Galina Singer, designer Country: Ukraine

1. A Singer and Designer
2. A New Direction
3. An Adventurous Journey

A Singer and Designer

Galina, a popular Ukrainian singer and owner of the fashion house LiGali, recently returned from a trip to the sunny island of Cuba, where she participated in a yacht regatta. The trip was suggested by her longtime friend, Margarita Sichkar, a restaurateur in Kiev. Galina admitted that she had hesitated before the trip, considering the long flight, two weeks without her daughter, and the complete lack of mobile and internet connection. However, she is now thrilled with the journey and finds it difficult to return to the usual rhythm of life in Kiev. She was accustomed to having every trip planned in advance, with every detail understood down to the finest detail. This cruise, however, was full of mystery and surprises.

A New Direction

The trip involved a long flight, unfamiliar company, and a week in a relatively confined space on a yacht. Galina was also worried about the dreaded seasickness. Fortunately, everything turned out fine. The local skipper taught Galina the main remedy for seasickness – 50 grams of rum, which has a calming effect on the body. The company of 80 people spent a few days in the capital of the Island of Freedom, Havana. There, Galina visited a cigar factory, a dolphinarium, and her favorite bar, Ernest Hemingway's "Bodeguita del Medio". It is believed that the best "Mojito" in the world is made here, a drink loved by Papa, as the famous writer is called in Cuba. The walls of the popular establishment are adorned with paintings, posters, and autographs. Many celebrities have been here. Under a glass frame, there is a facsimile of the main Chilean communist, Salvador Allende, as well as a few lines and an autograph from Hemingway himself. One day was dedicated to a grand car rally through the streets of the city, driving rented classic convertibles. "Oh, the noise we made!" Galina laughs. "But I brought back to snowy Kiev an incredible amount of bright emotions that will last for a whole year. I don't think you can find such a concentration of positivity anywhere else – the sun, songs, rum, and dancing to salsa music!"

An Adventurous Journey

During the trip, Galina learned a lot. She helped the skipper with mooring and hoisting sails, tied nautical knots, scrubbed the deck, and rowed on oars during a competition in inflatable boats. She also learned how to catch and cook fish. In terms of culinary preferences, the menu during the trip mainly consisted of various types of fish and lobsters, with papaya for dessert. Every day, one of the members of the large group presented their own dinner. Margarita Sichkar cooked carbonara, and the famous restaurateur Dmitry Borisov prepared risotto with lobsters. Galina, on the other hand, became known as the master of soups, which helped everyone recover in the mornings after lively outdoor parties. "In Cuba, the choice of products is quite limited," Galina says. "There is a shortage of goods, similar to the times of the Soviet Union. I even had the impression that I traveled in a time machine and ended up 30-40 years ago, in Soviet times, when our parents were still young. But despite the poverty, we were amazed by the local people – hospitable, responsive, smiling, and open-minded."