European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 19, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine by Ana Diaz in led press International or 26 years i had longed to return to Cuba to line my tools in Una Beautiful Island of my birth a Homeland i did i k now and rarely remembered my parents Emig Baiod Wilh me to the United Stales in 1954. Shortly alter dictator Ful Guinoo Balista thwarted general elections in a coup and resumed to Iho presidency my lather predicting hard limes Lor Cuba accepted a Job Oiler from an american publishing company and. When i was 9 months old my family moved la Chicago. Until 1961, two cais alter Fidel Castro marched victoriously into Havana our family made annual visits to my grandmother slaying at her House in the heart of the cily. I recently returned to that House which i had t seen since i was 7. Was ecstatic when the cuban inheres a Section at the czechoslovakian embassy in Washington telephoned that i had been granted a 15-Day visa for humanitarian reasons to Visil my 92-year-old grandmother. I contacted a travel Agency in Miami Itiat deals exclusively in trips to Havana and discovered that while the Charters leave Miami on wednesdays and fridays and Cost Only $225 round trip they Fly in the dead of nigh. When i arrived at Miami International Airport no one in the information Booths could Tell me where to find the terminal Lor my Light. I was almost in a panic when a group of about �0 cuban americans walked by carrying huge suitcases t asked ii they were travelling to Havana they said yes and suggested follow them. In an unmarked hallway we met More people waiting to Board. We formed a line Al a counter with two cubans behind in and waited almost an hour before the cubans motioned us Forward. They took our Luggage and told us to report to a Gate at Midnight. Promptly at 12 we boarded an Easley airlines plane lha Charier company had rented no announcement was made Over the Airport s Public address system. Al 1 30 . The plane began its 45-minute flight South to a marxism Island Only 90 mites from american shores but worlds away in lifestyle and ideology on arrival at Jose Marti Airport tired ram Lack of sleep we Wero subjected to lengthy customs procedures. We were required to fill out a lorm staling that we would return to the United slates with All electric appliances and valuables we brought with us. I was anxious As lha custom officials searched my Luggage and handbag even looking into various compare meals of my Wallet. Of Ici als Are known to confiscate things they find objectionable holding them until the traveler eaves for Home again they peered suspiciously into bellies of perfume and shampoo and leafed through a travel Book before leaving the Airport i made a hotel reservation from a Booth operated by Cuba Lur the government travel Agency. I did not want to arrive a i my grandmother s House Al 4am. And was nol even sure she had received the Telegram telling of my visit my first View of Havana was Al Sunrise from the window of b taxi dimly til a reals soon gave Way to swaying Palms and i could recognize from books read As a child landmarks such As revolutionary Square and the University of Havana. The trip ended with arrival Al a Hounsl class hotel and sleep on Awakening later in the morning i tend to Telephone my grandmother irom my Hole item the phone did t work. Neither did the one in the subtly. 1 later calculated Hal in Cuba any Given Tel Phonn private or Public does t work a i Leas i 10 per cell of Iho Lima i hailed a cab outside i in hoi us and gave i he Driver my grandmother s address Uril nol knowing if i Vas expected. Belora to Pund up. I a Cor Wajd the House i knocked. To  a neighbor soon Conli Renud my Vorst tear a grandmother was Al Anuj with my Uncle m Villa Clara a town 180 Miles Easl of i Lavonn stir Tatj nol  my Telegram f look Trio cab Otrie i  lit Louth Llu old Havein Hillon elicit i . Thu i 10111. % a working. They did and u Luv minutes Lati i i Mimi Niy lather s brother his Sumi to Heji Trum to  continued  14 Home to Havana a return to Cuba Gulf of Mexico Caribbean sea Jamaica up correspondent Ana Diaz recently resumed to Cuba her first visit in 26 years. Here she r s seen with her 92-year-Oia grandmother Ana Maria Rede lat who still lives in Cuba. Sunday. April 19. 19b7 the stars and stripes a Njo 13