"AGBAT's new Cuba Page" Cuba by AGBAT

No cigars here, but the only two gas station town between Albuquerque and Bloomfield. The aerial photo of Cuba is courtesy of Microsoft and their www.terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com web site. The web site is a good place to get topographical maps and aerial photo of places in the US.

Cuba is on the Puerco River (small trickle or no water most of the time), which cuts a deep arroyo through the north end of town. There are mountains to the east (Jemez caldera) and high mesa land to the west. The continental divide is just north of town and reservations are not far in all directions. The elevation is close to 7,000ft so winters are fairly cold, but the sun shines almost everyday. When the road to Farmington has to be closed due to a blizzard, Cuba is where they make you wait.

Some of the small pueblos northeast of Cuba are famous for their Penitenties. The cops have to stop them from actually crucifying a man each easter. They still flagellate themselves, stick thorns in his head, and tie him to a cross. The yuppie, eastern tourists come and say how quaint it is to see them try and kill someone in the name of religious fervor.

Sitting on the curb watching the cars pass by is a popular pastime. The Star Bar is the main watering hole. I first went to Cuba in the '60s, when I was 15. My brother was a surveyor and he and his crew would hang out at the Star. No one ever asked for an ID in those days. I still pass through town and have gone camping in the hills around the town several times over the years. It is a great date for the outdoorsy types, a little wood smoke, some clean air, sky full of stars and they are hotter than a two dollar pistol.