North American Company Bloomspot sells fantastics trips to Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">By: Anne Sorock. Bloomspot is known for offering unique (in this case, dubiously legal) trips, and prides itself on the cache of its luxury-level products. A testimonial on its website describes the bloomspot difference: “We prefer working with bloomspot because they emphasize a high-end experience and target a very fitting clientele. It’s not the average discount seeking customer but rather those interested in trying a new luxurious experience with a small incentive….” –Carolyn Thalin, Le Cirque, New York, NY Read More

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Two Cuban films proposed for awards

<p style="text-align: justify;">Habanastation and Ticket to Paradise are the chosen films.2011.09.27. / radiorebelde.icrt.cu. HAVANA, Cuba.- A committee from ICAIC, made up of Fernando Perez, Manuel Perez and Manuel Iglesias proposed for Oscar and Goya Nominations the films Habanastation and Ticket to Paradise in this order, they took into account for the selection the popular impact of both movies in Cuba and in international events, as well as the artistic values embraced by both productions. Read More

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European art goes through Cuba now Picasso's

<p style="text-align: justify;">By PETER ORSI — Associated Press. Cuba Art. PINAR DEL RIO, Cuba — Selections from the 120-piece collection have already toured Camaguey and Holguin in the island's far-flung east and recently went on display in the western city of Pinar del Rio, known more for tobacco farms than art museums. More than a dozen works by Joan Miro, Marcel Duchamp, Camille Pissarro, Georges Rouault, Roy Lichtenstein and others went up in the glassed lobby of a local TV station, watched over by just a few police and guards and prompting curious passers-by to pop in to see what all the fuss was about. Read More

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Next Cuban drilling near Florida coast brings concerns once more

<p style="text-align: justify;">By Oilprice.com Sep 28, 2011 9:20 am. Spain’s largest oil company, Repsol-YPF, has contracted the massive Italian-made Scarabeo 9 semi-submersible oil rig, currently en route from Singapore, to arrive in the Florida Straits by the end of the year after the end of hurricane season to begin exploring Cuba’s offshore reserves. Repsol-YPF, which drilled Cuba’s first onshore well in 2004, intends initially to drill six wells with the Scarabeo 9 rig. Cuban drilling off the Florida Keys is to begin by the end of the year, and US allies are getting in on the action. Is it time for Washington to soften its stance? Read More

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Obama said Cuba should go under reforms before lifting embargo

<p style="text-align: justify;">WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Obama said he did not want to be "stuck in a Cold War mentality" and that Washington had sought to improve ties by changing rules about remittances and travel but was waiting for signals from Cuba such as the release of political prisoners and guarantees of basic human rights. Read More

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Buying and selling of cars now legal in Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">AP. By PAUL HAVEN - Associated Press. HAVANA (AP) — Cuba has just authorized selling and buying of cars for all citizens this Wednesday, this is another major step towards major economic changes on the island. The government announced the move in April, but sales have been on hold until the measure was published into law in the Official Gazette.Under the law, which takes effect Oct. 1, buyers and sellers must each pay a 4 percent tax, and buyers must make a sworn declaration that the money used for the purchase was obtained legally. Read More

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Argentina defeats Cuba at Americas Championship for Women

<p style="text-align: justify;">28/09/2011. NEIVA (FIBA Americas Championship for Women) - Cuba are 2-1 and third in Group A but will leapfrog second-place Puerto Rico (2-2) with a victory over Chile on Wednesday.The Cubans defeated Puerto Rico 67-50 on the opening day of the tournament. Argentina remained unbeaten on Tuesday at the FIBA Americas Championship for Women in Colombia with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Cuba. Read More

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Austin-Lehman Adventures, and National Geographic Companies arrange trips to Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">By JAN FALSTAD Of The Gazette Staff The Billings Gazette. Wednesday, September 28, 2011 12:00 am.A Billings-based travel company, Austin-Lehman Adventures, and National Geographic are two U.S. adventure travel companies now licensed to conduct tours to Cuba. Austin-Lehman has scheduled six trips to Cuba next year. For years, legal travel from the U.S. to Cuba has been limited to&nbsp; academics, public performers, athletes, exhibitors and people attending conferences. Journalists also could go. Rocky Mountain College is leading an academic trip to Cuba in February and March.But the ordinary tourists had to be creative. Read More

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Tourism Day celebrated at Nature and Tourism event in Central Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">By: Ileana Ferrer Fonte. Manicaragua, Villa Clara, Sep 27 (Prensa Latina) Under the slogan "Cuba in the center," the event takes place until Thursday in the mountainous zones of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus.Some 200 touroperators, travel agents, executives, experts and journalists from 12 nations dedicate on Tuesday the second day of the 8th International Meeting on Nature Tourism, Turnat 2011, to celebrate the World Day of Tourism. Read More

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Flights from Oakland to Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;"><br /> Flights from Los Angeles to Havana began again briefly this summer, and are expected to again resume, hopefully on a more regular, permanent basis, later in the fall. They were organized through 2004, and are again being organized out of Cuba Travel Services of Long Beach,California. Read More

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