New companies getting into the Cuba travel business

Music, culture and dance draw many travelers to Cuba

The Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, today updated its list of air, travel and remittances providers to Cuba, and it looks to me like there are about two dozen new providers.
A lot of these providers are likely getting into the business to take advantage of the Obama Administration's loosening of travel restrictions for Cuban-Americans.
The 24-page list includes the names and contact information for all the Cuba travel providers.

The hands, always a problem

I came across some dancers along the Malecón and asked to take their picture. They were happy to oblige and had a big debate among themselves about how to pose.

They were particularly concerned with figuring out the best way to hold their hands. You can see they are trying all kinds of different techniques.

This is the pose they settled on. Some held their hands high. Others flashed signs. And others hid their hands from view, always a safe choice.

Holding hands works, too

Links:
Along the Malecon's Dancers, beachgoers & more page
Within the Revolution, pink - more photos of some of the same dancers

Cuban painting sells for more than $2 million

Fuego en el batey

Christie’s in New York auctioned off a Cuban painting for US $2.18 million, Havana Times reports.
Mario Carreño's painting is called Fuego en el batey, or Fire in the sugar mill village. It's a beautiful, dramatic piece.

The painter died a decade ago in Chile, said the Havana Times, which calls Fuego en el batey "probably the highest price paid in history for a piece by a Cuban artist."

I would have figured that a Cuban painting at some point in history sold for more than that, but a quick Google search didn't turn up any.

The Havana Times story says some officials in Cuba considered the painter to be a gusano, or worm, as counterrevolutionaries are called and his work wasn't promoted on the island.

The artist produced several public murals, including one at the Habana Libre Hotel, which "was regrettably removed" and is "missing," Havana Times said.

Another Carreño work of art

Link:

Along the Malecon's Art & photography page