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Our first memories of Havana are ones of delight at every Cuba cliche: American classic cars; the sounds of son and salsa drifting from every bar; old gents sat in doorways smoking cigars and watching the world go by; the crumbling but colourful architecture of Old Havana.
Over the next few days we walked the streets of Old and Central Havana and dodged waves on the iconic malecón. There are many museums in Havana but with the exception of the excellent Cuban art collection at Bellas Artes we shunned them for life on the streets, always finding new avenues to explore.
Life is lived on the streets in Havana. In Old Havana traffic is minimal with as many cycle rickshaws, bicycles and horse carts as 1950s Buicks and Chevys, and Soviet Ladas. Instead people fill the streets—kids playing baseball with broom ends and bottle caps, women hanging laundry from balconies, vendors pulling carts overloaded with fruit and vegetables, customers queuing outside the bare shops, waiting to use their ration cards.
These churro venders were among the most popular of street stalls. In the week we were away, their prices doubled from CUC$0.50 to CUC$1.00 with no obvious loss in popularity—a sign of the new layer of Capitalist entrepreneurship that is spreading out on top of this otherwise Communist economy.
There’s a striking difference between the restored pristine Disneylandia Havana full of tourists from all inclusive resorts and the touts who follow them, and the faded pastel colours of the decaying streets where people live, often only a block apart.
Along the malecón, Havana’s seafront promenade fishermen try their luck, kids dive in the water, and musicians hope for tips from the many strolling locals and tourists. Cars and people dodge the waves that crash over the wall, and at sunset the pastel buildings glow in the last light of the day.
Sau geil, das macht richtig Bock auf Cuba!
Gruß
Nice pictures. I would have liked more photographs with people though. The city is beautiful.
I actually liked an information that there is so little traffic in Havana! I live in Bolivia, and however cities don’t looks so diffrent from Cuban, there is a million of cars (not so classy though), causing air pollution and big noise…
Great pictures. I spent a week in Havana 16 years ago and it looks like nothing has changed. Cuba is a perfect example—similar to Eastern vs Western Europe 30 years ago—of what a failed economic system Communism is.
I loved the natural beauty of the island and the friendly and beautiful people. I got to make it back there before it’s open to my country.
Incredible photos of Cuba! You really captured the essence of this enchanting old city.
Havana still carries that old world colonial charm, looking at these photographs gives me an impression that those Spanish colonizers are still there lurking some where around. Not even a trace of modernity. This is some thing very different from the capital cities in the rest of the world.
Man these pictures were amazing. Great job Simon & Erin ! Totaly travel eye candy.
Would love to visit Cuba someday. Your images are stunning, I can only image what life must be like for Cubans today.
Lovely photos. So colorful. Makes me want to go back badly. I have only visited Havana and a beach resort, so would love to explore more of the country.
A place I would LOVE to go but don’t want to just join the growing tourist train (not saying you did). It looks so stunning and part of that is the decay which is sad as poverty has caused much of that :(
Awww these are beautiful!!! Y’all make me wanna put my Mexican Passport to good use and visit Cuba now.
Beautiful pictures! I miss Havana! Also had a great time there! Sigh.
Love the old cars! I really need to make it to Cuba before it gets opened up to Americans.
Gorgeous photos!
Beautiful shots! Havana is near the top of my “bucket list” of places I want to visit.
Cuba’s been on my bucket list for a while and I think I’ll have to go very soon. One question, do you use filters on your pictures?Amazing photos!
No I don’t use filters. Hope you get to Cuba soon!
I have always be interested in Cuba and I now want to vvisit even more !
What a wonderful photo essay! It brought my memories back and really perfectly captures the essence of La Havana.
I’m loving this photo essay! Those colorful vintage cars are very cool, and I’m not at all a “car person.” I’ve been wanting to go to Cuba for such a long time, and this makes me want to go even more.
Brilliant photos guys! I especially love the 2 rods in front of the cinema and the shot you took on the Malecón.
Cuba looks like a photographer’s dream! Classic cars, decrepit buildings, children playing in the street – some of my favourite things to photograph.
And those churros! My mouth is watering.
The classic cars really adds a lot of character to the place – can’t wait to see it for myself.
Beautiful photos! I guess you love the cars!
Great photos of a great place, amazing contrast between the normal ‘tourist’ areas even though they maybe decrepid and the residential areas on the outskirts. Love that old cinema by the way, I stood there for over an hour taking pics of cacharros as they stopped at the lights.
Thanks Iain, we were the same. There were so many great spots throughout the city that we took photos at for hours.
Stunnning!!! Amazing photos guys, you really out did yourselves (and are living up to that photo blog award you won, for sure!!). The last blue car shot, the guy walking past the graffiti wall, and the little balconies are my favourites. Just so you know…
Thanks Sarah—the credit entirely belongs to Erin! I love the blue car shot too.
Oh my… Those pics are amazing! I really want to go to Cuba now – just to experience this for myself. I love the old American cars! It looks like something from a movie… While I’m quite sad for the Cuban people and their lack of freedom and such, it looks amazing.
And I need to get a churro like that! :O Wow!
Awesome photos! Thanks for sharing :-)
Wow, these photos are stunning! Love also how you have presented them on the site. Candy for the eye and wanderlust!
Thank you so much, Audrey—that means a lot coming from you!
Wow–what amaaaazing photos! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, such gorgeous pictures! Havana looks so full of colour- I especially love the yellow building with it’s little rooftop flowers.
Thanks Jade. The colours there are amazing.
Wow! It almost seems unreal, especially the contrast between the touristed and local parts of the city. It looks like a place that is simultaneously fascinating and depressing to visit.
Thanks Sam. There are certainly some moments that really make you think about the long term future of the country but it is definitely a fascinating and beautiful place.