La Maison “You’re so Vain...”

In September, 2002 I was in Santiago, Cuba.

The most beautiful chicas, in terms of looks, is at La Maison. There is a $5 entry fee and drinks are $2. Right before 11 PM the nighly fashion show begins. Straight to the gusto – thankfully the swimsuits are first. About 8 VERY NICE women will be parading their swimsuits, there actually is a small clothing for sale section in this place. The girls are NOT obviously available. Okay how about discretely available? I got immediately rebuffed and then even tried sending the “pimp/tout” over to approach them and it didn’t work. Perplexed, I had to regroup for another offensive flanking maneuver. I decided to hop my way from bar to bar and ended up at Club300.

A collective breathless sucking of air passed as the same wolfpack/girlpack of La Maison Girls walked in and planted themselves in prime real estate for public perusal/pawing. Despite years and years of me seeing girls being pursued this was still an eye-bulger. The Carly Simon song flashed through my brain – “You’re so Vain…you walked into the room like you were walking into your yacht…”

The WolfPack/GirlPack was propositioned instantly by every deep dollar Italiano…And they promptly told Mr. Italiano to hit the road jack. Its risky to approach them right in the open – they have to keeep their jobs as models so they will turn every guy down.

What gives? Money won’t necessarily do it? Good looking Italian guys can’t score either? This deep research question stayed in my brain – like the “How do they get the Caramilk into the chocolate bar mystery?”

The next day I had to research with every hilife/midlife/lowlife/nolife pimp/tout in Santiago to crack the La Maison mystery. That night I had to loiter near the exit of La Maison, to pounce/proposition a girl as soon as she walked out. She was amazingly receptive if there is no crowd around, so that’s the moral of this little story. In public she has to keep her job and her “standards”. She wanted $100, which was well above the market rate for Santiago, but still half the price of Havana’s La Maison. Time to put the Spanish bargaining lessons to work…Although I didn’t want to blow it since these girls seem to be so elusive. Finally settled on $60 – which is still above the market price for this city – but these are not market girls and they know it. My Mr. Happy kept reminding me that she did look like Paulina Rubio - the 22 year old version.

I know there are debates out there about quality and quanity. But if some of us flew thousands of miles to get here…then enjoy the life…and enjoy who you’re with…

Speak Spanish otherwise you’ll pay $100 and even more!
Salud!

Great post! Way to hang in there and close the deal. So...where's the pics?

Hola Dongringo.

My reports are never as good as yours Dongringo, I was getting abused pursueing the Maison trophy.

I wish I had La Maison pics for private viewing let alone public viewing! Some of the best trophies in the city but they won't allow pictures.

I use a ring flash and NPH (film specialized for flesh tones), I would have done them justice! Oh to be fly on the wall in the La Maison shower...hahaha!

I'm saving up for another trip, although I'm leaning towards going to Buenos Aires for the first time.

Luego
-photographer88

Photo- I thought your report was great. And good luck with the pics next trip.

In my next life, I want to be reincarnated as a latin fashion photographer named Juan.

Photo,

when the girlpack walked in to Club300, did any Hombre invite any of the ladies to dance? you know, like in the old-fashion sense?

WHEELCHAIR GUY!!!

Hello Pachangero:

Yes Pachangero, the trophy girlpack did engage in a "minority" of dancing with a Hombres.

But the trophy girlpack is a significantly different image than one of my first memories of Cuba: WHEELCHAIR Guy (he looked older than Strom Thurmand) had a Shakira lookalike on his left and an Aguilera lookalike on his right!

dans le parque cespedes ou le boulevard it is possible to find girl for $10; la maison a lot of exageration