Simons Chase 
Southwest Airlines announced Thursday it will begin scheduled flights to Cuba on November 13th from Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa. Southwest is promoting the new flights with $59 fares each way if purchased at least two weeks in advance. Flights from Fort Lauderdale to Varadero will begin November 13th. Southwest will also fly from Fort Lauderdale … Read more
U.S. President Obama took further steps today to loosen U.S. embargo rules against Cuba. The Obama administration announced a new round of executive actions designed to increase trade and travel with the communist island. And this is the one many Americans have been waiting for — no more Cuba-specific restrictions on the island’s famed rum and cigars … Read more
The Xanadú Mansion, located on the San Bernardino crags of Varadero, Cuba, was designed by architects Covarrocas and Govantes in July 1927 for Irenee DuPont. Today, the majestic estate is a small hotel, restaurant and golf club house on the sea. The six colonial-style rooms have antique decor much like the mansion appeared in its … Read more
Cuban state news outlet, Granma, has reported no loss of life in Cuba as a result of Hurricane Matthew. The eye of Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Cuba shortly after 6pm on October 4, in the areas around Punta Caleta, on the southern coast of Guantánamo province, moving northward at 9 miles per hour as … Read more
A shock of recognition that happens when creative people from different worlds come together. by Kalpen Suresh Modi The flight from Miami to Havana is just over 200 miles, about the same distance as New York to Washington, DC. We touched down at Jose Marti International Airport in less time than it takes to make … Read more
Traveling to Cuba is much easier when you’re part of a tour. The reasons are many but the simplest answer is that Cuba’s relative isolation and historical preference for all-inclusive resorts means getting exposure to the island’s many wonders is best achieved under the guidance of a tour company/guide with years of experience. Suzanne Carlson’s … Read more
Commercial imports authorized under § 515.582 of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR), Importation of Certain Goods and Services Produced by Independent Cuban Entrepreneurs, must comply with all current U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other U.S. Government agency requirements. There is no trade agreement between the U.S. and Cuba, so most imports are … Read more
Newsweek’s current cover story alleges Donald Trump illegally conducted business in Communist Cuba in violation of American trade bans – the embargo – in the late 1990s. Here is a real story about another New York business man who violated the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. Before 2013, Adem Arici was one of the most … Read more
Expressed as a map, Cuba’s linguistic heritage would resemble a map of the world. The words and phrases brought to life in Pedro Menocal’s new book, Cubanisms, don’t just step off the page but out of the undulating, living landscape of Cuba, past and present. The book can serve as both foundational material for a … Read more
In what looks a lot like a giant bear hug, Russia announced this week that it will offer Cuba 55 bilateral cooperation projects totaling more than $4 billion. According to Russia’s Deputy Minister of Economics Nikolai Podguzov, “Cuba was offered 55 projects to be implemented in 2016-2020, totaling almost $4 bln,” the Russian deputy minister … Read more
