Travel Photography Havana Cuba
Havana street scene photo-montage
Cuba is still a forbidden place for Americans and I had to use my German passport to get there while living in California. I am not fond of any government telling me where I can go and I wanted to see for myself what Cuba is really like.
Havana has a vibe that can even make decay look interesting. A highlight was to experience Cuban music live.
The legendary “Bonavista Social Club” is still loaded with tremendous old-timers. The local Art scene is also vibrant.
There is a separate economy for Cubans and tourists and you pay extra for being a gringo. The Island needs all the money it can get as it has been battered and cut off for decades due to failed US policies that only punish the people.
Cuba is a living museum for American cars that are kept running creatively with makeshift parts.
Classic cars go back to the heyday before the revolution when Cuba still was a play ground for American tourists.
There is a certain nostalgia palpable around social justice and unfulfilled dreams. The freedom fighter Che Guevara is still very popular and you
can see his image all around town.
The Ladies wearing stereotypical colourful costumes at a tourist hotspot. The colonial buildings have been renovated all around this Plaza. The outdoor cafes and restaurants are a magnet for visitors.
Public buildings in Havana have been restored to their former glory. Many vintage cars are parked in tourist destinations.
Unfortunately most of Havanas beautiful residential buildings are in disrepair.
I did stay in a simple private Casa on this street. I believe that hosts are selected for their loyalty to the regime. Private citizens outside the tourist industry are discouraged from interacting with visitors.
Dark interiors prompt the inhabitants to spend time in the sun in their doorways, windows and on balconies.
Race relations have benefited from the Revolution, may it be that poverty is the great equaliser.
Despite being a poor Island, Cuba has an exemplary healthcare system and is sending its well trained Doctors to other Nations when in need. Not all of Fidel Castro’s ideas were bad.
60 years of US sanctions have left their mark but regardless of the obvious problems Cuba is well worth a visit.
Elke Savala is a Holistic Healer and Artist