Cardenas - The home town of the six-year-old shipwreck survivor Elian Gonzalez is preparing to welcome him back in style following a US ruling that the boy should be with his father rather than with more distant relatives in Miami.
In Miami, Cuban exile protesters slowed rush-hour traffic and vowed demonstrations and court challenges over the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service decision on Wednesday. Legal experts said US law favoured the rights of the father.
"I've never been a drinker all my life, but if I have to get drunk once, I'll do it the day Elian comes back!" said one beaming resident of Cardenas, Ms Maria Estevez (65), surrounded by other neighbours near Elian's father's house.
She, like most of the residents, has been hoping and praying for Elian's return since he was rescued at sea on November 25th after a boat bringing illegal migrants to Florida capsized. His mother was one of 11 people who died.