The British and Baba Skins

During my recent trip to Cuba, I had the opportunity to observe the mysterious culture of the British people… actually, it’s more like, I had the opportunity to be completely confused by what they were talking about.

I was sitting on a catamaran at the time, on a boat tour around some of the coral reefs near the island. A small boat is the perfect place for eavesdropping, as you can’t help but overhear conversations in such a small space. Most of the other tourists on the boat were British, and one particular retirement-age couple were talking to the captain of the boat, a local Cuban man. They said to him, “Has anyone ever told you that you look like baba skins?”

Baba skins?? Some sort of English culinary item? Like potato skins? I don’t care how delicious it is, but I wouldn’t want anyone telling me I look like a plate of food.

“I’m not familiar with him. I like Rowan Atkinson, though, he is also British,” said the boat captain.

Okay, so it must be a British comedian or entertainer of some sort, as yet unknown in North America. Maybe “Baba Skins” is a goofy stage name, like Carrot Top. (Still thinking food, here.)

The British couple tried to clarify. “He was in that Jennifer Lopez movie… Maid In Manhattan.”

Hmm… haven’t seen that one.

“He was also in that cartoon… what was it called? Roger Rabbit!”

Ah! BOB HOSKINS! Amazingly, the boat captain actually agreed: “Oh, yes, I do look like him!”

The funny thing is, he didn’t even look like Bob Hoskins… he looked more like Phil Collins.