Cemetery bearing Fidel Castro's ashes opens to public

SANTIAGO DE CUBA — The cemetery holding the ashes of communist leader Fidel Castro opened to the public for the first time Monday morning.

Cubans and tourists lined up under a scorching sun to get their first glimpse of the simple crypt for Castro, who died Nov. 25 at age 90 and was laid to rest Sunday after nine days of mourning.

Castro, who ruled the island for 49 years, asked that no monuments or statues be erected in his honor, and that no streets, parks, plazas or institutions be renamed after him. President Raúl Castro, 85, said he would pass legislation honoring the wishes of his older brother, who passed on power to Raúl after falling ill in 2006.

That means Fidel Castro's lone memorial will be the plain boulder that sits in Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in this eastern city, where Fidel started his schooling and launched his revolution against a U.S.-backed dictator. About 10 feet tall, the gray/white boulder has only three markings: the black plaque engraved simply with "FIDEL" and two rings on either side holding flowers.

The boulder sits just a few yards from the elaborate gravesite of José Martí, Cuba's original freedom fighter and a lifelong inspiration for Castro.

On Monday, schoolchildren waited in line with retired people and curious tourists to get their first view of the site. State security allowed them to pass slowly in front of the memorial, where children snapped pictures on their cell phones and others dropped flowers to honor the founder of their revolution.