Havana today - live streaming of the First Family’s departure for Cuba here
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🇺🇸 Safe Journey 🇨🇺 https://t.co/BEWbhQ6Lyl
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TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) March 20, 2025****
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See ya later!
Promise?
Promise! :-)
Thanks for always keeping us informed! Viva Cuba and US relations.
Congrats Chip on furst. Been trying to catch up for days. Thank you everyone for all this fantastic coverage on PBO’s trip to Cuba. Have a great Sunday everyone, back to reading past entries. :-)
Unless my eyes deceive me, the President’s motorcade is pulling up to Air Force One! Thanks, JER!
http://www.cbsnews.com/liveFeed/widget.shtml
GM JO’B.
OMG, you’re right!
They’re EARLY!!!
Mrs. Obama was wearing flats. Smart lady! (Not that her shoes are the big news, you understand.) Godspeed, Mr. President!
:-)
I’m over here praying and tearing up, and they’re just disembarking The Beast. Think how I’ll be when they actually DO something! Ha.
Yes! Same here, jacquelineoboomer .
{{{Hugs!}}}
This is going to be a fabulous trip
GM/GA rikyrah.
I’m tingly watching First Family board AF1!!!
They’ll arrive earlier than expected in Havana, won’t keep those excited throngs awaiting.
Too exciting for words!
I’m damn near crying just seeing the Air Force personnel formations and salutes, as the plane takes off. Think I’ll go “take a rest” from all this emotion, to save up for later in the day!!!
In agreement with you, JO’B.
Think it has to do with how damn UNFAIR everyone but Obots have been to this awesome man and his equally spectacular family.
If it’s not GOP making stuff up with no pushback from MSM, it’s vicious emoprogs suffering amnesia about how things were from 2001-2009.
Boomers know what a BFD this AF1 departure from Andrews AFC was this morning — hope we survive all the excitement and emotions we feel for the next couple of days. ;)
Hugs to you on all of that! I’m with ya. Except now I’m gonna go rest before the landing!
yes it is…feeling so excited
Just watch the first family climb aboard AF1.
What a beautiful celebration of the first day of Spring! This first which will represent so many firsts.
What a lovely image at the top of this post for the Vernal Equinox! The two flags flying side by side.
I have such hopes for changes for the Cuban people now.
Have been visiting Antigua in the Caribbean. The highest point of the island has been renamed in honor of PBO, Obama Peak. Parents, teachers, and other elders are using PBO as an example to keep boys in school and to further their education. They say, “Look what an educated man has accomplished for his people and his country! Any one of you can make a difference.” People are closely following the Cuba visit. I could not be more proud at the moment!
OMG. Stop making me cry, people! <3
Wow, cranehaven, thanks for this incredible news (which doesn’t make it our fair shores).
The Obama Library could be filled up in no time with examples of how much other countries cherish the 44th President of the United States — in 2009, PBO speeches were used as a learning tool by the Japanese learning English. No better teacher than PBO.
And here we are in 2016 (no words to describe how much I loathe MSM and GOP):
Trump busy damaging U.S. allliances.
Is that the goal?
Awesome craven! Thanks for sharing in our pride of PBO and his family đź’•
So moving, so dear, so comforting to see that the goodness, strength, and power of PBO shines clearly all over the world, and all over the USA as well. We cannot often see it because of the loud, hate mongering, white supremacy-promoting sourpusses who want to hide and deny this truth. But it is there, just like the sun is there when the cloud cover fills the sky. That is why they are so angry; they strut and holler, and claim victory all the time, but somewhere deep down they know they are doing dirty work and should be ashamed and stop. PBO’s radiant smile and tenacious attention to the work he set out to do and was chosen to do (TWICE!) show us that he knows that he is winning every day by being him doing what he came to do, which joy and wisdom. This journey is profound precious perfect. This TOD window on POTUS and his work is a treasure. Thank you Chips, Nerdywonka, BT’s, fellow Obama peeps. Vaya con Dios, La Familia Primo? Primera? FURST/First Family!
Dagnabit! I missed it! Arrrgh!
I’m sure it will be on YouTube Dudette :-)
There goes the plane! Yay!
See tweet below, Dudette! They left earlier than the WH schedule had them leaving!
See ya later everyone, gotta work!
i LOVE YOU MADLY! :-D
At least I got to see the plane takeoff! :-(
Chips! What would we do without you? I’m serious. I will have a long, teary-eyed, heartfelt comment about my gratitude for you and TOD one of these days when I’m not on my way to work!
See Dudette, you didn’t miss it :-)
Just saw it MS! Chips is DA HEAT!!!!!
Oh BLESS you, Chips! You’re an Angel! I was truly bummed. I went to bathroom thinking there would be 20 minutes or so before the departure and… POOF! They’re gone!
Love you Queen! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
LOL.
Been there too — seems like a lot of events have happened early, so even when I try to keep up, I still end up trying to catch up.
Breathless #BucketIt fourth quarter. ;)
Our Energizer President just keeps stickin’ and movin’ :-D
Thanks, Chips, for being part of this historic trip. Sorry you have to work now — all Obots are atingle for this trip.
Think President Obama is too — wheels up 30 minutes early.
Temperature differential between DC (43F) and Havana (87F) now.
Will be glued here at TODville for the duration of this mind-boggling trip — never heard of Bariloche, Argentina, but what an incredible-looking place. Looks quite spiritual, will investigate ASAP.
:)
I just love the fact that Mrs. Robinson, aka FGMOTUS, is there for each and every moment. The biggest Blessing of my life has been being able to take my Mom with me when I travel. I grew up traveling the world; she grew up thinking she’d never see international places. It is such a joy seeing the world thru her eyes…
BTW, my maternal grandmother’s maiden name is Robinson. Maybe, Michelle and I are cousins…
Get Henry Louis Gates on the case and find out. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Wouldn’t it? Remember when I was a kid, I asked my GM if Jackie Robinson was a relative; she replied “maybe, maybe not…”
Hey, you never know! :-)
Watching Air Force One never gets old
Tell me about it. :)
That’s the truth!
Watching the Obamas board AF1, never gets old. :)
Grandma Robinson is going too. How nice.
How exciting 🌹
Yes it is!!!! :-D
Hmmmmmmmm
Non. Can’t be. The Senator from Vermont said that his policies are practical, righteous, and represent what America needs. Besides, he knows well because he’s been in the Senate for a very long time, as an outsider I must add, and has confirmed that Congress will pass all his policies as soon as he asks them to. Moreover, he has an army of young, athletetic, and Greco-Roman fellows supporting him and whom he asked to fight with him even after November when he becomes President, thanks to many superdelegates that will switch from HRC’s camp to flank his sides.
What is Warren afraid of?
Would be nice if she could be quoted.
She’s already been thrown under the Bernie Bus for not endorsing him right away. I can only imagine what they’d say about her if she were actually quoted on this or ended up endorsing Hillary.
That is so cool!
Oh. My. Goodness.
Thanks, JER.
Agree with Dudette, how wonderful for Mrs. Robinson and daughter Sharon.
Hope MSM picks up on this true human interest story, 69 (!) years since Jackie Robinson played for MLB Dodgers on US soil.
Love how this WH reaches out to share historic moments with those who made history themselves.
Too cool.
SXSW 2016 featured, for the first time, Cuban Music.
A few of the featured artists included Telmary ….
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2016/events/event_MS37198
And, Yissy & Bandancha …..
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2016/events/event_MS37194
And, Dayme Arocena ….
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2016/events/event_MS37197
And, Kelvis Ochoa ….
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2016/events/event_MS37192
back to work …. :)
Thanks Bob, I just became a fan of Yissy !!
My pleasure, Ed :)
Me too!
“”Cuba has always been an important source for powerful, compelling and influential music — so, strictly for selfish reasons they have something we enjoy,” Bourdain tells Billboard about why he was anxious to get involved in the project. “But also geopolitically: a window has opened, a door, hopefully forever — and the artistic and cultural exchanges that are happening now are important. They hold out the possibility of raising up people who deserve better. Cubans have been shut off from the world for so long — it’s exciting to see the conversation get wider and louder.”
Thornburg said this first year after the thaw felt like the perfect time for this showcase. “At the end of the day they [the underwriters] didn’t materialize and it didn’t matter. We had to start the visa process… and people wouldn’t be making money, but we said no matter what happens we will buy the tickets and make it happen.”
Darsi Fernández, the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (SGAE, Cuba’s ASCAP) representative in Cuba and a consultant for Fabrica de Arte Cubano, an arts collective, said the musicians are “thrilled and expectant,” with a clear understanding of how important SXSW is for the music industry and what a “fabulous” opportunity it is for them. “There have not been many chances to show quite a wide-ranging outlook of the contemporary Cuban music scene to professionals of the U.S. music industry,” she writes in an e-mail to Billboard. “Now they will have the opportunity to sense the vibe of a mega event, which is a way to perceive themselves as part of the big musical family of our planet.”
While Cuban acts have played at SXSW before — including a trio of Cuban heavy metal bands who jumped through numerous hurdles to take the stage in 2013 — Zertuche said having an entire night dedicated to the island’s sound is a very special event. “We’re showcasing the genres of music that everyday Cubans go out and listen to every weekend in their country,” she said. “These are the working musicians who have maintained the live music industry day-in and day-out, which is what we wanted people to be able to experience.””
http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7108564/sxsw-cuban-showcase-anthony-bourdain
//players.brightcove.net/1125911414/VJ949r8Fg_default/index.html?videoId=4333448823001
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/6619985/cuba-music-investigation-jazz-reggaeton-alexander-abreu-samuel-fornell-video-exclusive
Wonderful! Thanks so much Bob!
My pleasure, Dudette … just a small offering compared to all the delights you bring us, almost daily!!!
{{{{{ Bobfr }}}}}
Love you both! TOD is fueled by smart people who care about the world.
So true, Judith. And, YOU are further proof of it!!!
I’ll second that Bob!
Love you right back JF! You are one of the best around!
As I said earlier, I am trying to catch up after several days away.
I just read meta’s comment quite a few posts back, about WWW and wanting to make every Republican be forced to watch them back to back. I’ve been trying to figure out a way, in my techno-deficient brain, to make a copy of each WWW and each PBO Saturday message and maybe put them all on a thumb drive. Then I could duplicate them and give one of these thumb drives to each member of my large, and totally Republican family. Of course that wouldn’t guarantee they would ever watch them, but it would certainly make me feel better every time I have to be around them.
Wonder how soon before Jeff Flake decides to switch parties …. if he has any survival instincts at all he’ll do so, soon ….
Thanks hf2 :)
gotta get back to work!!!!
Yay Manchester United WON 1-0 ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
đź‘Żđź‘Żđź‘Żđź‘Żđź‘Żđź‘Żđź‘Ż
I’m sitting on my couch in complete AWE of Eddie Izzard’s amazing feat!
He just finished his 27th marathon on 27th days running throughout South Africa. Marathons 26 and 27 were just completed today!
This man is has the biggest heart in the world. He did this to raise money for the UK charity Sport Relief — raising over 1.3 million pounds UK — and to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela’s 27 years in prison. I really should get a knighthood for this!
I used to run marathons in younger days. Of course I didn’t have the conditioning of this man, but, man, I would be wiped out for several days after just one marathon.
This is why I’m so amazed! I have a cousin who runs marathons. I’ve seen how hard it can be just doing one marathon. I don’t know how anyone could put their body through this for 27 days straight. It’s unreal!
I am, however, to get my butt off the couch and back into the gym. I have no excuse whatsoever!
Well, you may not get the knighthood, but he might. ;) ;)
I lift my hat to him! I doubted he’d be able to do the double.
Haha! I meant “HE” should get a knighthood, of course! I’m a terrible typist. :roll: :-D
Like you, I doubted he’d be able to do the double after what he’s put his body through over these past weeks. It’s insane that he was able to pull that off! The man is a superhero!
Unbelievably cruel that they plotted a route to force this man to run up two flights of stairs at the end of running a double marathon on his 27th day of running marathons — really sadistic. Eddie is such a trooper! Wow!
Superhuman effort! In awe of this guy!
Indeed. So am I!
When I think of Cuba I think of Celia Cruz. (Hope this embeds)
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Interesting video in this article about some of the Cuban dissidents that President Obama will meet on his visit - The Ladies in White.
“The White House has made it clear President Obama will meet political dissidents, whether the Cuban authorities like it or not. That is expected to include members of the Ladies in White group, wives of political prisoners.”
HELP!!! HELP!!! HELP!!!
Do we have a graphic artist here? If so, could you design a TOD logo that I could repro on buttons, name tags, etc for the June Meet-up in DC?
Definitely not me, but what a great idea! :-D
Our First Family is up away, Yea!! Godspeed to them and to all who travel with them. I did not know until this post that the travels extend to Argentina, we are in for such a trip. So glad the girls (Spring Break?) and Mrs. Robinson are part of this historic visit.
Thanks Chips for being, once again, our tour guide as we follow our dear family on their travels.
I’m hoping to visit Cuba in the next year — want to get there BEFORE it becomes americanized…
Me too!
Me three !!
TOD road trip!
:-D
Wouldn’t that be fun?!
Does anyone know what time AF1 arrives in Cuba
I believe around 4:50PM EST.
thank you so much
Love Mrs. Robinson’s coat…
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2016/03/20/on-the-way-to-cuba/
Whoa! Serena’s in trouble! She’s down 4 games to 0 in the second set. Azararenka’s already taken the first set.
LIVE NOW: President Obama in Cuba - Arrival at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana
Also here: http://www.cbsnews.com/liveFeed/widget.shtml