- Punch a hole in the lighter to release the pressure
- Remove striker, button, spring and flint
- Put in new flint if necessary; replace spring, button and striker and recrimp top metal assembly
- Insert hollow fluted pin in bottom of lighter
- Press-fit the nozzle of insecticide into the lighter (I think it’s the flammable propellant that mostly goes into the lighter, but the guy wears a mask because he’s eventually getting a good dose of bug spray at the bottom of the propellant) and hold until lighter is full
- Cut the pin off at the lighter base (thus crimping the end)
- Hold lighter underwater to ensure it isn’t leaking
All over town you find relojeros (watchmakers) and joyeros (jewellers): but don’t expect them to have watches or jewelry for sale. Many people have a watch, but there is no place to shop for them, and the watches are repaired over and over again.
If you go to Cuba and feel like bringing something to donate, don’t bring food or clothing or jewelry: bring a couple of sacks of Quickrete and rebar: the pavement is disappearing like crazy: it’s like people are carting it away at night. 300 buildings collapse in Havana each year.
The kids in the photo below are playing on a basketball court, but they are not playing basketball. They are rolling and throwing a sharp, rusty metal ring. Basketballs are expensive. This is two blocks from Avenida Obispo where tourists sample mojitos and buy cheap art.
