There is in Cuba a number of people that were able to transcend time and space just by the virtue of being themselves. By far the most famous was " El Caballero de Paris", a self styled vagabond moving through the streets of Old Havana like a spectrum in exile from the nether lands. He never panhandled or beg for anything according to those who knew him. His matted hair and dirty clothes were part of his personna. His life shrouded in mistery added flavor to the Havana of old. A statue I am told was erected in his likeness to make his existance an eternal memory.
There were others, my favorite was CHORI. A few yeras ago I heard about Chori's identity, apparently he was known. His deal, as we would say in America was rather simple. All over the city of Havana he would print his name, eye level, in white chalk and in the type of print that we all learned in workshop in High School. CHORI, every bus stop every corner in the city, just like a Nike sign.
I had the opportunity to personally meet two of these character, I met " Dorsalito" , he would have won many a Mr. America titles, his named after the muscle latissimus dorsi, which in his case was overdeveloped, not just the dorsi, but the deltoid and trapezius were also overdeveloped giving Dorsalito a vague resemblance to a butterfly with the wings spread. A tall and built AfroCuban Dorsalito made his way in the beaches of Havana, where everyone recognized him, walking , arms to his side like he was carrying a 13 inches TV under his arms.
I also had the opportunity to meet "EL Patinador de la Muerte", This fellow travelled all of Cuba in skates. I met him in the Guanajay Park one afternoon, in his way to Cienfuegos. Is told in Havana that this fellow really had some cojones and was a daredevil in Skates. Others less kind have him begging by attaching himself to moving cars.
Also I met Tanquecito.http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y99/feb99/16a10.htm This fellow I saw use a 55 gallons metal barrel like a toy, bouncing it, throwing it to make it stop or wobble at his whim, a total genious with his toy barrels.
