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Cuba Reopening Puts Into Question What Will Change

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HAVANA, CUBA (CBSMiami) -- Cuba has been closed off for so long, but little by little, it's starting to open up.

Technically speaking, tourists from the U.S. are not allowed in the island nation yet but they are coming from other places like Europe, hoping to see Havana before it changes too much.

Related: Internet Access Gives Cubans 1st Look At Outside World

One group CBS4's Rick Folbaum spoke to were visiting from France.

"Enjoy concerts, traditional Havana concerts...amazing," said the French tourist.

Folbaum asked, "You get the feeling that this might be sort of the end of Cuba as we know it?"

"Yea, yea definitely and it's a good thing that the embassies are reopening on both sides of the U.S. and Cuba but I think that in a couple of years from now....the life in Cuba and Havana may change and the place that we all imagined, may disappear a bit," said the French tourist.

They are not alone. Tour buses are a common site on the streets of Havana and so are news crews from all over the world who are there to cover Friday's embassy ceremony.

"All the people wait for this long time ago....It's very exciting to be here and do this historic moment and I believe in two years you have a McDonald's here," said Denise, who works as a journalist for Eurovision America.

"I think that's what everybody is afraid of," responded Folbaum.

The hope is for genuine change for the people of Cuba while still allowing some things like the island's considerable charm to stay exactly the same.Rick Folbaum Live Reports From Cuba

CBS4's Rick Folbaum is in Cuba and will also be covering the ceremony on Friday.

Click here for more on Cuba.

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