THE guard from the antiquities authority was asleep when I arrived at the Temple of Bel, deep in the Syrian desert. Not unreasonable, given that it was before visiting hours, maybe 5:30 a.m., and almost totally dark. A ribbon of purple on the horizon hinted at sunrise, and the war raging over there, in Iraq. [Continue Reading]
Archives for 2015
NO DEAL, a look at Obama’s reluctant partners inside Cuba
HAVANA — It’s just a few lines of blue ink, two words in a neat cursive. “Abajo Fidel” reads the tattoo on Roberto Hernandez Barrios’ left shoulder. But in one of Fidel Castro’s prisons — where Barrios just came from — those are fighting words. They mean, “Down with Fidel.” Barrios’ right shoulder could bear [Continue Reading]
The Cuban Money Crisis
The biggest change to the island’s economy isn’t the thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations Photographs by Sebastián Liste for Bloomberg Businessweek The currency crisis starts about 75 feet into Cuba. I land in the late afternoon and, after clearing customs, step into the busy arrivals hall of Havana’s airport looking for help. I ask a woman [Continue Reading]
