On December 10, 2014, two presidents spoke by telephone. This, a normal practice between national leaders, would not have made headlines the world over if the callers hadn’t been Raúl Castro and Barack Obama. Apparently, they talked for more than 45 minutes, and even exchanged jokes. The conversation turned out to be the end of a process that resulted th next day in both presidents announcing simultaneously their decision to restore relations between their countries.
The road will be long and complicated, but the ice has been broken, so much so that we at OnCuba have given complete coverage, in both our print and online editions, to these events, which are historical for both countries.
In this special issue, we are providing our readers with a summary of the crucial moments; in addition, we recommend an expert economist’s analysis regarding the possible impact of this policy change and, in that sense, the principal measures taken with respect to both countries by President Obama.
We also recommend a beautiful tour of Havana, which was recently selected by New7Wonders as one of the seven most incredible cities of the world; the history of the reopened Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame; the work of one of Cuba’s best-known artists, Roberto Fabelo; a stroll through Varadero’s most modern marina; and a report on an annual auction in Cuba, the Remate Élite Internacional for jumping horses. We are also premiering two new magazine sections: the first is devoted to Habanos, the best cigars in the world, and the second (Entrepreneurs) is devoted to people who have developed successful private businesses in Cuba, their experiences, dreams and challenges.
We have begun a new year that is transcendental for the people of Cuba and of the United States, for Cubans who live on either shore, and for the peoples of America as a whole. OnCuba will be telling their story.