My trip to Havana - Cuba

hellospank25 · January 20th, 2012, 11:51 AM

I went to Havana for 3 days as part of my round the world trip in early January.
I arrived on an Air Canada flight from Toronto and the weather was fantastic for the whole time I was there (sunny with max temperature of 25 Celsius during the day and minimum of 18 Celsius during the night)

Getting through customs/immigration at the airport was quick and easy and then I got a taxi to get to the city centre which costed about CUC 30 ($ 35). Cuba is a fairly expensive country for tourists but I was happy to pay because tourism is an important source of income for the country which still has to deal with the despicable trade embargo imposed on them by the USA

I stayed in what they call "casa particular" or private house which is basically people renting out rooms to tourists which is a great alternative to staying in a hotel if you want to save a bit of money. The casa particular where I was staying was fantastic as it was located on the 9th floor of a building and it has penthouse views all around and I only paid CUC 35 per night which is a bargain when you compare it to the CUC 150-200 that you would pay if you stay in a full service hotel

Despite the poor state of the infrastructure in Cuba I really had a nice time going out and about, mingling with locals, sitting around having a coffee or just observing daily life in Havana go by. Due to the lack of modern technology such as internet, cable tv, playstation and all the rest... most people go out a lot to socialize and there is a greater sense of community

image hosted on flickr

Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Havana at sunset by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

old car in Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

An old car in Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Malecón by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Malecón by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

A mural in Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Old Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Havana sunset by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Coco Taxis by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

skymantle · January 20th, 2012, 03:50 PM

Magnificent. Havana is a dream location for me, I'm envious. Cuba's not often featured on these forums, so well done. Great colour and composition in your pics too.

Nightsky · January 20th, 2012, 08:44 PM

Nice city with all these old classic cars! The last one looks postcard like.

hellospank25 · January 21st, 2012, 12:08 AM

image hosted on flickr

El Capitolio by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

guille_89uy · January 21st, 2012, 12:30 AM

Bravo!

alexander2000 · January 21st, 2012, 03:08 AM

great!
I love those 40's and 50's vintage automobiles.

Linguine · January 21st, 2012, 03:56 AM

great new thread for Havana, a really interesting ang fascinating city almost frozen in the 1950's and 60's time....thanks for the wonderful photos.

JoseRodolfo · January 21st, 2012, 04:26 AM

Hermosa!!

el palmesano · January 21st, 2012, 05:06 AM

lovely city!!

hellospank25 · January 22nd, 2012, 02:43 AM

image hosted on flickr

Havana old square by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Hotel Inglaterra by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Old cars in Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

***christos-greece*** · January 22nd, 2012, 10:00 AM

Awesome, great shots from Havana, Cuba

Rombi · January 22nd, 2012, 09:19 PM

Havana is my "must be there" No.1

0scart · January 22nd, 2012, 11:36 PM

Such beautiful yet run-down architecture!!! It's a pity it looks like that. I hope things change for the best.

juanico · January 22nd, 2012, 11:43 PM

Gotta be one of the most photogenic cities on the planet!

Manitopiaaa · January 22nd, 2012, 11:50 PM

Hellospank, these pictures are absolutely stunning!!! Wow, what great shots. Kudos to you. Havana is an absolute gem. I actually think the rundown, gritty nature of the city is part of it's charm. Havana is a real city. It's not a city for show. It's grandness comes from it's raw vibrancy and colonial beauty. It's a stunner. Hopefully, the embargo can end soon so Americans can go visit

minneapolis-uptown · January 23rd, 2012, 04:43 AM

I LOVE Cuba!!!! I really want to go back but it is extremely expensive for americans because we have to pay for this whole week-long "cultural learning tour" or whatever to even be able to visit.

Ulpia-Serdica · January 23rd, 2012, 08:38 AM

The old town looks gorgeous! Imagine if all those buildings get renovated

hellospank25 · January 23rd, 2012, 10:05 AM

image hosted on flickr

Old Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

DanielFigFoz · January 23rd, 2012, 07:10 PM

Lovely!

Cov Boy · January 23rd, 2012, 11:47 PM

Nice pics!

Is it safe for tourists from Europe to visit Havana & Cuba in general?

January 20th, 2012, 11:51 AM	#1
hellospank25 The voice of reason Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: მელბურნი Posts: 2,783 Likes (Received): 222	My trip to Havana - Cuba I went to Havana for 3 days as part of my round the world trip in early January. I arrived on an Air Canada flight from Toronto and the weather was fantastic for the whole time I was there (sunny with max temperature of 25 Celsius during the day and minimum of 18 Celsius during the night) Getting through customs/immigration at the airport was quick and easy and then I got a taxi to get to the city centre which costed about CUC 30 ($ 35). Cuba is a fairly expensive country for tourists but I was happy to pay because tourism is an important source of income for the country which still has to deal with the despicable trade embargo imposed on them by the USA I stayed in what they call "casa particular" or private house which is basically people renting out rooms to tourists which is a great alternative to staying in a hotel if you want to save a bit of money. The casa particular where I was staying was fantastic as it was located on the 9th floor of a building and it has penthouse views all around and I only paid CUC 35 per night which is a bargain when you compare it to the CUC 150-200 that you would pay if you stay in a full service hotel Despite the poor state of the infrastructure in Cuba I really had a nice time going out and about, mingling with locals, sitting around having a coffee or just observing daily life in Havana go by. Due to the lack of modern technology such as internet, cable tv, playstation and all the rest... most people go out a lot to socialize and there is a greater sense of community image hosted on flickr Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Havana at sunset by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr old car in Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr An old car in Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Malecón by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Malecón by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr A mural in Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Old Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Havana sunset by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Coco Taxis by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr __________________ Next trips June 2013 Fiji-Auckland December 2013 Dubai - Tbilisi - Malta - Catania - Florence - Zagreb - Dubrovnik - Singapore Click here =>MyFlickR

January 20th, 2012, 08:44 PM	#3
Nightsky Illustrator Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Malmö Posts: 3,604 Likes (Received): 53	Nice city with all these old classic cars! The last one looks postcard like. __________________ Dark as the day, light as the night Website about my travels and buildings in USA and Europe -many cool pics: http://www.worldtravelimages.net All my diagram drawings - more than 700!: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?14670510 My latest drawings: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?14670500

January 21st, 2012, 12:08 AM	#4
hellospank25 The voice of reason Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: მელბურნი Posts: 2,783 Likes (Received): 222	image hosted on flickr El Capitolio by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr __________________ Next trips June 2013 Fiji-Auckland December 2013 Dubai - Tbilisi - Malta - Catania - Florence - Zagreb - Dubrovnik - Singapore Click here =>MyFlickR

January 21st, 2012, 03:56 AM	#7
Linguine leisure cook Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bacolod Uptown East Posts: 10,220 Likes (Received): 1502	great new thread for Havana, a really interesting ang fascinating city almost frozen in the 1950's and 60's time....thanks for the wonderful photos. __________________ *Bacolod:* "Culinary destination par excellence"

January 21st, 2012, 04:26 AM	#8
JoseRodolfo NON DVCOR DVCO Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: São Paulo - Brasil Posts: 4,339 Likes (Received): 35	Hermosa!! __________________ _________ Faça parte do movimento de defesa do Patrimônio Histórico de São Paulo, entre para o Preserva São Paulo: http://www.preservasp.org.br/

January 20th, 2012, 03:50 PM	#2
skymantle Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 630 Likes (Received): 67	Magnificent. Havana is a dream location for me, I'm envious. Cuba's not often featured on these forums, so well done. Great colour and composition in your pics too.

January 21st, 2012, 12:30 AM	#5
guille_89uy BANNED Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Barcelona (Catalunya) Posts: 2,038 Likes (Received): 0	Bravo!

January 21st, 2012, 03:08 AM	#6
alexander2000 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 294 Likes (Received): 22	great! I love those 40's and 50's vintage automobiles.

January 21st, 2012, 05:06 AM	#9
el palmesano El palmesano Join Date: May 2006 Location: Palma(Mallorca) y Montevideo Posts: 32,684 Likes (Received): 729	lovely city!! __________________ Visit the threads: Montevideo!!! Beautiful unknown city, capital of Uruguay Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, one of the capitals of the Canary Islands

January 22nd, 2012, 02:43 AM	#10
hellospank25 The voice of reason Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: მელბურნი Posts: 2,783 Likes (Received): 222	image hosted on flickr Havana old square by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Hotel Inglaterra by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Old cars in Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr __________________ Next trips June 2013 Fiji-Auckland December 2013 Dubai - Tbilisi - Malta - Catania - Florence - Zagreb - Dubrovnik - Singapore Click here =>MyFlickR

January 22nd, 2012, 10:00 AM	#11
*christos-greece* Moderator! Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 73,578 Likes (Received): 5156	Awesome, great shots from Havana, Cuba __________________ Urban Showcase: Athens Kalamata Trikala Thessaloniki Cityscapes: Paris Barcelona Dubai, U.A.E. Monte Carlo, Monaco General photography: Castles of France - Chateau de France and, since May of '08: Greece!

January 22nd, 2012, 09:19 PM	#12
Rombi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Gdynia Posts: 573 Likes (Received): 45	Havana is my "must be there" No.1 __________________ Podróżować znaczy żyć. A w każdym razie żyć podwójnie, potrójnie, wielokrotnie. Andrzej Stasiuk

January 22nd, 2012, 11:36 PM	#13
0scart Salta - Argentina Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Aquí y ahora Posts: 2,125 Likes (Received): 80	Such beautiful yet run-down architecture!!! It's a pity it looks like that. I hope things change for the best. __________________ ''Haber'' es un verbo, ''A ver'' es mirar, ''haver'' no existe. ''Hay'' es haber, ''Ahí'' es un lugar, ''Ay'' es una exclamación y ''ahy'' no existe. “Haya” es haber, “Halla” es encontrar, “Allá” es un lugar, ''haiga'' no existe. ''Iba'' es de ir, ''Iva'' es un impuesto, e ''Hiba'' es un nombre árabe.''Valla'' es un cartel grande, ''Vaya'' es ir y ''Baya'' es un fruto. Créditos a su autor/a.

January 22nd, 2012, 11:43 PM	#14
juanico Daily Commuter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Paris Posts: 1,148 Likes (Received): 0	Gotta be one of the most photogenic cities on the planet!

January 22nd, 2012, 11:50 PM	#15
Manitopiaaa Illuminati Leader Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain - Panama City, Panama - Tulsa, OK, United States of America Posts: 1,804 Likes (Received): 455	Hellospank, these pictures are absolutely stunning!!! Wow, what great shots. Kudos to you. Havana is an absolute gem. I actually think the rundown, gritty nature of the city is part of it's charm. Havana is a real city. It's not a city for show. It's grandness comes from it's raw vibrancy and colonial beauty. It's a stunner. Hopefully, the embargo can end soon so Americans can go visit __________________ "The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." -John Kenneth Galbraith

January 23rd, 2012, 04:43 AM	#16
minneapolis-uptown Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 804 Likes (Received): 1	I LOVE Cuba!!!! I really want to go back but it is extremely expensive for americans because we have to pay for this whole week-long "cultural learning tour" or whatever to even be able to visit.

January 23rd, 2012, 08:38 AM	#17
Ulpia-Serdica Si vis pacem, para bellum Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 6,114 Likes (Received): 625	The old town looks gorgeous! Imagine if all those buildings get renovated __________________ THIS IS BULGARIA - Treasures of Bulgaria -ТОВА Е БЪЛГАРИЯ VISIT BULGARIA - Official Tourism Portal SOFIA \| Ancient Cultural & Communicational Complex Serdica SOFIA \| Projects & Construction SOFIA \| Metropolitan System

January 23rd, 2012, 10:05 AM	#18
hellospank25 The voice of reason Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: მელბურნი Posts: 2,783 Likes (Received): 222	image hosted on flickr Old Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Old Havana by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Havana street scene by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr __________________ Next trips June 2013 Fiji-Auckland December 2013 Dubai - Tbilisi - Malta - Catania - Florence - Zagreb - Dubrovnik - Singapore Click here =>MyFlickR

January 23rd, 2012, 07:10 PM	#19
DanielFigFoz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Figueira da Foz / London Posts: 3,872 Likes (Received): 149	Lovely!

January 23rd, 2012, 11:47 PM	#20
Cov Boy Cov Boy Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Coventry UK Posts: 4,084 Likes (Received): 2	Nice pics! Is it safe for tourists from Europe to visit Havana & Cuba in general?

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