The old city of Havana, Cuba

*WS 142 - – the old city of Havana, Cuba*

The old city, called Habana Vieja, is the largest colonial city in the whole of Latin America, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We were here in 2013. Cuba is still a poor and undeveloped country because of no FDI, largely due to the US trade embargo.

Shown 2 squares here: Plaza Vieja and Plaza de San Francisco, both so deserted. Next the hall of the Basilica San Francisco de Assisi, now converted into a concert hall: communism not totally comfortable with organised religion. And children running in the pedestrian-only boulevard Paseo del Prado. 

Next: street murals at the Callejon de Hamel and a table inside the café Bodeguita del Medio whose former customers include many foreign heads of state. One product Cuba is world famous is the Cuban cigar, shown a very cute display toy set of workers producing the cigar. And musical bands at every corner playing the universal “Guantanamera”.

Now the truly unique Cuban sight: American classic cars. After the US started their trade embargo in 1960, no new American cars could come in. So the pre-1960 cars became classics. Many are now fitted with new engines. Only the body is original.