Every cloud has a silver lining - Havana : One way ticket to Paradise

Just a little push

Yes, I am in Havana. And yes, they are really here. The cars. The best 50-year (incidental) investment the Cubans have made? Thanks to the ingenious engineering and likewise ingenious the need-is-the-mother-of-invention maintenance to keep them running these motorized horse powers tirelessly have served their masters for the past 50 years as any four-legged ones would.

But times they are changin. And once the gates to Cuba began to crack open these frozen in time. mechanical wonders began to make history again and are today undergoing Renaissance together with the American automobile history – not in a museum but on the streets of Havana. For the best, the largest, the best-preserved collection of old American cars in the world is not rolling in the US of A but in Cuba.

and a bit of Rusian wire

A new coat of paint for the car, a cowboy hat for its owner and off they go into more lucrative business (and future?) – cruising tourists around Havana. And they are coming. In thousands. The Old Havana is jam-packed with tourists. The famous bars like Hemingway’s La Florida or La Bodeguita del Medio where the music plays loud and the rum flows in buckets begin to fill up first thing in the morning. And after a few shots who can say “NO” to a cruise in an old automobile? For 30 USD an hour. Cheaper if you know how to haggle. Or maybe more if you’re too drunk.

The options are endless. Any model, any year, any color. Wherever you look there they are, nicely lined up waiting for you. Just pick and choose. You cannot move a yard before you hear someone yelling at you “Taxi?”, “Taxi?”, “Taxi?” The competition is fierce. Not surprisingly they all want a piece of the cake. Nobody knows how long it (and it) will last.

Taxi Colectivo

In addition to the “new” old cars, the town is full of “old” old cars running as collective taxis. For 1 dollar (CUC – less if you pay in pesos) per head, you can get a ride to almost anywhere in town. Keep in mind though you may be reduced to a sardine as the driver tries to pack into the car as many passengers as only possible. And there is always room for another one. Then there are regular (official) yellow taxis, official yellow moped taxis and also cyclo taxis. In short, there is no shortage of wheels in Havana.

As this wasn’t enough there is no shortage of ‘other’ antico particularo. The type from the behind of previous iron curtain. Like Polish Polski Fiat or East German Trabant both of which get the same love and care as their American cousins. Look at that Fiat. It looks almost brand new.

Polski Fiat

East German Trabant

Nice, no?

Taxis, taxis, taxis

The sheer number of cars and the never-ending calls “Taxi?” felt a bit overwhelming in the beginning. Now I got used to the scene. Strange, how quickly we get used to things. Frozen in time yet after 50 long years of Cuban care (with some help of Russian wire) these old American automobiles are the main attraction for tourists and money making machines (?) for their owners. One ride a day can make all the difference.

So many cars yet so little traffic. No traffic jams. The Corniche by the sea is practically empty. Could it be fuel prices? I CUC (=USD) a litter. Is it much? No idea. But if this is all you make a day… I guess…

I have visited so many countries, yet visiting Cuba feels very special. So special that I wanted to share my first impressions right away. Imagine my frustration when I found out I couldn’t do it. No WiFi. Or rather no WiFi as the world knows it.

But this is a topic for my next post. Let’s hope I’ll succeed to upload this one first.

Welcome to Cuba.