Search results for: habana libre hotel

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”

The Deadliest Motto of the Cuban Revolution is Fading Little by Little

Only 5 illuminated letters remain of the 23 that make up the slogan posted on the Habana Libre Hotel 14ymedio, Pedro Espinosa, Havana, 10 May 2024 — At the end of April 2021, an old well-known Castro slogan appeared on the façade of the Habana Libre hotel in the capital: Patria o Muerte Venceremos [Homeland … Continue reading “The Deadliest Motto of the Cuban Revolution is Fading Little by Little”

Cuban Worker: ‘For That Salary I Prefer to Clean Windshields at a Traffic Light’

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Madrid, January 20, 2024 — Desperate to recruit candidates for their many vacant positions, on Saturday morning managers and teachers from several schools in Havana were anxiously awaiting potential workers to fill positions in the educational sector. The “job fair,” however, barely attracted any interested parties, as confirmed by 14ymedio in … Continue reading “Cuban Worker: ‘For That Salary I Prefer to Clean Windshields at a Traffic Light’”

With Prices From 20 to 180 Pesos, the Hot Dog Place at 23rd and K Streets in Havana Reopens under Private Management

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodriguez, Havana, 17 October 17, 2023 — La Casa de Perros Calientes (The Hot Dog House) — located on 23rd and K streets, right in front of the giant Coppelia ice cream parlor in Vedado — has reopened its doors after being closed for months. The colors of its signs, red and … Continue reading “With Prices From 20 to 180 Pesos, the Hot Dog Place at 23rd and K Streets in Havana Reopens under Private Management”

A Fire Affects the Famous Hermanas Giralt Building, in the Heart of El Vedado in Havana

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 16 February 2023 — The explosion of an electric motorcycle caused a fire in the early hours of this Thursday in the garage of the Hermanas Giralt Building, in El Vedado, Havana. The event occurred around one in the morning, according to local residents speaking to 14ymedio.   “Thanks to … Continue reading “A Fire Affects the Famous Hermanas Giralt Building, in the Heart of El Vedado in Havana”

Technicians are Trying to Restore Electricity in Cuba, at ‘Total Zero’ Since Last Night

14ymedio, Madrid, 28 September 2022 — In the midst of absolute darkness on the Island, Cuban Television, in a special report at midnight this Wednesday, updated information about the general blackout, from which only citizens who had electric generators were spared. The technical director of the Electric Union, Lázaro Guerra, explained that the thermal power … Continue reading “Technicians are Trying to Restore Electricity in Cuba, at ‘Total Zero’ Since Last Night”

No Cuban Wants a Wooden Plaque with ‘Ever Onward to Victory’ Inscribed on It

14ymedio, Havana, September 19, 2022 — Berets with the face of Ernesto “Che” Guevara are relegated to a small corner of the table while in the middle are boxes of matches, super-glue and mobile phone accessories. A few yards from the Plaza de la Catedral in Old Havana, this souvenir stand has had to reinvent … Continue reading “No Cuban Wants a Wooden Plaque with ‘Ever Onward to Victory’ Inscribed on It”

Havanatur Sells Tourist Packages to Cubans at Impossible Prices and Without Transportation

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 8 July 2022 — In the past, on a day like this Friday, after Havanatur announced the tourist packages for the start of the high season on the Island in October, the line in front of the Cubatur offices would have been as considerable as in previous years. It wasn’t the … Continue reading “Havanatur Sells Tourist Packages to Cubans at Impossible Prices and Without Transportation”

A Fire After a Blackout Destroys Six Homes in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 16 June 2022 — Six houses were damaged and some 16 people were affected as the result of a fire early this Wednesday in Banes, Holguín. According to local authorities, the incident was of “medium proportions,” as it did not claim any lives and the Fire Department managed to put it out. In … Continue reading “A Fire After a Blackout Destroys Six Homes in Cuba”

Hellish Transportation, Impossible Prices and Little Literature at the Havana Book Fair

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodriguez, Havana, 21 April 2022 — The line this Thursday to take a bus to the fortress of San Carlos de La Cabaña, the venue for the XXX Havana Book Fair (FILH) until April 30, was long and crowded. The wait for transport was almost an hour, as transit is, once again, experiencing a crisis … Continue reading “Hellish Transportation, Impossible Prices and Little Literature at the Havana Book Fair”

Taxi Drivers and Customers Confronted by Inflation in Cuba

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 5 February 2022 — Most of the taxis that pass this Thursday through San Lázaro Avenue, in Havana, continue without stopping. A line of pedestrians waits with their arms raised at the edge of the sidewalk, unsuccessfully: the vehicles are unoccupied, but they don’t stop. “Before I used to wait … Continue reading “Taxi Drivers and Customers Confronted by Inflation in Cuba”

Suspicion Grows that the Cuban Regime is Preparing a Slow Motion Mariel* Through Nicaragua

14ymedio, Havana, 24 November, 2021 — There was not a soul this Tuesday in the basement of the Habana Libre hotel where long lines used to form to buy tickets to Nicaragua’s capital city, Managua, but the storm is coming. After Nicaragua made public this Monday that it will stop requiring visas for Cubans, it only remains … Continue reading “Suspicion Grows that the Cuban Regime is Preparing a Slow Motion Mariel* Through Nicaragua”

Cuban Convertible Pesos Not Accepted, Even in Cuba

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, January 13, 2021 — Faced with complaints from citizens that they could not find places to spend their Cuban convertible pesos (CUC), the Cuban government announced that no fewer than 500 stores would accept the old currency. The list included the Caracol chain of stores, the Palmares Company, and the … Continue reading “Cuban Convertible Pesos Not Accepted, Even in Cuba”

The Line for Ground Catfish

14ymedio, Havana, 4 December 2020 – On Thursday the collection of shops on the ground floor of the Habana Libre hotel in Vedado woke up with line of people outside at the front doors waiting to buy food and other basic necessities. This routine has become more widespread since the Covid-19 pandemic began. What are … Continue reading “The Line for Ground Catfish”

Empty Buses, No Customers for Coppelia, This is How Phase 1 Post-Covid Begins in Havana

14ymedio, Luz Escobar / Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 4 July 2020 — “It seems like a lie to me, I hadn’t waited even five minutes at the bus stop and the bus arrived and best of all, it was practically empty.” In front of the Bus Terminal, Rocío shared her joy when she boarded the P12 … Continue reading “Empty Buses, No Customers for Coppelia, This is How Phase 1 Post-Covid Begins in Havana”