Cuban Exiles Choose Madrid Over Miami

When Cubans leave their island in search of a better life, where do they go? Conventional wisdom says Miami. But a recent article in the International Herald Tribune claims that lately, Cubans are choosing to live in Madrid for a myriad of reasons -- some of them political. "In Cuba...

By Tamara Lush

August 3, 2007

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When Cubans leave their island in search of a better life, where do they go? Conventional wisdom says Miami. But a recent article in the International Herald Tribune claims that lately, Cubans are choosing to live in Madrid for a myriad of reasons -- some of them political.

"In Cuba and Miami there is no middle ground," said Boris Larramendi, 37, one of the lead musicians of Habana Abierta, a group that has released three albums in Madrid and has played in Cuba and Miami. "Here you can feel somewhat distant from both extremes and take certain positions that would be difficult to maintain in Havana or Miami, particularly in Cuba, where I know that if I said the things I say here, I'd be jailed."

Another reason why Cuban exiles are going to Madrid: it's easier to obtain exit permits to Europe than to the U.S. -- Tamara Lush

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