May Day In Cuba

Cuban workers arrive at Revolution Plaza in Havana to take part in the May Day parade Tuesday, May 1, 2007. Cuban President Fidel Castro was a no-show at the parade. It was thought Castro, who has not been seen in public since undergoing major surgery nine months ago, might use the all-important workers' holiday to appear and mark his return to power.

A woman carries a portrait of Cuban leader Fidel Castro during May Day celebrations in Havana, Tuesday, May 1, 2007. There was no sign of a convalescing Castro as hundreds of thousands of Cubans marched through Revolution Plaza to celebrate May Day.

Cubans wait for the beginning of the May Day parade in Havana, Tuesday, May 1, 2007. There was no sign of a convalescing Fidel Castro as hundreds of thousands of Cubans marched through Revolution Plaza to celebrate May Day, an event the island's 80-year-old "maximum leader," in 48 years in power, had missed just twice previously, both times because he was out of the country.

A child waves a Cuban flag during the May Day parade in Revolution Plaza in Havana Tuesday, May 1, 2007. Cuban President Fidel Castro was a no-show at the parade, only the third time since taking power nearly a half-century ago that he failed to appear at the annual celebration. Speculation was rife that Castro might use the all-important workers' holiday to appear and mark his return to power.

Workers display a Cuban flag as they march during the May Day parade in Havana, Tuesday, May 1, 2007. There was no sign of a convalescing Fidel Castro as hundreds of thousands of Cubans marched through Revolution Plaza on Tuesday to celebrate May Day, an event the island's "maximum leader" had attended for decades without fail.

Acting Cuban president and Defense Minister Raul Castro waves to the crowd during the May Day parade in Havana, Tuesday, May 1, 2007. There was no sign of a convalescing Fidel Castro as hundreds of thousands of Cubans marched through Revolution Plaza to celebrate May Day, an event the island's "maximum leader" had attended for decades without fail.

Cubans march in Revolution Plaza during the May Day parade in Havana, Tuesday, May 1, 2007.

Cuban workers take part in the May Day parade at Revolution Plaza in Havana Tuesday, May 1, 2007. President Fidel Castro was a no-show at the event, only the third time since taking power nearly a half-century ago that he failed to appear at the celebration. It was thought that Castro, who has not been seen in public since major surgery nine months ago, might use the workers' holiday to mark his return to power.

A child gestures next to a portrait of revolutionary hero Ernesto Che Guevara during the May Day parade in Revolution Plaza in Havana Tuesday, May 1, 2007. Cuban President Fidel Castro was a no-show at the parade. In 48 years in power, Castro, 80, had missed the annual May Day celebrations just twice previously, both times because he was out of the country.