Posted on Thu, Jul. 10, 2008
Associated Press
HAVANA --
Fidel Castro kept a frenetic schedule for nearly five decades as a
global icon who infuriated 10 U.S. presidents. Now 81 and ailing, he
describes his most pressing activity as reading and writing about the news.
Castro published a wistful essay Thursday in Cuba's state press, saying
he set aside ''a mountain of news cables'' about the G-8 summit in Japan
in order to chat with longtime confidant, Gabriel García Márquez.
''I decided to rest,'' Castro wrote in the column, entitled ``The Day Off.''
It gave a glimpse into the now-quiet life of a man who long dabbled in
nearly every element of Cuban affairs. He said Tuesday's talk with the
Colombian novelist was the first time he'd invited a visitor to lunch
since he underwent emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006.
Forced to the sidelines of government, Castro has dedicated himself to
writing essays about world events for Cuban readers while his younger
brother Raúl heads the government.
Castro said he began to talk with García Márquez and his wife Mercedes
Barcha at 11:35 a.m., reminiscing about ''dozens of events'' over the 50
years of their friendship. Two hours later, they were still talking.
``I invited them to have lunch, something that I have never done with
any visitor in these almost two years. Which I had never thought to do.''
Castro referred indirectly to his mortality, said he stuck to the diet
doctors had prescribed -- ``not to add years to my life, but
productivity to my hours.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/cuba/story/600700.html
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