![]() She has performed with rock groups such as Fabulosos Cadillacs and Jarabe de Palo.Ĭruz never had rivals as the world's leading female salsa singer. ![]() When she went to Sony in the twilight of her career, she promptly put out one of her biggest hits ever, "La Negra Tiene Tumbao," which featured a video that got heavy rotation on MTV Latino.Ĭruz recorded with a number of artists from other genres, among them Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso, Mexican songstress Ana Gabriel and Wyclef Jean, who included a version of the classic Cuban song "Guantanamera" on a recent album. In recent years, she won three Latin Grammy awards for recordings that flavored traditional salsa with modern touches, including rap. While she was viewed as quintessentially Cuban, her music was open to many styles, such as Dominican merengue, Colombian cumbia, disco and rap. As soon as she hit a note, you knew it was her."įrom her work with Fania Records in the 1970s, her recordings in the 1990s with RMM Records, her recent recordings with Sony and countless international tours, Cruz long served as a standard-bearer for Latin music and an inspiration to younger performers.įor a while, Cruz grew disenchanted with the direction that salsa music was taking, particularly a decade or so ago, when some singers infused the music with risque lyrics that she dubbed "salsa porno." "The dancers accepted her right away," he said. embargo.Ĭuban Pete, a Puerto Rican dancer named Pedro Aguilar who was known as the King of the Latin Beat in New York then and in Miami now, said Cruz was a hit from the moment she arrived. "When I stopped singing, he would applaud as if he were part of the audience," she said, recalling that the Puerto Rican bandleader, like other Latin Americans in the United States, helped keep Cuban music alive during a time when Cuba's musicians were isolated from American audiences because of the U.S. But it was her collaboration with Puente, a master timbalero, that helped her achieve international fame. The singer also treasured her role as an elder stateswoman for Latin music, a role she was appointed to years ago when Puente dubbed her its queen.Ĭruz, who defected to Mexico and then came to the United States in 1962, was already a big star when she arrived in New York. She resolved publicly never to return until Castro was dead and never did in spite of scores of entreaties since 1997 by the new culture minister, Abel Prieto.Ĭruz loved her homeland and dedicated her career to Cuba, which continued to inspire her late in life. Her mother died without being able to say goodbye to Cruz. Ask us about our classic convertible car tour and what makes it special.When Cruz's mother was ill in Cuba in the 1970s, the Castro government refused to give Cruz a visa. Take in the sights and sounds of the vibrant city of Havana from the backseat of a perfectly restored 1957 Chevy Bel Air convertible. Of course, no trip to Cuba is complete without cruising in a classic American car. You may find that it is faster to get a cab on popular streets, but prices may be inflated in tourist areas. You can wave at a cab from the sidewalk and one will stop for you. Hailing a cab in Cuba is no different than in other countries. ![]() Taxi drivers usually do not use meters so it is best to ask how much your trip will cost before you get in the car. A trip from Old Havana to Miramar will cost on average $10-15. All fares are paid in the Cuban Peso (CUP). A standard rate between neighborhoods in Havana such as Old Havana, Vedado and Centro Habana is $5-10. We recommend using taxis for short distances in Cuba. On average, taxi fares will cost $5-15 per trip depending on how far you are going. Look both ways before crossing the street and watch where you step as potholes and uneven sidewalks are common. HOW TO SAFELY GET AROUND CUBA Walking around in CubaĬuba’s infrastructure has improved in recent years, however, always be alert when walking around. To ensure a smooth trip, it is important that all travelers familiarize themselves with Cuba’s main forms of transportation below. There will be times when you will need to arrange your own transportation, for example, after dinner or during free time. For every scheduled activity, your driver will be there to transport you and your group. When you arrive in Cuba, you will be greeted outside the airport by your driver who will take you back to your hotel or private villa to get settled. They truly enjoy meeting travelers and can be a great part of your local experience. We encourage guests to get to know their drivers. The driver you have on your first day will stay with you throughout your trip. Cuba Candela tours include a private, air-conditioned car or van with a professionally trained driver to transport you to all scheduled activities.
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