Thaw in relationship between USA and Cuba - cruise ship leaves Miami for Havana

A thaw in relationship between the USA and Cuba is evident by the setting off of a cruise ship from Miami to Havana. It was the first time in decades after 1978 that passengers have set sail for the communist island nation of Cuba. The ship is the Carnival Corp's 704-passenger Adonia and, during the seven-day outing, the ship will also visit the ports of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 2 May 2016.

Re-starting of these cruises was an important part of US President Obama's bid to increase tourism following the 17 December 2014 decision to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries. Incidentally, it was in 1978 that the last cruise to Cuba had left from a different US port.
Among those on board was 73-year-old Rick Schneider who had waited for many years to make the trip - he had even bought a Cuban flag for the occasion.
Carnival has indicated that the Adonia will sail every second week between Miami and Cuba with bookings starting at $1,800 (£1,230) per person - the cruises will feature cultural and education activities such as Spanish lessons.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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President Obama lands in Havana with his family

Barack Obama has now become the first US President in 88 years to visit Cuba after Air Force One touched down in the Jose Marti International Airport, Havana. He was greeted by foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez but not president Raul Castro. This visit is the first by a sitting president since Calvin Coolidge arrived on a battleship in 1928. The absence of Raul Castro at the airport has been criticized by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 21 March 2016.

Raul Castro and Barack Obama had announced in December 2014 that they would re-open diplomatic relations and put an end to an estrangement that began when the Cuban revolution had ousted a pro-American government in 1959. Commercial flights have already resumed and respective embassies have reopened, but the economic embargo of Cuba continues to remain following Republicans in the US blocking its rescission.
The US President is accompanied by daughters Malia and Sasha, and Michelle, the first lady and her mother. On arrival in Havana, the President has termed his visit an "historic opportunity to engage with the Cuban people". In his itinerary of the three-day-trip are private meetings with dissidents, addressing Cubans live on state TV and attend an exhibition baseball game.


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Havana spruces up to welcome US President Barack Obama

When Barack Obama visits Havana next week, he will become the first US president to visit Cuba while in office in almost a century. In order to give him a fitting welcome, Havana is sprucing up and several road works have been undertaken. These include cleaning, updating of road signs, particularly in Spanish-colonial era Old Havana. This is because the Obama family is expected to do a walkabout there - this is a typical fare when heads of state visit the Cuban capital.
This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 18 March 2016.

Other activities taken up are touching up building facades, patchwork on potholes and spiffing up Havana's monuments ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit. For this, a number of the capital's main avenues have been given a fresh paving -- including the landmark Malecon seawall avenue which runs by the US Embassy. This will make it look at its best for the guest.
Most Cubans earn around 20 dollars a month, and have to struggle to put food on the table. As a result, many of them have to spend much of the day queuing for food and lining up to wait for buses or other transport.
Incidentally, Cuba's capital has recently undergone a huge renovation project. In the Cerro neighborhood, the fabled Estadio Latinoamericano has been remodeled. It is set to host a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cuba's national squad.
After the departure of Obama, it would be time to roll out the carpet for the Rolling Stones who will perform in a massive benefit show in Cerro.


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Cuba Embassy reopens in Washington after 54-years

#Cuba #Havana #JohnKerry #barackobama #RaulCastro Cuba and the US have officially re-established their respective embassies in Washington and Havana respectively at 12.01am on Monday – while the Cuban flag was hung in the lobby of the State Department, the American flag will be raised over the US embassy in Havana during a ceremony that will be attended by John Kerry, US Secretary of State in August.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 20 July 2015.

John Kerry has hailed this as a "new beginning" after a ceremony marked the reopening of the Cuban embassy in Washington. In this symbolic event, the Cuban flag was raised in the US capital for the first time in 54 years.
This is seen as the latest milestone as the two former Cold War foes continue to rebuild the broken diplomatic ties. Of course, one issue which remains unresolved is the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – this was highlighted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. In his words, the historic events will make sense with the removal of the economic, commercial and financial blockade because that resulted in deprivation and damage to the people of Cuba. He also mentioned the return of occupied territory in Guantanamo, and respect for the sovereignty of Cuba.
As far as history goes, relations between the US and Cuba had started to deteriorate after the 1959 Cuban Revolution overthrew the Batista government. However, last December US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro made the breakthrough announcement that the two governments would begin working on normalizing relations – that has now taken shape.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Ferry services between Cuba and the United States to resume after 56-years

#Cuba #FerryService #Florida #travel #tradeembargo Ferry services between Cuba and the United States had been stopped in 1959 after Washington imposed a trade embargo on Cuba following its communist revolution. However, it has been reported in news.sky.com dated 7 May 2015 that passenger ferry services could soon be resumed between the two countries.

The US has now lifted the ban and has granted licenses to a number of American ferry companies – this would benefit the hundreds of thousands of people who travel between Florida and Havana every year.
Before the embargo, there used to be a regular ferry service between Florida and Cuba and thousands of American tourists used to avail the service to go to the bars and casinos in Havana and, simultaneously, Cubans would take overnight shopping trips to the US.
On a rough estimate, nearly 600,000 people travel between the US and Cuba every year and have to depend on expensive charter flights.
The US had indicated the restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba in December – due to that, the trade embargo was lifted which opened up the avenue for import of some goods that are produced by Cuba's new private sector.

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Cuba could soon become a favored tourist destination for Americans

#Havana #Cuba #RaulCastro #BarackObama #tourists With the thaw in relationship between the old Cold War foes US and Cuba, progress is visible following a second round of discussions to end a half-century diplomatic freeze as reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 1 March 2015.
President Barack Obama and his counterpart Raul Castro have promised to restore embassies in each other’s capitals. Some hurdles still remain, including the one of Cuba’s place on the US blacklist of state sponsor of terrorism.
Anyway, the rural communities of Cuba could real benefits from an influx of American tourists because, the fresh relations between the two governments could provide a boost to allow the isolated communities to look for new economic opportunities once the US fully lifts its ban on trade and travel. Havana, the capital of Cuba, was seen as a party destination for Americans years ago due to its close proximity to Florida.
It is in the villages where visitors can experience a side of the Caribbean island that few holidaymakers bother to see. In the villages, the number of cars is less, the farm workers harvest tomatoes by hand, and the farmers sell their produce and meat at roadside stands. Goods are transported by horse and buggy or tractor.
Of course, life in 'the real Cuba' and talks between US and Cuban officials continue with an eye to restore full diplomatic relations and, ultimately, move towards opening trade.