Cuba, U.S. make way for new reality as citizens celebrate in street

Three Cubans released at the same time as American Alan Gross were all accused of spying, but they are national heroes at home. Cuban President Raul Castro embraced them as they got off a plane in Havana, "CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Scott Pelley reports.

People are waking up to a new sort of reality after sweeping changes to U.S.-Cuba relations were finally made public.

The talks had been kept a secret for 18 months, and when Raul Castro announced it to his people at the same time President Obama spoke in the United States, nearly everyone was watching. At first, there was silence, but that soon turned to joy.

People broke out in song and dance to celebrate the news. Church bells rang, and cars and motorcycles honked their horns as they drove through the streets. Although it's still far too early for people to feel any sort of impact, there's a sense that this can only be a good thing.

People there feel that economic conditions will improve as trade restrictions loosen and visits by American tourists are made easier.

Diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States have been virtually nonexistent since 1961 - over half a century ago.

When you look around a city like Havana, the city almost feels frozen in time. This might change as ties with the United States are re-established.

For most people there, this move is the way forward. This is a country with close ties to the United States, and now there's a sense of relief and hope about what all this will mean in the months and years to come.