Havana
No American cars for cabs newer than 1950's so we're in this Mercedes.
Some impressive breakers on the way to Havana. It was the only day that it rained.
A Pharmacy in Havana. Lots of traditional medicine here.
Havana streets are for everyone. Cars as well as people.
We think that this won't pass inspection
Everywhere, decades of American sanctions have laid waste to the economy. Paint is the least of their concerns.
An old church. The state while communist is officially Catholic. Well Catholic and Voodoo
Lunch in Havana. Our cab driver was not allowed to join us. He gets a free lunch for bringing us here I suspect, but maybe more Cuban (read not nearly as tasty). Food is something that they haven't got right. Maybe you can chalk it up to the fact that the government provides a food ration of basic needs (rice and beans). So there is not a lot of experience with good ingredients. In the Hotel the buffet looks just fine, but everything tastes the same. The deserts are all variations on white cake. Not the fluffy soft kind, but the near corn bread texture kind. Sometimes food colouring is added to give the impression of a different taste.
Very dense living.
A dancer in a cafe
Just across the street from the capital building are these residential apartments.
Jose Marti is credited with extracting Cuba from the Spanish empire. The history is much more complex of course, but if you need to blame someone Jose is a perfectly good scapegoat.
A cigar factory
Here using the capital building as a backstop, a group of boys are playing stick ball. Baseball is very popular.
The Revolutionary square where Castro would address the public. Many of the main government buildings are near here. The Image of Che Guevara is everywhere, but apparently Castro's image is forbidden.
Urban decay Cuban style
All used books.
One of Hemingway's haunts
Hey we recognize that name.
