The Crash of an ‘Almendrón’ Against a Tree Leaves Four Dead and Several Injured in Mayarí

14ymedio, Havana, 13 August 2024 — Four people died last Saturday in a traffic accident in the city of Mayarí, in Holguín. Two of them died immediately, followed by the death of two women who were initially hospitalized after the crash was reported this Monday.The official journalist Emilio Rodríguez Pupo, who reported the fact, explained … Continue reading “The Crash of an ‘Almendrón’ Against a Tree Leaves Four Dead and Several Injured in Mayarí”

Some 300 ‘Almendron’ Taxis Queue Up For Diesel at an ‘Exclusive’ Gas/Petrol Station in Havana

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 12 June 2023 – At least 300 private almendron* taxis queued up this Monday at the gas station El Futuro, on Calle 100 / Vento – in the Havana district of Rancho Boyeros. At this service centre, which from today will sell diesel only to private haulage firms, the police were … Continue reading “Some 300 ‘Almendron’ Taxis Queue Up For Diesel at an ‘Exclusive’ Gas/Petrol Station in Havana”

Police Raid Against Illegal ‘Almendrons’ On Two Wheels

14ymedio, Ernesto Camué, Santiago de Cuba | 17 December 2018 — Authorities in Santiago de Cuba are determined to impose order on mototaxis (motorcycle taxis), the main method of transportation in the city. In the last few weeks, an expanded body of inspectors and police officers has been trying to check the illegal motorcyclists, around nine out of every ten … Continue reading “Police Raid Against Illegal ‘Almendrons’ On Two Wheels”

Almendrón Stories / 14ymedio, Lilianne Ruiz

14ymedio, Lilianne Ruiz, Havana, 17 June 2015 — Noisy and filthy, with an air of Hollywood films of the 50s, they often evoke the words of Galileo: “And yet it moves.” The almendrones*, pre-1959 cars that abound in Havana, retain their original bodies but the mechanical parts are almost always modern. A 1954 Ford may contain … Continue reading “Almendrón Stories / 14ymedio, Lilianne Ruiz”

Nostradamus in a Gypsy Cab (Almendrón) / Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado

I was on my way back home in a collective gypsy cab or almendrón which I took at the intersection of Linea and G streets, in the Vedado neighborhood, where there is a popular route of these cabs going towards La Vibora. Before arriving 23rd Ave. the old car was already full. The last passenger … Continue reading “Nostradamus in a Gypsy Cab (Almendrón) / Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado”

Nostradamus in a Gypsy Cab (Almendrón)

I was on my way back home in a collective gypsy cab or almendrón which I took at the intersection of Linea and G streets, in the Vedado neighborhood, where there is a popular route of these cabs going towards La Vibora. Before arriving 23rd Ave. the old car was already full. The last passenger … Continue reading “Nostradamus in a Gypsy Cab (Almendrón)”

At the San José De Las Lajas Bus Stop, No One Shouts ‘Havana, Havana!’ Anymore

The ‘almendrones’ that used to travel the 30 kilometres to the capital have almost disappeared since prices rose from 20 to 500 pesos. 14ymedio, Julio César Contreras, San José de las Lajas, Cuba, 27 November 2025 — Virginia is surprised by the silence. It is not complete silence—in Cuba it never is—but it is a … Continue reading “At the San José De Las Lajas Bus Stop, No One Shouts ‘Havana, Havana!’ Anymore”

While the Rest of the World Is Experiencing a Tourism Boom, Cuba’s Revenues Are Falling by Almost 21 Percent

The tourist occupancy rate in the first six months of the year was only 21.5%. 14ymedio, Havana, 25 August 2025 — Cuba is in no way included in the flourishing figures on global tourism revenue reported by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which forecasts new records for this year, even surpassing the levels … Continue reading “While the Rest of the World Is Experiencing a Tourism Boom, Cuba’s Revenues Are Falling by Almost 21 Percent”

In Havana, the Return of La Rampa Fair, with Fewer Tourists and More Chinese Junk

In its early years, it was only possible to market national productions on its premises. 14ymedio, José Lassa, Havana, 8 February 2025 – La Rampa Fair has returned to its traditional site in the heart of El Vedado. Dozens of sellers gathered there this week on Avenida 23 between Calles M and N, with products … Continue reading “In Havana, the Return of La Rampa Fair, with Fewer Tourists and More Chinese Junk”

The Return of European Cruises to Cuba Coincides With the Tourism Debacle

The British ’Ambition’ cruise ship is now in Havana and was preceded by the German ’Hamburg’ 14ymedio, José Lassa, Havana, 29 January 2025 — For the third time in a month, a cruise ship docked in Havana on Tuesday. It was the Ambition, from the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts and Nevis and operated by … Continue reading “The Return of European Cruises to Cuba Coincides With the Tourism Debacle”

Havana Loses Its ‘Abbey Road’ With the Fall of the Traffic Light in Front of Coppelia

Without the traffic light, passers-by lose the ability to cross 23rd Street at that point 14ymedio, Natalia López Moya, Havana, 7 November 2024 — First the traffic light that regulated the passage of pedestrians in front of Coppelia, the city’s iconic ice cream parlor, stopped working, and now Hurricane Rafael has given the final machete … Continue reading “Havana Loses Its ‘Abbey Road’ With the Fall of the Traffic Light in Front of Coppelia”

‘We Have Managed To Make Noise in Spain’ With the Film About ‘Patria y Vida’ and Cuba

Beatriz Luengo, co-author of the 11J anthem and wife of Yotuel Romero, talks about the documentary with ’14ymedio’ 14ymedio, Madrid, 27 October 2024 — To finish the documentary Patria y Vida: The Power of Music, its director, Beatriz Luengo (b. Madrid, 1982), says that her parents – she is the daughter of a carpenter and … Continue reading “‘We Have Managed To Make Noise in Spain’ With the Film About ‘Patria y Vida’ and Cuba”

Cuban Uber, One of the Few Things That Works Amid the Chaos

It’s called La Nave, it’s expensive, punctual, safe and a good deal for drivers. 14ymedio, Natalia López Moya, Havana, 16 September 2024 — Marco and Liudmila drink a cold beer while watching the long line of people trying to catch a taxi in the vicinity of L and 23 in El Vedado, Havana. The couple … Continue reading “Cuban Uber, One of the Few Things That Works Amid the Chaos”

Three Fatalities in Motorcycle Accidents in Havana and Santiago de Cuba

The accidents  also left five injured, one of them critically 14ymedio, Havana, 27 August 2024 — In less than 72 hours, three people have died in Cuba from traffic accidents involving motorcycles. Two of them occurred in Havana and a third in Santiago de Cuba. In all cases, the victims were young men, who died … Continue reading “Three Fatalities in Motorcycle Accidents in Havana and Santiago de Cuba”

‘The Only Thing Moving On Wheels in the Cienfuegos Terminal is the Inefficiency’

Those who did not manage to board during the day are condemned to sleep in the facility. 14ymedio, Julio César Contreras, Cienfuegos, 17 August 2024 – It’s after 8pm in the only bus terminal in Cienfuegos and despite the fact that dozens of people are gathered at the departure gates or are sleeping on the … Continue reading “‘The Only Thing Moving On Wheels in the Cienfuegos Terminal is the Inefficiency’”