Cuba - La Habana Vieja

These images were captured during my excursions to Havana, Cuba. The city is a vibrant and exciting place to be. Although many of the people are less affluent than they’d like to be there is a “joie de vivre” there and an attitude of hope. Cuba is slowly changing with investments from Spain, Mexico and South America and the regime of Raoul Castro is more liberal than the previous administration.

Making it last…… This photo was taken in the old Havana neighbourhood of San Pedro. The residents are quite poor and thus this elderly woman is enjoying her cigar to the bitter end.

This image is on display at a private Toronto cigar club.

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Una calle de la Habana Vieja - 1 A typical street scene.Framed and unframed prints are available. Email for details.

Fresh eggs An elderly woman selling eggs from her stoop.

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Una calle de la Habana Vieja - 2 A typical street scene.

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El Capitolio A different view of the Capitolio.

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1954 Cadillac This street is behind the Teatro National. I was very lucky to catch the Cadillac parked in a very photogenic spot!

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A typical pedalcab The driver was waiting for tourists outside the old freight terminal, now used as a large souvenir and crafts market catering to tourists.

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Una calle de la Habana Vieja - 3 A typical street scene.

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El Capitolio en la noche This image was taken late at night when the streets are quiet and the dance clubs are hopping’………

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Porto del Habana This is a panoramic image of the port of Havana.

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Neighbourhood grocer This is a typical neighbourhood greengrocer in Old Havana.

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The barbershop Framed and unframed prints available. Email for details.

Plaza Vieja This young girl was enjoying the afternoon in the Plaza Vieja.

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Bike Repair Shop And the rent is VERY reasonable!

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Kids hanging out… I was not sure what these 3 boys were doing, but it looked like a good image.

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Despair… Unemployment and under-employment is a problem in Havana. These gents looked like they had little to do, and one seemed a bit more concerned about it.

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Waiting… Framed and unframed prints available. Email for details.

The Malecon The Malecon (Seawall) in Havana is where young people go to meet friends, listen to music, enjoy food and snacks fro street vendors and hang out. Nightclubs are out of reach for most and the Malecon is one big party. I wanted to capture the mood and energy and used a slow shutter. Your comments are welcomed…

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Gimnasio de Boxeo Rafael Trejo This is the most famous boxing club in Cuba, named for Rafael Trejo. Trejo died at the age of 20 in a bloody student protect against the dictatorship of General Gerardo Machado y Morales. After the Cuban War of Independence from Spain, Machado served as President from 1925 until he was ousted in 1933, The protest in which Trejo was killed marked the beginning of the end for the government of Machado and the opposition did away with the dictatorship on 12 August 1933.

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Emerging from the Smoke This was a “lucky shot”. While I was taking some pictures of the street life, a fire broke out and filled the street with smoke. The sun was perfectly placed!

Looking out… These 3 children are being looked after in a “home daycare” in the Old City of Havana. While I was taking pictures, they came to the gate to see what I was doing.

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Morro Castle Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro is a fortress guarding the entrance to Havana Bay

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