Cuba 4

[Beagletorque]

There are many contradictions in Cuba. Around 50% of the population are employed in government jobs on a salary of $20 per month. Even the best Doctors and Surgeons only make $35 per month. This one of the reasons that well qualified English (and other foreign, to them, language) speaking professionals work 2nd jobs in the tourist industry. This is the Cuervo Y Sobrinos watch shop in Old Havana selling $4000-$8000 Swiss mechanismed Cuban watches which would take the best government paid professionals 10-20 years wages to buy, or in UK terms a million pound watch! I assume for this reason the shop was watched by these private armed security guards!

In the window ($4000)

[EvaWood]

Re: Cuba 4

I watched a doco about Cuba a few nights ago, it's a fascinating place of such contrasts.
Love these photos, and the others you have posted!

[Wally]

Re: Cuba 4

I've enjoyed each and every one of these you've shown so far.

It's almost like having your own time machine and, apart from the styles and colours of the buildings, the old cars etc., what strikes me most is the distinct lack of rubbish?

Not a fag/cigar end, piece of paper, can or bottle with the biggest surprise of all... not a rubbish bin in sight in any one of them?

Give Cuba a year or so, possibly much less,and it will look like any other foreign rubbish dump. These pictures of yours will be even more of a rarity if the inevitable is allowed to happen and that, will be the real shame.

[Beagletorque]

Re: Cuba 4

Unfortunately it is one big rubbish bin in Havana! It is a miracle no rubbish has appeared in the photos (yet!) indeed people just chuck stuff they no longer want into the street below and usually it is particularly disgusting stuff too.

[KeithL]

Re: Cuba 4

Those watches look great. (My other hobby is repairing watches and clocks) And that watch shop looks VERY prosperous. Something to do with the tourists, I guess...! Interesting series. Says "Swiss Made" on each dial...but I'll bet they are Chinese movements. Amateurs can't tell the difference - until they fail, long after they've gone home.

The company that makes most movements like this is called Liaoning; their movements are both very cheap, poorly finished, and very flimsy. The best Chinese movements are good: Tianjin Sea Gull. But they aren't usually in watches for the tourists! (TSG also make optical devices, and they aren't bad)

[Wally]

Re: Cuba 4

I've seen similar watches on display elsewhere... look great and at a price that's a steal. But, damnit! There's always a but, in that when the euohoria wears off, you realise the small dials don't work... they're for show only, just like the rest of the watch. As for it being a steal, it should read that there was a robbery and the victim was the buyer.