The Mariel Boat Lift. Part 1.
I received some questions about my previous blog post when I mentioned "Cuban criminals". And I believe that was caused by my not taking the time to explain what I meant by that, so let me take this opportunity to straighten out the mixed views Floridians had about Cubans in Miami in those days.
In general, two groups of Cubans came to Miami: the pre-Mariel boatlift Cubans and the post-Mariel boatlift Cubans. And since I lived in Miami during both periods of time, those things were more than a news story to me. They were a part of my life.
In the pre-Mariel boatlift, tens of thousands of Cubans fled from the communist government that Fidel Castro was implementing, and the vast majority of them ended up in Miami, Florida. Floridians generally accepted these Cubans because we all knew what communists do when they take over, which is kill or imprison opposition leaders, so no one can challenge their power. And for the most part, those first Cubans who fled to Miami and became known as Cuban exiles were highly educated, financially well-off, and quite often business owners, teachers, doctors, and political leaders.
Even though there were some problems with the NUMBER of Cubans who were coming to Miami, the Cubans who were coming fit right into the Miami lifestyle, and even though most of them arrived with nothing more than their luggage, Castro had stolen everything else. These Cubans, who were often entrepreneurs, built a thriving Cuban colony in Miami, known as ‘‘Calle Ocho’’ and ‘‘Little Havana’’.
Since I was in high school at this time, I went to school with these teenage Cuban exiles, and counted some of them as friends, which gave me more of an insight into what was going on politically in Cuba and Miami than just reading about it in the Miami Herald or watching the local news shows.
Tomorrow I'll talk about the post Mariel boatlift Cubans and the devastating changes they brought to Miami and the people like me who lived there.
Theboondork
I think these trees with all the yellow blossoms on them are Palo Verde trees, and they’re really pretty this time of year. I haven't gotten close to one yet because there are hundreds of bees buzzing around in the trees, collecting pollen and nectar, and even though bees don't scare me, Arizona is famous for its African bees, which can be a lot more of a problem than the easygoing American bees.
Another Palo Verde tree covered in blossoms.
Last night's sunset.
As has become a brand-new habit for me, whenever I go to town to do some shopping, instead of going back to the Arizona trust lands, I stay in town at the Wickenburg boondocking Park, and rodeo grounds for $10 a night. This gives me a break from my normal daily routines, a change of menu, getting a hamburger at the nearby McDonald's. And having a dumpster, I can throw my week's worth of trash in.
It's kind of like having a one-day R&R.
And speaking of R&R did you hear about the pirate who left his ship and checked into a motel so he could get a little Arrr & Arrr..... Okay, it was a dumb joke. I never tell jokes on my blog, and now you can see why.