Celebrations abound outside restaurants, in streets

Celebrations abound outside restaurants, in streets
By JENNIFER MOONEY PIEDRA
jmooney@MiamiHerald.com

Dozens of people stood in front of La Carreta in Southwest Miami-Dade
early Tuesday, honking, jumping up and down and shouting ``Cuba libre.''

''We believe the commando has died. We think he died but they don't give
that news that quickly,'' said Ramon Ortega, 55, of Miami, who came to
Miami during Mariel 26 years ago. ``We're going to Cuba soon.''

Ortega's 17-year-old daughter Iettel Ortega stood with her father waving
a Cuban flag.

''I've never been to Cuba before,'' she said. ``That's the first thing I
am going to do is go there. All my life I have been waiting for the day
Fidel died.''

Jose Reyes stood in the median of Bird Road and 87th Avenue with his
nephew clutching on to a Cuban flag the size of a door.

Reyes was honoring his dead father who always wanted to see a free Cuba.
The flag lay atop his father's casket when he died.

''When he died we put the flag in the closet waiting for this day. I
hold it up proud for him.'' said Reyes, 46, from Kendall.

Nestor J. Navarro Jr., 58, was born in Cuba and lives in Mexico. In
Miami on business, Navarro said he was optimistic but guarded since
Castro's death has not been confirmed.

''This is the best time to be in Miami,'' Navarro said. ``I hope this is
a reality and we can really celebrate this in the next few days.''

Gladys Arce, 66, who lives in West Miami-Dade, said the last time she
was in Cuba was 1960. ''I want him to pass away,'' she said. ``When he
dies I go back to Cuba.''

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