It’s been a year since an ailing Fidel Castro handed day to day Cuban ruling power to his lil hermanito, Raul. The Cuban exile community partied in the streets thinking el barbudo to be dead or near dead and the U.S. made plans on what to do with a post-Fidel Cuba. But the parties and speculation didn’t last long as Fidel recovered from a still mysterious intestinal operation (yes yes we know commenter- you think its Crohn’s) Fidel has been representing more than ever, even if not publicaly.

One way Fidel has been very out there has been through his friendship/ love affair with Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez. Chavez has been at Fidel’s bedside more than once and they’ve shared very public love letters. Another Latin American lefty often found at Fidel’s side has been Bolivia’s Evo Morales. Castro has even been visited by Nobel winning writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Castro’s voice looms over Cuba and world through articles and radio appearances and perhaps most significantly in how little Cuban policy has changed under Raul Castro.

So while Castro may have handed over the reigns officially , no one really has had the opportunity to miss him.