The latest news is nothing flattering for the future expeditionaries of the Granma Yate, so the leader Fidel Castro hurries the night of November 21, 1956 to meet with Jesús Montané and Melba Hernández, who reside in an apartment on Pachuca street, almost corner of Francisco Márquez, Colonia Condesa, in Mexico City.

For days Fidel suffers a strong gripal state that forces him to wear a thick scarf around his neck.But that does not stop him.He continues with his energy and the enthusiasm that characterize him.

The report he has received from Captain Fernando Gutiérrez Barrios, an officer of the Security Federation, where he communicates that he must leave the country in 72 hours at most because the Mexican police are stepping on his heels, tofrom the occupation of the weapons that were in the house of Sierra Nevada.

Everything seems to indicate that this fact occurred for the delation of a traitor, as happened.That is why Fidel is of the opinion of leaving as soon as possible, that is, in 48 hours, because the risk that runs more time in Mexico is very high.

Montané and Melba, who have listened to him in silence and with great attention they agree with him that he should not miss more time.You have to begin to evict the house-houses.

After visiting other apartments and imparting new orientations, Fidel addresses the Mi Ranchito motel, in Xicotepec, where he receives Antonio Conde (El Cuate), the Mexican who had acquired the Granma Yate, who now repaired and conditioned for the expedition.

Fidel aware that the game is imminent.He discusses the transfer plan of the different groups of combatants towards the end point of concentration and tells him that he will not participate in the expedition, but will remain on land fulfilling other important tasks.

That night Fidel houses in cabin No.13, the farthest from the motel along with his brother Raúl and Juan Manuel Márquez.

The next day, Thursday, November 22, the main Mexican newspapers wideTeté casuso.

That Thursday Fidel together with Cándido González and Carlos Bermúdez leave the MiTel Mi Ranchito in a car and are heading to a house located on Recreo Street, between Alvaro Obregón and Benito Juárez, Ensantiago de la Peña, on the banks of the Tuxpan River.

The property is made up of the main house, a smaller one and a large ship that is used as a garage and warehouse, surrounded by a large land planted with orange.There they hide several suitcases with weapons that remain in the custody of Carlos Bermúdez.

On the other hand, that same day November 22, ñico López arrives in the city of Veracruz with the order to move the group of buse combatants towards the city of Xalapa.

The 32 men who left Abasolo camp the night before Faustino Pérez, were housed in different hotels in the city of Victoria, waiting for the moment of the game.

Meanwhile in the Aztec capital Jesús Montané and Melba Hernández begin to evacuate the houses camps according to the instructions received from Fidel.

Fidel returns on the 22nd to the Mexican capital to address pending issues.He takes advantage of his stay to say goodbye to some friends who have given him valuable help in the preparations of the expedition.One of them is Captain Fernando Gutiérrez Barrios, whom he communicates that he leaves to fight for the freedom of his country.

The officer listens to Fidel and keeps silent.He doesn't ask when, neither how, nor where.

In the midnight of the 23rd Fidel he goes to the residence of the Pedregal de San Angel, where he says goodbye to his sisters and other companions.There he shaves and on top of the gray suit he wears puts on a blue coat.He visits other apartments and returns to the Motel Mi Ranchito, where Juan Manuel Márquez and a group of colleagues are waiting for him.

Early on the morning of November 24, the combatants begin to leave the houses-champions in the capital.The Apartment of Hat 9, Dolores Building, where René Rodríguez and other companions remained;the house of Genoa 14 street, near the Paseo de la Reforma;Insurgents 5 and 6.

Almost at noon on that Saturday 24, Raúl Castro last visits the house of Calle Fuego 791, corner to Risco, Jardines del Pedregal de San Angel, to say goodbye to his sisters Lidia, Enma and Agustina.There he changes clothes, and then he goes to a house located on Genoa 14 street where a group of colleagues are waiting for him.

On the night of that Saturday, Raúl writes several letters and documents, including the political will of Antonio López Fernández and Raúl Castro.

From several points of the capital, they begin to leave Poza Rica, the combatants who still remained in the houses.The first group does it in two cars, Juan Almeida travels in one of them.

The second group, composed of three colleagues, leaves almost at the same time, but from another place.Before leaving they leave a patient in the Jalapa 68 apartment.

The last group that leaves the Aztec capital is that made up of Raúl Castro, René Rodríguez, Fernando Sánchez-Amaya and Horacio Rodríguez, who collect Ciro Redondo along the way.

In that morning Chuchú Reyes fulfilling the instructions of Fidel, the Granma yacht next to the house of Santiago de la Peña and Carlos Bermúdez, in the Tuxpan River.He will be in charge of driving it to the mouth of the river.But a very important document is still missing: the ship's navigation permit issued by the Port Captaincy.

Antonio del Conde (El Cuate) has been commissioned for that management, who is presented in the captaincy and requests a departure permit for that morning to the island of Lobos, distant about 32 miles north from there, forMove some friends on a fishery and walk trip.

He is announced bad weather and the cuate knows it, so he has to base his request very well to try to convince the Navy officers to take care of these procedures.He for now does not succeed.Then he requests to meet with Mr. Angel Laso de la Vega, at the time Captain of the Port.

Again, Cuate exposes his arguments to go to navigate that morning, he insists and goes further in his foundation when he has the boldness of inviting the naval official to dinner and accompany him on the trip.

The port captain frowned, I looked up and yielded, but not before warning him to take all the necessary precautions to prevent a fatal accident on the high seas and proceeded to issue the navigation authorization for November 25.

As organized by Fidel, the groups of future expeditionaries of the Granma were arriving in Poza Rica at sunset that rainy Saturday, November 24, to move away walking as far as the National and Benito Juárez streets are joined, and then continue the march for the march forA muddy road on the margin of the river until reaching the house of Santiago de la Peña where the Granma yacht was docked.

The night has fallen, the rain and the bad weather continue and the men embark the suitcases with the weapons, other packages, the few provisions that have been achieved and accommodated as they can gradually in the small space of the boat.

The presence of two soldiers who guard a pinch just about 50 meters from there, forces to extreme precautions not to be detected.

Almost all have embarked and the crew composed of Ongeio Pino, such as his captain, Roberto Roque, as second captain and pilot;the Dominican Ramón Mejías del Castillo (Pichirulo), as the first officer;Arturo Chaumont and Norberto Collado, Timoneles;Jesús Chuchú Reyes as a machinist, and the radiotelegraph Rolando Moya, are on the command bridge.

It's midnight and Fidel is worried because Hector Aldama is missing.He then sends two companions to the town with the Encomienda find his whereabouts.They are waiting for a prudential time, but he does not appear and return.

The companions who remained inside the house leave to fire the expeditionaries.Melba hugs Fidel, who then goes up on board and gives instructions for the output maneuver to start.

There are approximately 2:00 in the morning of November 25, 1956, when the board is removed that separates the ship from the makeshift dock.They leave the capes of bow and stern, the machinist starts the engines, the helmsman puts helm in the middle and the Granma begins to navigate Avante Little with North Route, downstream.

With the lights off, in silence and with the prohibition of smoking, the 82 expeditionaries as they can be squeezed on board, each in their thoughts.

The yacht has sailed about half an hour to cover a syllasture of approximately eleven kilometers to the mouth of the river.When Jesús Chuchúreyes arrive at this point, he goes up to the bridge and gives the Granma command to Captain Omon Pino, for his high seas journey.

The pilot Roberto Roque marks through the lighthouse of the mouth and the ship leaves the river behind, crosses the skewers of the mouth and penetrates the stirred waters of the Gulf that receives it with strong winds, thick sea and fine drizzle.

Shortly after the lights are lit and the expeditionaries embrace jubilant.They sing the national anthem and the march of July 26.Shout Long live the revolution!, Below the dictatorship!.

Fidel had said it just a few days ago: «If I leave, I arrive;If I arrive, I enter;If I enter, triumph ».As happened.

Sources:

The Epic of Granma, Office of Historical Affairs of the State Council.

The word committed, by Heberto Norman Acosta, Volume II

Clarification: Héctor Aldama Acosta, for a confusion was not warned in time.The expeditionary condition was recognized.Coronel ® of the Minint, died on November 1, 2003.