Rihanna Works Hard and Parties Harder In Cuba

Ottoniel Campos

May 30, 2015

AP Photo/Desmond Boylan

Pop singer Rihanna was seen working hard shooting a music video and partying harder while enjoying Cuban food and music at a local restaurant in Havana, Cuba.

AP Photo/Desmond Boylan

Rihanna, who is originally from Barbados, surprised many locals when she arrived Wednesday on a private flight from the United States unannounced. Throughout Thursday she shot scenes for her upcoming video at a house in the neighborhood of El Vedado. She also shot scenes at La Guardia, one of the first privately owned “Paladar” restaurants that opened in Havana and where the Cuban movie “Fresa Y Chocolate” was filmed.

AP Photo/Desmond Boylan

The multi-platinum singer paid a visit to Restaurante Paladar La Fontana on Wednesday night where she dined authentic Cuban cuisines, listened and danced to classic Cuban music played by the house band.

According to the online magazine OnCuba Facebook page, the pop singer ate black beans, grilled chorizos, pork chops and a local dish called “grandma’s steak”.

Now that the U.S. has removed Cuba from the State Sponsored Terrorism list more artists and celebrities can travel to the Caribbean island without backlash. In 2013 Jay Z and his wife Beyonce went to Cuba but were harassed by U.S. republicans for visiting a communist country.
However, Cuba’s trade embargo and tourism ban are still in place and the Republican led Congress is not looking to lift those sanctions enforced in 1962 anytime soon, unfortunately.

But back to Rihanna.

She was seen riding in the back of classic American cars of the 40s and 50s, which are commonly used and well maintained in Cuba, called “almendrones”.

Rihanna, whose eighth album has no release date, has enjoyed the success of her latest singles including “Bitch Better Have My Money,” “James Joint” and FourFiveSeconds” featuring Kanye West and the Beatles’ Paul McCartney.