Manuel

In a small shack by the train tracks on the outskirts of Old Havana, 87-year-old Manuel Quintana Godinez sells an exotic handmade concoction called Pru Oriental for a living. He advertises the drink as a kind of elixir, good for the kidneys, cystitis, migraines, gastritis, bronchitis, circulation and depression. It is, according to Manuel’s hand-painted ad board, “A good drink for whatever age and interesting for those over 50.” To drive the implied point home, the board also says, “If you have a stallion — it’s restorative!” Like Manuel’s tonic, this short profile piece is sweet and uplifting (and not just for those over 50).