Cuba’s strategic location makes it an ideal stop for Caribbean cruise routes, with Havana destined to become one of the most popular ports of call for cruise ships in the world. However, because of the U.S. blockade against the country and the fact that vessels calling at Cuban ports are prohibited from visiting the U.S. for six months, few cruise ships include Cuba. Nor can any U.S. company operate cruises to Cuba.
Read MoreThe route of Che’s Ejercito Rebelde (Rebel Army) from the Sierra Maestra to the victorious battle of Santa Clara began in the eastern provinces of Granma and Holguín. Important sites include the following:
Read MoreA US government program to help allies inside Cuba drew criticism on Capitol Hill on Sunday from Rep. Howard L. Berman, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and former presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry. In a speech to the Cuban parliament last Sunday, President Raul Castro “accused the Obama administration of increasing support for “open and covert subversion.”
Read MoreSancti Spiritus and Guantanamo have comfortable leads on top their respective divisions in the Cuban Baseball League with the season nearing the half way point.
Read MoreThe US economic blockade of Cuba -a leftover from the Cold War against the Soviet Union- enters a sixth decade on Jan. 1, 2010. While there was some hope, especially on States side, as to a possible easing of the stranglehold under President Obama, the president’s first year in office proved the skeptics at home and in Havana right.
Read MoreI have observed that errors in our country have a tendency to become orphans and fall into oblivion. It’s as if they had never happened. They are simply not mentioned. When there is no other remedy than to point these out, the passive voice is always used: “it was performed poorly,” or “an incorrect method was used.” It’s not said who made the error or who was behind a mistaken policy; while successes are always attributed to a person.
Read MoreThe prison camp set up by the US government at its Guantanamo Naval Base will continue operations into the second year of the Obama administration in January, and AP reported on Sunday that it may well survive into 2011. The prison, used to house hundreds of detainees arrested without charges, legal rights or a fair trial, is located on occupied Cuban territory at the pristine Guanatanamo Bay in the far eastern part of the country.
Read MoreCuba is well aware of the value of service animals, especially service dogs, and the tremendous assistance they can provide. Towards this end, Cuba has an Escuela Nacional de Técnica Canina (National School for Canine Skills), coming under the Ministry of the Interior (which includes Cuba’s fire fighters, among others), which trains dogs for police work, drug control at Cuba’s international airports and other installations, rescue work in the event of natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. as part of the country’s Civil Defence system), and so forth. Some of the programs at the Escuela Nacional de Técnica Canina involve a three-year period of study, with each student being matched with each dog, taking into consideration the characteristics of both. In these cases, the dogs live with the students in their homes, as part of the study program includes how to care for and train the dogs with whom they’ll be working. Given the nature of this school, it would not be possible to work directly with them.
Read MoreEvery December 16, thousands journey along the road that leads to the village of El Rincon, several miles outside of the Cuban capital. They are believers who want to be present at the church at dawn the following day to celebrate the parish’s San Lazaro Day festivities.
Read MoreCuba’s top salsa band, Los Van Van, are scheduled to perform in Key West Florida on January 28 reported Reuters on Wednesday. The group led by Juan Formell has been at the top of the charts for the last 40 years. Starting in April the Van Van will begin a 70-concert US tour.
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