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WORLD NEWSWednesday 30 December

Amid Cuba opening, Havana quinceanera biz booms

Daniela Santos Torres, 15, waits in a classic American car with her father Ivan Santos to ride businesses for events such nesses that document 15th
as girls’ 15th birthdays. birthdays line the door-
to her quinceanera party in the town of Punta Brava near Havana, Cuba. Daniela left Cuba The complicated networks ways of decrepit Havana
connecting Cubans in Mi- buildings and advertise-
when she was 3, returning in December for her quinceanera photos and party. She now lives ami and Havana feed the ments abound on web-
growth: Camila learned sites such as Revolico.com,
in Glendale, Arizona, where her father runs a home remodeling business. She said returning about Marbella Studio, an underground Cuban
the business she hired, Craigslist. Many studios are
to Cuba for her celebration was “a dream,” allowing her to include her extended family and from another girl in Florida run by former state sec-
who had her photos taken tor professionals who pur-
friends on the island. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) there. chased cameras with the
Marbella Studios in Gua- help of U.S. relatives and
C. ARMARIO gowns to a neon green bi- taping. “But I’m from here.” nabo, a 30-minute drive have found taking pictures
Associated Press kini. Such voyages back to from Havana, is located far more profitable than
HAVANA (AP) — Up a Camila lives in Miami, the Cuba are becoming in- in an Art Deco-style home the average monthly gov-
winding flight of stairs at a daughter of a truck driver creasingly common for girls and employs 12 photogra- ernment salary of $20.
beachside Havana home, who left Cuba when she who find that marking the phers, stylists and videog- Alberto Gonzalez, owner of
Camila Lopez Rivas lies on was a baby. She doesn’t milestone on the island is raphers. There are more Aladino photo studio, said
the tile floor, smiling mis- remember the island, but both appealing and eco- than 500 outfits to choose he saw an equal number
chievously into a video wanted to return for the nomical. Cuban reforms from in three dressing of clients from Cuba and
camera circling overhead. photographs and videos permitting small-scale, pri- rooms and a calendar full abroad over the summer.
Tossed around her are lay- that Latin American girls vate businesses and the re- of appointments with cli- “This year, more came
ers of a blue and aqua taf- typically take for their 15th establishment of U.S.-Cu- ents. Owner Sarah Medina than any other,” he said of
feta dress, the first of nine birthdays. ban diplomatic relations Vigor said about 60 per- the visitors.
outfits the 14-year-old will “I left very young,” Camila have encouraged new cent of the 500 or so girls But the daughters of work-
pose in, from colonial ball said between a halt in the photo and event planning her studio photographs ers in Cuba’s emerging pri-
each year travel here from vate sector are also help-
other countries, with July ing fuel business. With the
and December being the economic reforms, many
peak months. families on the island now
Celebrations known as have extra cash to spend
“quinceaneras,” marking for quniceanera celebra-
a girl’s 15th birthday and tions.
recognizing her transition They include 14-year-old
to womanhood, date back Dachely Silva, who sat at
centuries in Latin America. Aladino one afternoon be-
Some vestiges of the older fore a gold-rimmed mirror
celebrations remain, with as a makeup artist layered
Latin American girls per- mascara onto her eyelash-
forming traditional waltzes. es. Her mother, Mayelin
But in Cuba, photographs Alfonso, recalled posing in
are the main focus. just one dress for her own
Signs for new photo busi- 15th birthday.
Now, her husband has a
Central American nations reach Cuban migrant deal business driving tourists
around in a restored clas-
JAVIER CORDOBA week of January from Cos- The two governments did trying to reach the United sic American car. Without
Associated Press ta Rica to El Salvador, from not immediately release States, where favorable the business, “we would
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica where they will continue by further details, citing some migratory policies toward not be able to afford this,”
(AP) — Central American bus toward Mexico, Costa nations’ desire for discre- Cubans mean nearly all Alfonso said.
nations have reached a Rica’s Foreign Ministry said tion on what has become are allowed to stay and Quinceanera packages at
deal to let the first of thou- in a statement. a diplomatic flashpoint apply for residency. most studios start around
sands of stranded Cuban The Guatemalan govern- between Costa Rica and On Sunday, Pope Francis $150 and include profes-
migrants continue their ment, which hosted a dip- neighboring Nicaragua. called for their plight to be sional hair and makeup
journey north toward the lomatic meeting earlier in The number of Cubans resolved. Costa Rican For- artists, scenic Havana
United States next month, the day to consider the is- stranded in Costa Rica eign Minister Manuel Gon- backdrops and multiple
officials said this week. sue, described it as a “pilot” has reached at least 8,000 zalez said the measure will wardrobe changes — a
The humanitarian transfer program and said a work since Nicaragua closed its be available only to Cu- bargain compared to simi-
will airlift an unspecified group has been tasked border to them weeks ago. bans who are already in lar services in the U.S. that
number of Cubans the first with coordinating logistics. The islanders say they are Costa Rica.q typically start at about
$1,000.q