In his book Mocedades, the then-young Jos\u00e9 Ortega y Gasset recognized as a long-time traveler: “When an old city becomes a death guard, a lot of dry years, all that remains in it is its old fountains, which continue to sing and run like in the youth of the village”. In it the pilgrim was warned that he knew how to stop in time to observe the most recognized and even quiet details of the city, however, all attendable. Tradition and modernity, matter and spirit, above all spirit emerges from the historical and therefore surviving city: “There are cities that have supreme energy of enduring, and are built once and for all”, Ortega also said and one as a reader feels that it is as if he refers equally to Havana.<\/p>\n
Perhaps we should be faced: why turn to Spain, if this capital had its own chroniclers, epistle editors and poets? Many reasons help us not to leave Spain, as well as from Africa and other regions. Consider who we are today for those confused but influential preterites. Similarly, it’s the time we live in.<\/p>\n
On the occasion of the fifth centenary of the founding of the town of San Crist\u00f3bal in Havana, the magazine Palabra Nueva again called for the edition of its contest, this time, the number twenty-three. Together with the Havana Culture Commission and the jury appointed by the magazine, numerous works were attended, both those that came to us in articles and in photographic technique. We have to recognize the disposition and respect in relation to a contest that, although it varys in themes and genres, always considers quality and originality above circumstantial reports or manuals (not to say the word of fashion). Fashion is passing and there are texts that deserve to be read at any time like the city, that testimonial document. The city, Havana, writing itself, provokes what a cyclical event, because we come and go changed. For some, permanence is more lasting; for others, it is transient but just as significant. When we read in La Calzada de Jes\u00fas del Monte, from the watchless traveller who was Elisha Diego we recognize the following: the city, even if it changes, can be configured as it once was. Just look at it and write about it, of course, those who want or can.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, it has been no less this time in a contest that appreciates the diverse participation, but which has had to reward the proposals that best attend the spirit of celebration of a settled and unhappy capital, since it expects more of its inhabitants. \u03a9<\/p>\n
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