Old Havana
Is under major renovation. Yet the revitalization project is limited to the areas tourists visit.
El Capitolio, once housed the Cuban legislature. It is now a museum and library.
Museum of Fine Arts
These "palm trees" were "commissioned" by the State to honor Castro's 80th Birthday.
In front of the Museum of Fine Arts
The Classic cars.
Many in Cuba, are not allowed to buy a car, even if they have the money.
So cars that were owned by people before the Revolution are passed down through generations.
The Bacardi Building. The Bacardi family fled Cuba after the Revolution.
Meeting the locals is easy
Especially if it involves you buying them a drink
Posters on Maintaining Cultural Diversity at the Museum of Cuban Art. Sponsored by Icograda.
Here we are the "conventioneers"
From around the world
Bacardi building
Sculpture in the Museum of Contemporary Art
Made of espresso pots
Cuba's version of Coke, not that Coke is not available in Cuba.
They even have Diet
Our "lunch" at the Convention Center; a mystery scoop of "salad" and "meat". Seeing as this is as far most American tourists get, it's good Castro propaganda to show how the embargo results in a lack of quality food in Cuba.
A slide from a presentation from the Icograda Convention.
At the Art Institute
The younger generation reveres brands much as others do around the world.
Microsoft apparently has no problem with the embargo/blockade. Neither does Adobe.
Toilet seats, even doors are hard to come by at the Art Institute. It, like most schools in the US, suffers from lack of funding and suplies, much of which is blamed on the embargo, even though Cuba trades freely with the rest of the world, even China.
The local paper features a "photoshopped" image of Castro.
A show put on by the Ministry of Education, just for us.
The Capitolio dome
Buses and all sorts of modern conveniences
along with Ladas, and pedi-cabs.
View from the rooftop pool
The Beaux Art Theater is in the background
Looking down on the restoration of Old Havana
Not all buildings will be renovated
At the pool
Cuba wants the EU to break ties with the US
Only the Basics.
Cuba-USSR; Friendship Forever. What happens when you trade with only one country.
Cuba wants the US out of other Caribbean Nations.
A kiss before going to work
A legal taxi (white) and semi-legal taxi (red) get into a fender bender.
Monument of Galixto Garcia in Vedado
with "modern" high-rises
On the Malecon
Life on the Malecon
Who knows how these New Balance sneakers made it to Cuba; either brought by a well meaning tourist or aid organization, or it is one of the many US brands that seem to get to Cuba regardless of the embargo.
Casa de las Americas is the grey building on the right
What's left of the local playground
What's left of the stadium
Deco inspired
Cuba Tourism
Our bus drivers
Casa de Las Americas exhibit part of our propaganda "tour"
Dedicated to anti-capitalism
and of course Che propaganda
Few things on display have no political agenda
On Calle Obispo, near Old Havana, Cubans with access to tourist currency can buy whatever they want
Lunchtime on Calle Obispo
EU brands have discovered Cuba
Cuba has discovered tourism
Even get your dog or cat groomed...
Fashion handbags; priced around $40 CUC, the tourist currency (almost $50US). Multiply that by 25 (the exchange rate for the local currency rate at which Cubans get paid in) and the purses are now almost $1000 CUC Nacionales!
Now that the State sells homes directly the people it is no longer required to maintain them. Therefore owners are left to maintain and paint their homes on their own without any support from the State.
Home repair and supplies are available but sold at the tourist currency, 25 times what locals make.
Plaza de Armas in Old Havana
Dedicated to selling tourists everything they ever wanted to know about Che, Castro and the Revolution.
A new government building rises out of Old Havana
Fashion is a concern to some
Lines are a way of life for locals, with stores allowing only several Cubans in at a time.
Get your Che T-shirts here! Che is big business with tourists.
Behind Plaza de Armas; Calle de la Habana
The restored streets of Old Havana
Are painted in pretty colors
And offer plenty of brands
to those that can afford them
Coco taxis, like all "legal taxis" are owned by the State and leased out to drivers
Streets of Old Havana
Red license plates=rental
Luxury cars are available for rent as well as owned by the elite
Repairs are now the responsibility of the homeowner.
Potholes are everywhere and are obviously the least of worries
Rollerblades, are another mode of transportation.
However cobblestones and pot-holes must make for quite a ride.
At the movie theater across from the Capitolio
Educational messages are everywhere about the benefits of education. "There is no sweeter sight than seeing a child read"
Cuba has the highest literacy rate in Latin America
Education is free for all. "Reading is a way to grow"
Cuba has some of the most educated Taxi drivers and maids you'll ever meet, some who speak, English, French, German and Russian.
Unfortunately there is not enough industry to provide everyone who is educated with a proper job. The Hotel Saratoga is shown on the right.
Although there are opportunities for those in education and medicine; with one teacher for every 42 students in Cuba.
And one doctor and/or nurse in every school. Cuban doctors are on missions across the Caribbean and bring quality medical care to those in need. Cuba has also taken in thousands of Chernobyl victims. "We don't tell the people to believe, we tell them to read"
Many apartments in Havana are now owned by the people themselves, yet lack of funds prevent most from performing the necessary maintenance.
Election day was October 21st
When Cubans "vote" for those that will "represent" their interests in the Party.
Even Nike has made it to Cuba
And both tourists and locals can be seen jogging though the streets
In Cuba, homeowners can "trade" their homes but they cannot sell their home to another although they can sell it back to the State which sold it to them. Similar to a mortgage, the State "sells" the people a home who then make monthly payments to the State. Those that fall on hard times and cannot make their payment may be given leniency depending on their situation. Here we see moving truck.
Art or Graffiti?
Or propaganda?
"The World is my Neighborhood"
Chinatown
Deco era buildings in Centro
Streets of Centro
Restoration is everywhere that tourists go
Just off the Malecon in Centro
Local markets provide fruits, vegetables and meat at local currency prices
Department store
Those that can afford it can get their car washed and detailed.
These are all private cars
High school students ham it up for the tourists
Buildings along the Malecon are being restored and renovated to change tourists perceptions of Cuba
On the Malecon, looking towards Vedado and the Riviera and Nacional hotels
Local lore says that this building was built in the 12th century, on the 12th day of the 12th month.
New imports are available to those that are allowed to buy a car or or those that get a car from the State (athletes, artists, Party members and others in favor). Yellow plates=private cars.
Red=rentals
Along Paseo de Prado
"Knowing how to read, is knowing how to move forward" Jose Marti
A private Paladar (restaurant not owned by the State) is shown upstairs.
The Paseo del Prado is a European style pedestrian mall where locals hang out.
Buildings along Paseo del Prado, near Parque Central
Cuban Arab Cultural Center
Case de la Musica in Centro
Where locals and tourists meet to dance and drink
When in Cuba do as the locals do
Doing the Cuban motion!
Everything a tourist should consume in Cuba
Cubans are always eager to show you their way
Most will extend the courtesy if allowed
Locals out on the town
Anglos trying to get the Cuban motion
Maybe some more rum
Learning from the pros
Even the help gets a chance to show us how it's done!
Clock in the Hotel Saratoga
Local pastry/coffee shop. Nestle; An irresistable desire.
Many of the bathroom attendants earn their living on tips
Not even the embargo can keep Big Tobacco out of Cuba and the US freely "trades with the enemy" when it suits their interests.
Once called Hatuey, the local beer is Bucanero
Occasionally, heavy rains bring down pieces of buildings
US brands in Cuban markets
Shelves are well stocked for those that can afford goods at CUC (tourist currency) prices.
Prices shown are in CUC 1 CUC=25 Cuban Nacionales
Though we were told it was rare, apparently even Ladas get stolen.
Heavy rains and flooding the night before kept these girls from getting to school
Callejon de Hamel between Centro and Vedado
Bathtubs find a new life
A local supermarket with prices in Cuban Nacionales
The old Russian camel buses can still be found
Pharmacy
Intel is inside Cuba
The system obviously works better for some than others. Some refer to it as CapiSol (Capitalist Socialism)
Along the Malecon
Looking towards Old Havana from the Hotel Nacional
Across from the US Interests building, these flag stands originally flew the Cuban flag and were erected to block the view of the US anti-Castro propaganda. Now the flags fly black to honor the men and women killed aboard a Cuban airliner which was blown up by terrorists.
Even the Hotel Nacional displays propaganda.
With free health care and a lack of many of the diseases present in prosperous industrialized nations such as diabetes, Cubans live long lives. The oldest Cuban recently died at the age of 126. At this rate it will be a long time before the US sees the death of Castro.
Gardens of the Nacional
The Nacional
Americans feel right at home with easy access to US tobacco while visiting, yet they cannot "legally" bring back Cuban cigars.
Cigars and tobacco are big business
Some of the Hollywood stars that stayed at the Nacional in the 1930's.
Streets of Vedado, behind the Hotel Nacional
Where you can rent a BMW
Or catch a US film "The Zodiac"
Local artist Abela, does his take on the local dish, "Old Clothes" featured at the Paladar Huron Azul a private restaurant and art gallery.
Watercolor by Sosa Bravo
Streets of Marianao a suburb outside of the city
A caricature of local artist Vicente Bonacea
Bonacea's studio
A Bonacea cigar now living in our house
Packed by the artists himself
Vicente Bonacea
The artist and his wife
A bronze by Bonacea
Abela is a close friend of Bonacea
A peek inside the artist's bathroom.
Those that can have access to foreign currency can obviously enjoy a better life; toilet seats, a housekeeper and car.
