Delta-Marazul to offer Atlanta-to-Cuba flight

<p style="text-align: justify;">Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Maria Saporta , Contributing Writer.Thursday, August 4, 2011, 2:23pm EDT. People will soon be able to fly to Cuba from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.Marazul, the oldest and most experienced charter and travel agency serving Cuba in the United States, has an agreement with Delta Air Lines Inc.bizWatch Delta Air Lines Inc. Latest from The Business Journals Delta, Aerolineas Argentinas to codeshare Memphis to Newark flight lands at No. 4 on chronically late listDelta making extra M a day during FAA partial shutdown Follow this company (NYSE: DAL) to begin direct charter flights from Atlanta to Havana. Read More

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Bolshoi celebrates Cuba's peerless ballerina Alonso

<p style="text-align: justify;">Reuters.By Nastassia Astrasheuskaya. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Bolshoi Theater celebrated the 90th birthday of Cuban dancer Alicia Alonso with a gala performance this week of Russian classics performed by her pupils and countrymen. The Havana-native, who turned 90 years-old last December, received a standing ovation at the packed theater on Tuesday night where she was honored alongside Russian dancers -- such as Vladimir Vasiliev and Azari Plisetsky -- who have worked with her over a career that has spanned more than six decades. Read More

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In Cuba, free market proves easier said than done

<p style="text-align: justify;">PAUL HAVEN. Associated Press. August 3. HAVANA (AP) — Daily for the past five months, Yusdany Simpson has been at her street-side cafeteria under its gleaming white parasol, doing her part in Cuba's economic makeover by churning out mayonnaise sandwiches at 12 cents a pop.Not any more. The other day, she headed to a Labor Ministry office in a crumbling old Havana mansion to relinquish her business license and receive a letter freeing her of tax liability. With that, the 35-year-old single mother closed her door on the government's attempt to add a capitalist spark to its ailing economy. Read More

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Times have changed in Cuba, but softly the struggle continues

<p style="text-align: justify;">On my first day in Cuba, in 1967, I waited in a bus queue that was really a conga line. Ahead of me were two large, funny women resplendent in frills of blinding yellow; one of them had an especially long bongo under her arm. When the bus arrived, painted in Cuba's colours for its inaugural service, they announced that the gringo had not long arrived from London and was therefore personally responsible for this breach in the American blockade. It was an honour I could not refuse.The bus was a Leyland, made in Lancashire, one of 400 shipped to Cuba in defiance of Washington, which had declared war on the revolution of Fidel Castro. Read More

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S.F. Girls Chorus sings praises after Cuba visit

<p style="text-align: justify;">The San Francisco Girls Chorus performs in July in Havana, Cuba, where director Susan McMane says they were impressed by the level of musical appreciation and sophistication.Girls' chorus sings praises of Cuba visit. This summer the San Francisco Girls Chorus performed what outgoing Artistic Director Susan McMane said was among its most memorable concerts: a performance of American, Latin and other songs in Santa Clara, Cuba, where McMane and 40 girls were awed by the level of musical appreciation and sophistication. Read More

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