Havana is a bit hard to put a finger on, as I can tell you things about it, but when you get there, you might
things have completely changed in the interim. Cuba can change on a dime, when the government wants it too.
Havana to me was like New York in the 1970´s - the worst and the best. Some one who doesn´t depend
on a normal job to support themselves there is going to have a better life there. Poverty is the norm
for the average worker, and government rules can sometimes be excessive for residents.
Along with Buenos Aires, I think Havana is architecturally one of the most attractive cities in the western
hemisphere. Some will vehemently disagree and prefer purely colonial or better kept up cities. Despite
a lot of crumbling facades, I was especially enamoured with Havana´s early 20th century architecture.
The main city is an almost unbastardized expanse untouched in 50 years. Many of their ways of
doing things are like going back in a time machine.
I spent most of my time living with Cubans, not in a hotel. I am glad I got to see the unsanitized version
of Havana. As Fidel said, we have the world´s best educated prostitiutes (much safer than Brazil
in that regard by the way. Cubans are terrified of harming a foreigner and going to jail, though men
will growl and try to intimidate some foreigners into giving them something.)
One of the highlights of Havana night life is the nightly gatherings starting at Cine Yara and moving
down the Malecon as the night goes on. Hundreds and hundreds gather with guitars, to hustle,
to socialize almost until daylight in some cases. If you glance for long at a man and wife strolling by,
they might well slow down, in a silent way of asking "which one of us would you like to hire?"
3 dollars (in the old days at least) would buy a bottle of rum and lots of companionship. If there
was extra money to buy cola (more expensive than rum), that was a bonus.
Habaneros can be especially adept at getting extra cash from foreigners. I once was sold
counterfeit "Habana Club" rum - the premium brand. When my landlady tasted it, she said
the label had obviously been switched. "Take it back and get them to give you real Habana
Club. Take Dalena with you. Dalena know´s Habana Club." Dalana was 11.
Havana´s a love it or hate it place, and I think it´s certainly unique.
things have completely changed in the interim. Cuba can change on a dime, when the government wants it too.
Havana to me was like New York in the 1970´s - the worst and the best. Some one who doesn´t depend
on a normal job to support themselves there is going to have a better life there. Poverty is the norm
for the average worker, and government rules can sometimes be excessive for residents.
Along with Buenos Aires, I think Havana is architecturally one of the most attractive cities in the western
hemisphere. Some will vehemently disagree and prefer purely colonial or better kept up cities. Despite
a lot of crumbling facades, I was especially enamoured with Havana´s early 20th century architecture.
The main city is an almost unbastardized expanse untouched in 50 years. Many of their ways of
doing things are like going back in a time machine.
I spent most of my time living with Cubans, not in a hotel. I am glad I got to see the unsanitized version
of Havana. As Fidel said, we have the world´s best educated prostitiutes (much safer than Brazil
in that regard by the way. Cubans are terrified of harming a foreigner and going to jail, though men
will growl and try to intimidate some foreigners into giving them something.)
One of the highlights of Havana night life is the nightly gatherings starting at Cine Yara and moving
down the Malecon as the night goes on. Hundreds and hundreds gather with guitars, to hustle,
to socialize almost until daylight in some cases. If you glance for long at a man and wife strolling by,
they might well slow down, in a silent way of asking "which one of us would you like to hire?"
3 dollars (in the old days at least) would buy a bottle of rum and lots of companionship. If there
was extra money to buy cola (more expensive than rum), that was a bonus.
Habaneros can be especially adept at getting extra cash from foreigners. I once was sold
counterfeit "Habana Club" rum - the premium brand. When my landlady tasted it, she said
the label had obviously been switched. "Take it back and get them to give you real Habana
Club. Take Dalena with you. Dalena know´s Habana Club." Dalana was 11.
Havana´s a love it or hate it place, and I think it´s certainly unique.
