Cuba has a fascinating history and its political and social situation make it a very special place in the Americas. I wanted to travel to Cuba since I was a teenager. I have never been interested in going to the resorts, like many Canadians do. I wanted to go where I could see the “real Cuba”, not the touristic one. I wanted to see what Havana was like when not on a postcard and, concretely, what was life like on this communist island so close yet isolated from the USA. Unfortunately, this trip dates back from a couple of years ago, so I don’t remember all the streets names. Don’t hesistate to correct me in the comment section if you know Havana well and you noticed that I misnamed a place.
Paseo de Martí
Calle del Obispo, one of the most touristic street in Havana
A beautiful square, close to Calle del Obispo
Parque Central, with taxi drivers waiting for tourists
We took one of those taxis because, like many tourists, we wanted to ride one of those beautiful and classic cars. The driver was an engineer. He attended school for free but working as a taxi driver was far more lucrative. We also talked to the lady collecting the tickets on the tourist bus and she told us that she was actually a professor. But collecting the bus ticket paid more than teaching.In fact, as we learned by talking to Cuban people, any job related to tourism was far more profitable than any other kind of job.
Calle del Obispo
Calle Amargura
Tourists and workers, Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas
Central Havana, a few minutes walk from the touristic center
Central Havana
Central Havana, close to Plaza de Armas
Playas del Este, the closest beaches to Havana
Cuban people playing sports next to the beach, Playas del Este
The view on Habana when we arrive from las Playas del Este
Portrait of Ernesto Che Guevara, Plaza de la Revolución
Portrait of Fidel Castro, Plaza de la Revolución
Taxi drivers waiting for the tourists, Plaza de la Revolución
Central Havana
Tourists and Cuban people, watching each other
Central Havana
Paseo de Martí
Central Havana
Central Havana
El Malecón
El Malecón
El Malecón
El Malecón
El Malecón
El Malecón
Statue of José Martí, El Malecón
Memorial of emblematic figures of the history of Cuba
Central Havana
Central Havana
Central Havana
Central Havana
Postcard vision of Cuba, Playas del Este
