A trip to Egypt — the first my brother and I took as adults with our parents — quickly went off the rails. After spending Christmas in the Sinai Peninsula, we drove our rental car back to Cairo. At the hotel, a well-dressed man, whom my father mistook for a hotel valet, offered to move … Read more
Brand new Mercedes, state-of-the-art 4x4s, even Teslas: high-end modern cars have started appearing in the Cuban capital Havana, a city whose image is intricately linked to the numerous classic American sedans and Soviet-era Ladas that cruise its streets. The influx has come despite a biting economic crisis on the communist island, where the average monthly … Read more
That has meant more, and sometimes direct, flights from Russia and China – Air China recently resumed a twice-weekly Beijing-Havana service via Madrid – the elimination of visa requirements for Chinese visitors and Cuba’s recent decision to accept Russia’s Mir payment cards, one of only a handful of countries to join Moscow’s alternative to Visa … Read more
A popular hangout spot in Durban, Havana Music Café, has announced the closure of the business today, Tuesday, 23 January. WHAT IS HAVANA MUSIC CAFE FAMOUS FOR? Havana Music Café, situated in the Durban CBD and popular among the 90s generation, took to Facebook to announce the shutdown of the business. “It brings us sadness … Read more
Editor’s note: In this recurring column, SFGATE food writers celebrate the Bay Area’s rich deli culture by spotlighting longtime family-run delis — the neighborhood institutions — and the newer community sandwich hubs. Many cultures from around the world have developed unique sandwiches that reflect their bounty. There are sandwiches from Italian delis that specialize in cured meats, banh … Read more
