Atlanta to Havana-Delta Airlines Makes it Possible

“Me all alone, me open the rum
It's long the wait for boat to come
American girl come back to me
We'll sail away across the sea.”

~”Havana Moon,” by Chuck Berry

ATLANTA. The announcement from Delta Airlines of direct flights from Atlanta, New York and Miami this fall is welcome news during the early part of “Dog Days,” particularly for those who love rumba, literature, fishing, elevated conversation, great food and classic cocktails

There is a strong connection between Havana and Atlanta. For decades prior to the Castro revolution, the HavAtlanta games pitted the best amateur athletes from each city in competition. One Atlanta participant met Ernest Hemingway at his Havana home, the Finca Vigia. Today, it is an important tourist attraction.

Cuban influenced cocktails include the mojito, daiquiri and cuba libre (another name for rum and Coca-Cola). With more travel access, Atlanta is strategically positioned to become the cultural and economic beneficiary of this access. Look for high-end Cuban restaurants in Midtown and Buckhead. The better ones will feature live music, something fine dining in Atlanta is lacking.

Rock, country and jazz all have Cuban kinship. One of Chuck Berry’s early hits was “Havana Moon,” a love ballad with a Calypso beat. Jazz maestro Stan Kenton’s, Fuego Cubano (Cuban Fire) is a masterpiece. On a given Saturday night, Atlanta ‘s H. Johnson might play a track or two during his 6 hours of classic jazz on WABE. And, Desi Arnez’ accomplishments as a Cuban musician equaled his role in “I Love Lucy.”

Cuban America country star Raol Malo shares a love for música guajira, which basically means “country music” in Cuban Spanish.

Validating the close cultural connection between the Cuban people and Atlanta, Havana’s legendary Buena Vista Social Club, a globally popular jazz ensemble, performed before sold-out audiences in Atlanta four times, the most recent last year at GSU’s Rialto Center for the Performing Arts.

Tracing its roots to the El Floradita bar in Havana, the Papa Doble, also known as the Hemingway Daiquiri was created by the famous bartender Constantino Ribailagua in honor of Ernest Hemingway, who'd been a regular there. When introduced, the Papa Doble sold for $1.25.

In celebration of Delta’s accomplishment re-connecting Atlanta with Havana, why not establish a new tradition, a welcoming toast? Havana passengers entering Cuba would be greeted with Papa Dobles while arriving passengers in Atlanta would have our Scarlett O’Hara cocktail.