In Havana, echoes of Mao and Nixon

When US President Richard Nixon touched down in China on Feb 21, 1972, I had just turned 14.

When Nixon shook hands first with Zhou Enlai and then with Mao Zedong, the feeling of a major event in world history occurring was inescapable.

But then, at that age, I'm sure I was more concerned with algebra, girls and football than a faraway country that - I'm sure I thought - ultimately would bear little relevance to my daily life. (I was incredibly wrong about that.)