[NYTr] Cuba's First Town Baracoa Celebrates 496th Anniversary

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


Cuba's First Founded Town Baracoa Celebrates 496th Anniversary

Baracoa, August 15 (acn) "Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Baracoa" was 
the name given in 1511 to the first town founded by the Spanish 
colonizers upon their arrival in Cuba. Exactly 496 years later, the 
inhabitants of today's Baracoa town, in the easternmost province of 
Guantanamo, celebrate one more anniversary.

With a midnight gala intertwining art and history, the "baracoenses" 
recalled the landing of Christopher Columbus on November 27, 1492, 
which marked a culture encounter between the "old" and the "new" 
continents.

Other activities relating to the anniversary of Cuba's first capital 
and diocese include a solemn meeting of the People's Power Assembly or 
municipal parliament at nine o'clock at the government headquarters.

The traditional Fiesta de las Aguas (Party of the Seas) and Fiesta del 
Kiribí (Kiribi Party) are part of the celebrations, enliven by typical 
dances and 'tres' (guitar-like instrument with three strings) players 
along the sea front of Baracoa.