In Camaguey Coppelia’s Neighbors Live with Ammonia Leaks

14ymedio, Ricardo Fernandez, 4 December 2017 — Five days after an ammonia leak that kept some people in the city of Camagüey in suspense, the neighbors of the Coppelia ice cream factory fear that the consequences of the spill will be more serious than what has been announced, and they are reproaching the authorities for not … Continue reading “In Camaguey Coppelia’s Neighbors Live with Ammonia Leaks”

Coppelia Ice Cream Celebrates Half a Century / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 10 November 2016 – The Havana corner of 23rd and L in Vedado displayed an unusual panorama on Thursday. Along with the passersby were mixed characters dressed in period clothing with a patina of mud. The street art group D’ Morón Teatro came from Ciego de Avila to celebrate five decades of the ice cream … Continue reading “Coppelia Ice Cream Celebrates Half a Century / 14ymedio”

Ice Cream Parlors in Cuba or How Gelato Killed Coppelia / Juan Juan Almeida

Juan Juan Almeida, 7 July 2016 — Yanetsi Azhares is a young Cuban woman who leaves nothing to chance. Only twenty-eight-years old, she knows what she wants. Her mother was a pastry chef who lived close to the Alondra ice cream parlor and whole life was spent saving up enough money to buy a little sweets shop. … Continue reading “Ice Cream Parlors in Cuba or How Gelato Killed Coppelia / Juan Juan Almeida”

Coppelia Puts Makeup on the Shortages / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 12 May 2016 – Havanans enjoyed a certain freshness twice this weekend. Not only did the thermometers drop a few degrees, but the emblematic Coppelia ice cream parlor, located in the heart of the capital, reopened its doors after being closed for repairs for several weeks. The work is part of … Continue reading “Coppelia Puts Makeup on the Shortages / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”

Coppelia, the Cathedral of Ice Cream, Is Melting / Somos+, Manuel Diaz Mons

When it first opened, it offered twenty-six flavors. Now Cuba’s most famous ice cream parlor leaves only a bad taste in customers’ mouths. Cubanet, Manuel Diaz Mons, Havana, 17 December 2015 — Nestled into the corner of 23rd and L streets — the busiest corner in Cuba — and known to many Cubans for its reasonable … Continue reading “Coppelia, the Cathedral of Ice Cream, Is Melting / Somos+, Manuel Diaz Mons”

Coppelia Missing Its Steps / Dora Leonor Mesa

Coppelia is the biggest ice cream place in Havana. The usual clients of the emblematic center — many are kids — believe that the bad service, the limited variety and the quality of the ice cream are the evils that afflict the so-called Cathedral of Ice Cream. However, a more inquisitive look reveals other threats. … Continue reading “Coppelia Missing Its Steps / Dora Leonor Mesa”

Coppelia Ice Cream Turns 45… Without Strawberry or Chocolate / Iván García

Coppelia, the most famous ice-cream parlor in Havana and in Cuba, turned 45 on June 4. Located on the corner of Calle 23 at L on the central avenue La Rampa, its architecture is one of the most beautiful and best-designed since the olive-green revolution led by Fidel Castro. The design, by Mario Girona (1924-2008), … Continue reading “Coppelia Ice Cream Turns 45… Without Strawberry or Chocolate / Iván García”

The Sugar Crisis in Cuba: Hard To Find, Expensive and Puts ‘MSMEs’ out of Business

A pound of sugar sells for up to 500 pesos in private stores 14ymedio, Havana, 11 October 2024 — Sugar is once again scarce in Cuba. Its distribution in the rationed market has delays of months and has not reached all the provinces. A small amount can be obtained in private stores for up to … Continue reading “The Sugar Crisis in Cuba: Hard To Find, Expensive and Puts ‘MSMEs’ out of Business”

In Cienfuegos, Cuba, They Take Advantage of the Work Day To Stand in Line

14ymedio, Julio César Contreras, Cienfuegos, 7 October 2024 — Surviving in Cuba is a matter of strategy, money and a lot of time to dedicate to hunting for food and basic necessities. Cienfuegos is no exception. And, if at noon there is nothing left to buy in the shops, the normal thing is that during … Continue reading “In Cienfuegos, Cuba, They Take Advantage of the Work Day To Stand in Line”

Neither Green nor Red, Havana’s Traffic Lights Go Dark With the Blackouts and Breakdowns

14ymedio, Natalia López Moya, Havana, 2 October 2024 — Being a pedestrian in Havana is a high-risk sport. To the gaps in the sidewalks and the balconies that threaten to fall on the heads of those who pass by must be added the deterioration of the traffic lights. To cross the most important avenues of … Continue reading “Neither Green nor Red, Havana’s Traffic Lights Go Dark With the Blackouts and Breakdowns”

A Retired Restaurant Inspector Laments the Decline of Matanzas’ State-Owned Restaurants

14ymedio, Julio César Contreras, Matanzas, June 1, 2024 — Since retiring, Arístides has gotten into the habit of going once or twice a month to have “a drink” or the occasional lunch at one of the local restaurants in Matanzas. However, it has been months since he has been to any of the state-owned businesses … Continue reading “A Retired Restaurant Inspector Laments the Decline of Matanzas’ State-Owned Restaurants”

The Successful Privately Owned Ice Cream Brand, Helado’s Cid, Opens a Location in the Heart of Havana

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, May 7, 2024 — All bubblegum pink and turquoise, the brand new Helados Cid (Cid Ice Cream) location, which opened Friday at 23rd and H streets in Havana’s Vedado district, is a magnet. The place had been under construction for half a year and expectations were at their peak on … Continue reading “The Successful Privately Owned Ice Cream Brand, Helado’s Cid, Opens a Location in the Heart of Havana”

San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, Where Humor Has Given Way to Pain

Without electricity and Internet access, this is how its inhabitants spend a good part of their days 14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, San Antonio de los Baños, 24 April 2024 — “It hurts to see this town like this,” is the laconic phrase released by a woman sitting in a park in San Antonio de los … Continue reading “San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, Where Humor Has Given Way to Pain”

The Failure of Electronic Transactions in Cuba: Only 5 Percent of State Ration Stores Make Them

14ymedio, Madrid, 19 February 2024 — “In our country, every new resolution is condemned to being violated before it is implemented, usually due to the ineffectiveness of those responsible for enforcing it.” This is one of the more than 100 comments made by readers who responded to the Cubadebate survey about the implementation of the … Continue reading “The Failure of Electronic Transactions in Cuba: Only 5 Percent of State Ration Stores Make Them”

The National Ballet of Cuba Celebrates its 75th Year with an Intense Program of Classics

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 27 September 2023 — The National Ballet of Cuba (BNC) will celebrate its 75th anniversary with an intense program of 15 works in one month, including dance classics and the company’s own classics such as Don Quixote, Swan Lake, and Coppelia. The program will run throughout October, coinciding with the month … Continue reading “The National Ballet of Cuba Celebrates its 75th Year with an Intense Program of Classics”