del Rio go!
Where else but to the book and literature fair that starts today in this part of western Cuba! An event that is proclaimed as a celebration of letters, printed paper and also as part of modernity, of the new promotional and technological forms that are also present in this edition.

Today I woke up early in my village to take the only transport with guarantees of being a bit punctual and cheap for the current conditions of economic crisis in the country in general.

Very early in the morning, the presence in HIVE of a post by @yanerkidiaz, where sitting on a bench designed for readers in the main area of the fairgrounds, she advances her impressions and predictions about such an important event.

A few years ago I was part of that troop of crazy dreamers. That is the poets. Publishers and artists who used to smear with literary and artistic enthusiasm the living spaces of the widow and beyond, since there was almost always some book or magazine with illustrations.

But in this one I am also present, because the main honoree of the province: Alberto Pedraza is today receiving the entertainment of the publishing world and there is already on easel my work "huevo atornillado" which is the cover of one of his most recent books of poetry "Graffiti".

I arrive early to the area of the fair and I already meet Silvio, a native of San Juan who is the soul of the assurance of the international event that is now provincial.

It is also normal to begin the routine greetings to writers and acquaintances in the artistic environment, some pure courtesy, others more effusive. But greetings in short.

This year the design of the main area is very modest, very much in accordance with the resources and the economic situation. There is no traditional fountain in front of the Milanés Theater, La Casona restaurant, but they have placed some two-way wooden benches, with little roofs of a synthetic material that remind me of some handmade wells that I make for some fairs in my little country town.
In spite of everything, the atmosphere is quite lively with respect to the public, although it's an instant to see: the supply must be far below the demand.

As additional information: This fair may be wet, because in the sky I see some clouds hovering with a rather gray character.

In a short time the inaugural gala begins at the emblematic Milanés theater, where some scenes of the famous movie "La bella de la Alambra" with script by Miguel Barnet were filmed.

I am here because I have been invited to participate during all these days in a special area created for the "venduta" of small and medium format works of art. Those little works that we euphemistically call "unloading", and which also serve to solve the daily routine while the so-called serious buyers appear and make purchases of more value.

People continue to arrive at the fairgrounds. Government and political authorities. Officials from culture and other areas of social work. And me to the tent where some of my colleagues are already waiting for me, who have set up their works for exhibition and sale on this Wednesday of the fair.
Later I will tell you more about the International Book Fair in the lower back.

Bye

Photos taken with my Xiaomi Red9s.

Text translated with Deelpp Translator

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