Mi viaje a La Habana | My trip to Havana

[hellospank25]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Malecón by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

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

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Malecón by Piero Damiani (back home), on Flickr

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

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

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

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

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

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

[hellospank25]

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

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

[CF221]

You have almost captured the essence of Havana.. and that in itself is a great achievement. Your photos are amazingly beautiful, and the city is as well, regardless of its decrepit state. However, I must point out, and instruct you, as a Cuban, that the embargo is in itself not the main cause of the destruction which you witnessed. And I know it is hard to understand, but understand this: the majority of Cubans both inside and abroad are against the embargo, and it will have to go sooner or later, but right now it is being used by the dictatorship as an excuse to every single problem Cuba has had for the last 50 years, including the problems it had before the embargo even existed. And that is why more and more Cuban exiles are waking up to demand leaving the embargo as a thing of the past, for, mainly, it would deface the dictatorship which has so long oppresed their people back at home while always (and I mean, 24/7) screaming to the world that it is the only victim, through its media and propaganda.

I am not speaking on behalf of any government or political viewpoint, but only as a Cuban myself, a lover of freedom and justice, much of which has gone away for many years.

I will speak no more, for I understand that conflicting political viewpoints can ruin any thread, but it is only sensible for you to know, that if you really loved my country and its people as much as you did, then you might as well be a defender for them, one who argues for their welfare against even its own government (dictatorship in this case).

My Best Regards.

-Alex.

[hellospank25]

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

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

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

[gorkill]

Great photos. And a very interesting story. I look forward to continuing.

[hellospank25]

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

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

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

[wpolom]

''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."

And you don't find despicable a dictatorship of more than 53 years that has murdered and incarcerated thousands of people since January 1, 1959 for simply wanting a democratic government, freedom of expression and liberty?