{"id":301955,"date":"2024-05-12T15:30:46","date_gmt":"2024-05-12T19:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=301955"},"modified":"2026-02-11T11:59:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T16:59:22","slug":"my-childhood-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/my-childhood-park\/","title":{"rendered":"My childhood park"},"content":{"rendered":"

When remembering good times, parks are usually recurring settings. With their serene and welcoming atmosphere, they have the power to bring back fond memories and connect us with our personal history. In Holgu\u00edn, known as the City of Parks, there is one in particular, San Jos\u00e9 Park, which is more than just a public space, if such a thing exists. The San Jos\u00e9 has been the scene of memorable passages both in my life and in that of entire generations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A
A group of children plays ball in San Jos\u00e9 Park. Photo: Kaloian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A couple of grandparents sitting on one of the benches in San Jos\u00e9 Park. Photo: Kaloian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Officially it is called C\u00e9spedes Park, but for Holgu\u00edn residents it is simply San Jos\u00e9 Park. My family says that, when I was about 3 years old, I insisted they take me to the \u201cpaquem\u00edo.\u201d By this, I meant \u201cmy park.\u201d It was San Jos\u00e9 where I wanted to go, that was the place my parents used to choose to take me to play.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Benches
Benches and gardens in a park that holds so many stories. Photo: Kaloian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Long before I was born and my parents were born, the Third Seat of the City of Holgu\u00edn was built there, in 1752. That same century the Franciscans built a hermitage and named the site San Francisco. Later, in 1809, the Church of San Jos\u00e9 was built and thus changed the name of the square. During the following decades it became a popular spot due to the markets that were organized there between 1838 and 1848. In 1898 the name was modified again, this time to be called C\u00e9spedes Park, in honor of Carlos Manuel C\u00e9spedes, whose sculpture was erected on one of the corners in 1981.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The
The monument to Carlos Manuel de C\u00e9spedes in San Jos\u00e9 Park. Photo: Kaloian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At first glance, the clay tiled ground in terracotta tones is striking. Lush trees and gardens and the aforementioned church (the only one in the city located within a park) complete the profile of the site, along with the C\u00e9spedes monument and another dedicated to the patriots shot by a firing squad in the Cuban wars of independence, known as \u201cEl angelote.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The
The ground of San Jos\u00e9 Park. Photo: Kaloian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Monument
Monument dedicated to the patriots shot in the Cuban independence wars, known as \u201cEl.\u201d Photo: Kaloian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The angelote of San Jos\u00e9 Park. Photo: Kaloian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Among the five parks that spread along Libertad and Maceo streets, San Jos\u00e9 is not the busiest. It seems to be chosen by the city\u2019s own inhabitants as the ideal place to seek tranquility.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is not only an emblematic point of the city, but also exhibits an architectural quality that makes it a genuine character in the urban landscape; silent witness of countless joys and misfortunes throughout time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Romance
Romance in San Jos\u00e9 Park. Photo: Kaloian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Flower
Flower sellers. Photo: Kaloian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I remember the walks hand in hand with my parents, crossing the park from end to end during the week, on the way to daycare or on the way back home. I know exactly which bench was where I had my first date as a teenager. I also remember the blackout nights of the Special Period, when a group of friends went to sit around \u201cEl angelote\u201d to talk and kill time and try to stand the heat. One of its gardens keeps, no less, my father\u2019s ashes, according to his last will.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A
A peaceful night in San Jos\u00e9 Park. Photo: Kaloian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the world, those of us who have had or have a \u201cpaquem\u00edo\u201d are fortunate, that treasure of collective and diverse memory: from children\u2019s games to the nostalgic sighs of the elderly.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Officially it is called C\u00e9spedes Park, but for Holgu\u00edn residents it is simply San Jos\u00e9 Park. My family says that, when I was about 3 years old, I insisted they take me there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3262,"featured_media":301959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13902,13913,13903],"tags":[14851,12155,19256],"ppma_author":[33930],"class_list":["post-301955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cuba","category-cuban-traditions","category-economy","tag-cuban-culture-es","tag-cuban-photography","tag-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMy childhood park | OnCubaNews English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When remembering good times, parks are usually recurring settings. 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