Entries by Havana Live

International Craftwork Fair Inaugurated in Havana

The 17 th International Craftwork Fair, FIART 2013, was inaugurated on Friday at the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress in this city, in the presence of exhibitors of 16 nations. During the inaugural speech, Jorge Alfonso, director of the Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets, pointed out that starting from Sunday and until December 22 […]

Semester at Sea Cruise Ship Arrives in Havana

The Semester at Sea cruise ship, an academic program sponsored by the University of Virginia, in the United States, arrived in here today, nine years after its last visit. About 648 people arrived in the island, 568 of them are students from more than 200 universities in 42 states of the northern country, mostly Americans, […]

John Lennon needed help,at least his statue did

A bronze likeness of the Beatle, who was assassinated 33 years ago Sunday, was inaugurated in a leafy Havana park 13 years ago. But souvenir-seekers kept stealing the iconic circular spectacles that adorned it. Officials tried gluing them on. But they should have known better: Vandals simply broke them off. Enter Juan Gonzalez, a 95-year-old […]

Second Shipment of Namibian Animals for Havana Zoo

The second stage of a donation from Namibia will soon arrive to Cuba, in a shipment bringing 16 animals of three species, belonging to the so-called heavy ungulate of hoofed animals (mammals). This group is composed of pachyderms -10 rhinoceros, five black and five white, in addition to six elephants-, which will be exhibited at […]

Havana, is the number one travel destination

Havana tops 2013 World List based on the reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisor travelers around the globe – TripAdvisor announced the winners of its 2013 Travelers’ Choice Awards for Destinations on the Rise. The awards highlight 54 spots globally that have seen the greatest increase in positive traveler feedback and traveler interest, year-over-year. […]

Harley-Davidson heaven in Havana

Driving It sure felt that way in the tiny garage where Fernando Varera kickstarted a vintage Harley-Davidson. The BLAT BLAT BLAT of a 50-year-old hog is unmistakable and can probably send big enough soundwaves to start an earthquake. After his small audience flinched, surprised by how loud that hog could snort, Varera, who restores old […]

Heavy rain in Cuba lashes Havana, killing two

Two people are dead from torrential rains that lashed Cuba for more than 24 hours, island authorities said Saturday. The deluge caused multiple collapses in dwellings in Havana, Granma reported. A man and a woman were killed in one structure that caved in. Yunior Amesa, nephew of the deceased man, told The Associated Press he […]

Gourmet Festival in Havana Kicks off with Audiovisuals

Workshops, lectures, and panels are scheduled for the 2nd Annual Gourmet Festival, “Flavors of Cuba and the World,” that, dedicated to drinks complementing fine cuisine, begins here today with an examination of audiovisual works centered around food. Based at Casa de Mexico in the historic old quarter of Habana Vieja, the event will begins its […]

Opening tomorrow- Ever Fonseca in Havana

Last year, Ever Fonseca was awarded Cuba’s National Prize for Plastic Arts (Premio Nacional de Artes Plásticas). To mark the honor, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is presenting Ever Fonseca Evocación Lírica (Lyrical Evocation), a selection of works gathered from the MNBA, the artist’s own collection, and the collections of institutions such as the […]

Cuba Cruise prepares for season

Louis Cristal will have new satellite systems when she sails in Cuba. Cuba Cruise is to complete safety inspections and upgrade several areas onboard Louis Cristal before she crosses the Atlantic to start her inaugural season circumnavigating Cuba. The operator, which works in partnership with Louis Cruises, is currently carrying out necessary crew training exercises […]

Havana Triathlon Cup to Kick Off November 24

With the participation of dozens of competitors from across the country, the first phase of the Cuba Triathlon Cup will start next November 24, near Havana’s La Guayaba dam. The contest, which will start the 2013-2014 season, will include mainly youth level triathletes of both sexes, who seek to make up the national team towards […]

Cuba real estate up 2%te mark

The buying and selling of houses in Cuba increased by 2 percent in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2012, an official with the Justice Ministry cited in local media said Tuesday. The expert with the Property, Business and Estate Register, Aniuska Puente, said that the trend has been […]

Key West-Cuba charter flights postponed

Ambitious plans announced last month by a Miami travel agency to offer small charter flights between Key West and Cuba beginning Nov. 15 have been pushed back to a Dec. 15 kick-off by Mambi International’s partners at Air Marbrisa Airlines. In a Wednesday e-mail to Peter Horton, the Monroe County airports director, Bob Curtis from […]

Havana”s Jojazz Festival Features Young Musicians

Young musicians from Cuba and El Salvador will perform at the 16th edition of the Jojazz Festival, dedicated this year to flutist Armando Romeo, a pillar of art education in Cuba. Gisela Vistel, director of the National Center for Popular Music, announced that Jojazz was opening up to new modes of participation, including instruments such […]

Farmers’ market in Havana

Responding to the needs of mushrooming private gastronomy businesses, the government allowed the creation of wholesale food markets in Havana and surrounding provinces, “in an experimental manner.” The pilot project will allow to “study other ways on a regional level,” and then expand them to the rest of the country, Communist Party daily Granma said.Decree […]

Ferry service between Florida and Havana

PORT MANATEE – An officer of a company that wants to operate ferry service between Florida and Cuba Thursday outlined his plans for the Manatee County Port Authority. Leonard D. Moecklin, vice president of Havana Ferry Partners LLC, said that once legal obstacle posed by a U.S. embargo against Cuba are resolved, his company could […]

Aerocaribbean launches Havana-Tabasco flights

Cuban state tour operator Havanatur is launching flights from Havana to Villahermosa, Mexico, on Nov. 20, Cuban and Mexican media reported. The flights will be operated by regional state carrier Aerocaribbean. The twice-weekly flights on 72-seat ATR aircraft, tourism developers in the capital of Tabasco hope, will attract . European tourists vacationing in Cuba. Tickets […]

Cigar-smuggling pigeons touch down at New York gallery

Thanks to New York City artist Duke Riley, the American surveillance apparatus faces a new airborne foe: the homing pigeon. Riley trained pigeons to smuggle Cuban cigars from Havana, Cuba, to Key West, Florida, while other birds filmed the 160-km journey with custom-made cameras. The pigeons and their videos will be on display in Riley’s […]

Airport change for European Airlines

Temporary Change of Airport for European Airlines in Cuba Havana, Cuba, Oct 10.- With the purpose of successfully facing up to the upcoming high tourism season in Cuba, Terminal Two of the capital’s Jose Marti International Airport (AIJM) will temporarily receive four European airlines as of October 14. The companies to be relocated are Air […]

Cuba Hosts for the First Time Latin American Pharmacology Congress

Cuba will host for the first time the Latin American Congress of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Latinfarma 2013, which opens this Monday in the capital with experts from the region and visitors from other countries. Doctor René Delgado, president of the organizing committee said that in this twentieth edition of the event, underway at the Havana’s […]

Large Participation Expected at Havanas Inter- national Trade Fair

More than 110 institutions from all Cuban economic sectors will mount stands at the Thirty First Havana International Fair, which will open its doors on November 3rd. An overview of Cuba’s medical advances –both in terms of techniques and medical products– will be advanced at the Fair, providing information and trade possibilities with Cuba, being […]

Jesse Jackson arrives in Havana

Rev. Jesse Jackson is in Cuba and it’s not clear how long he may stay. Jackson arrived in Havana Friday afternoon, but did not provide extensive details as to why he is visiting the country. Jackson flew to Havana on a charter flight from Miami. Gross was jailed in Cuba in December 2009 and was […]

Cuba approves Law for Mariel special development Zone

The Council of State of Cuba, met on Thursday in the capital and passed a Decree/Law for the Mariel Special Development Zone, destined to become the main import/export gateway for Cuba’s foreign trade, said Granma newspaper. In addition to the law, the Official Gazette will publish in the coming days the port’s regulations with seven […]

Haitian carrier Sunrise Airways launches Cuba flights

HAVANA, Haitian startup carrier Sunrise Airways received permission to offer charter flights between Cuba and Haiti, Caribbean Journal reported. Sunrise will operate twice-a-week flights between Port-au-Prince and Holguín on a 19-seat Jetstream 32 aircraft. The airline was launched in November 2012 and “aims to establish a hub in Port-au-Prince,” the company says on its Website. […]

Havana sees new life for industriell port

Havana’s harbor has long been an unsightly jumble of piers left to crumble into piles of rusty, twisted rebar. Its dominant feature is a refinery smokestack across the bay that belches smoke and flame 24 hours a day. But lately demolition crews and towering cranes have been working double-time to finally tear down the ruined […]