Havana, Cuba

Camilo Cienfuegos

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Plaza de la Revolución. Outline of Camilo Cienfuegos (1932-1959) on the Ministry of Informatics and Communications building. IMG_6756p1

Dulcería Celiquin

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Quinta de los Molinos

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Quinta de los Molinos park. Entrance from Avenida Salvador Allende. DSC_0135p1

Dilapidated Building

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Gran Logia de Cuba

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Gran Logia de Cuba de A.L. y A.M. Avenida Salvador Allende No. 508 esquina Belascoain. DSC_0143p1

Heroes of Cuba

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Heroes of Cuba: José Martí, Camilo Cienfuegos, Che Guevara. This trio is seen often in Havana. DSC_0148p1

Street Vendors in La Habana

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Street vendors in La Habana. Calle Mloja, esquina con Angeles. DSC_0166p1

Calle Maloja

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Calle Maloja, La Habana. IMG_6763

Proyecto Sociocultural Quisicuaba

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Proyecto Sociocultural Quisicuaba (Asociación Quisicuaba). Maloja 26 entre Calle Ángeles y Águila. Cabildos were a type of mutual social assistance societies, particularly among Africans enslaved in Cuba. Quisicuba refers to the original name of the barrio Los Sitios, located outside the 17th century city walls of Havana in the . We visited this community center for our "People to People" experience required of American visitors to Cuba. While here, we saw a performance by the "Rapping Grannies" and visited the museum, filled with artifacts and photographs of pre-revolutionary Havana. (I was reminded of Winston Smith in 1984 collecting relics of the past era.) IMG_6764

Rapping Grannies

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"Rapping Grannies" perform at Proyecto Sociocultural Quisicuaba. IMG_6771

Conversation in Calle Maloja

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Conversation in Calle Maloja. This scene brought to mind the romanticized Cuban street scenes depicted in the Costal Flats restaurant in Fairfax, VA. A Lada in the role of the car here. DSC_0151p1

Barrio Los Sitios

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Houses in Calle Maloja, Barrio Los Sitios. Note the pastel colours and balconies with iron railings. "The streets in the old part of the city are very narrow, and the buildings are usually in a low and heavy semi-Oriental style with windows protected by gratings".--Baedeker 1908. IMG_6760

1957 Dodge Custom Royal

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1957 Dodge Custom Royal in Calle Maloja, Havana. Two-tone colour schemes were popular in 1957, but I wonder what the original scheme was for this car. Note that the second headlight has been replaced with an amber signal. DSC_0167

1955 Buick Special

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1955 Buick Special in Calle Maloja. Note that it has three decorative air intakes. This Buick is among the few classic American cars in Havana that retains its original marque nameplate. In many cases, one must guess the make. DSC_0168

Calle Áuguila

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Calle Áuguila, Barrio Los Sitios, La Habana, Cuba. DSC_0169p1

Simón Bolivar

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Bust of Simón Bolivar in Parque de la Fraternidad Americana. DSC_0180p1

Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso

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Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso (Palacio del Centro Gallego). Opened in 1915. Designed by Paul Belau and Purdy and Henderson, Engineers as the social hall for the Galician community in Havana. The building was built around the existing Teatro Tacón and the auditorium theatre functionality retained. Paseo del Prado 458. DSC_0187p1

El Floridita

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El Floridita. The legendary bar and restaurant was a hangout of Ernest Hemingway. It lays claim to being “the cradle of daiquiri”. El Floridita is also a featured locale in Graham Greene's novel Our Man in Havana. Monserrate y Obiso. DSC_0198p1

Francisco de Albear

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Statue of Francisco de Albear (1816-1887). He designed the Acueducto de Albear and other engineering projects in 19th century Havana. Installed in 1895. "Adjoining Central Park on the E. is Monserrate Square, with a statue, also by Saavedra, of General Francisco de Albear (1811-89), the engineer who constructed the Vento Aqueduct".--Baedeker 1908. DSC_0203p1

Edificio Bacardi

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Edificio Bacardi. Built in 1930 as the headquarters of Bacardi Rum. The building contains a public restaurant and bar. Seized in 1960 as part of the larger nationalization of industries. Avenida de Bélgica 261. DSC_0206

El Capitolio

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El Capitolio. Built in 1926-1929 by Purdy and Henderson, Engineers. It is modeled after the United States Capitol. The National Assembly and and Senate met here until 1959. The current legislature, Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular, does not meet here, though there are long term plans to use it again as a legislative building. IMG_6776p1