Cuban Barbers to Gain More Freedoms

We’re taking a little off the top and trimming the sideburns for today’s Geo Quiz. Barbers in the Caribbean city we’re looking for will have a little more freedom come December 1st…

Cuban Flutist Orlando Maraca Valle

Tom Schnabel shares one of his favorite new recording by Cuban artist Orlando Maraca Valle.

Music From the Cuban Land of Tobacco Fields

We are looking for a Cuban province that is renowned for its tobacco fields and is home to the 13 member band “Wil Campa Y Su Gran Union.”

Chavez Celebrates Venezuela’s Independence Day

The president returned from Cuba after receiving medical treatment.

Cuban blogger gets government’s attention

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Cuba’s blogosphere is relatively small and its most famous practitioner is Yoani Sacnhez. She says her blog “Generation Y” is not an act of dissent, but is more like a daily diary to describe what it is like to live in Cuba. The World’s Carol Hills has more. Download MP3

Yoani Sanchez’s blog

Getting past the Bay of Pigs

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Cubans are marking the 50th anniversary of the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion this week. Cuban exile Alfredo Duran was among the men who fought there for three straight days. He tells anchor Marco Werman why he now favors dialogue with Havana and lifting the US embargo of the island. Download MP3

Audio: President Kennedy’s speech following the Bay of Pigs incident

Cuba creates its own ‘wikipedia’

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Cuba is launching its local equivalent of Wikipedia. It’s called Ecu-red and boasts entries aiming to disseminate information from a “decolonizer” point of view. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with the BBC’s Michael Voss in Havana. Download MP3

Havana neighborhood

The Geo Quiz is upscale this time: We’re looking for a glamorous neighborhood. At least it had that reputation before the revolution. We’re talking about the Cuban revolution. And the neighborhood in question is in Havana. Today, there are several posh hotels, overlooking some beautiful beaches. And there’s a surfer’s club, too. (Photo courtesy Havana Surf Club)

Colombian rocker Juanes to play Havana

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On September 20th, Colombian rocker Juanes plans to play a concert in Havana, Cuba. He says the visit is not about politics, but many of his Cuban fans in the United States are not so sure, and they’re not happy about it. Marco Werman speaks with Jordan Levin of The Miami Herald who is covering the Juanes concert. Download MP3

• Video: Juanes says Havana concert ‘not about politics’
• Jordan Levin’s article on Juanes
• Juanes’ website