Cuba 42 - Vedado

[Beagletorque]

Havana is a vast sprawling metropolis and home to some 2 million Cubans. We stayed in Old Havana and many of my snaps are from there and have therefore been most prevalent in my posts. Well now it's the Vedado's time to shine.
Old Havana is typically colonial type buildings with very narrow roads and a crumbling look to it. Stretching out from there eastwards between the Capitolio and roughly the Plaza de la Revolucion is Central Havana and from there up as far as the Almendares river is the Vedado. The streets are generally wider and greener and the building more modern and a mix of towers and low rise. This is not an exhaustive study of the Vedado, but obviously gives a slightly different slant on Havana compared to the Old City. The righthand side of the Malecon Panorama http://e-group.uk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=37419 shows where the Vedado meets the sea. Old Havana stops at the scaffolded Capitol Building the other portion is "Centro".

6 lane super highway Calle 9 "Linea"



Hitching is the norm.



The Fox and Crow Jazz Club.



Apartments.





Wide Boulevard



Leafy.



Same old cars!



Looking grand.



Almost modern!



Much of the Vedado from the top of the Fosca Building. The American "Special Interests Building is on the right behind all the flagpoles.

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

WoW another great set of images and narrative on Cuba Thanks for Sharing I feel as if I visited

It is amazing how all those very old cars are still going ? I guess the mechanical bits are still old/basic and no computer chips, so easy to self maintain and lots of room under the hood to get at the bit needing fixing unlike modern cars

[Beagletorque]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

WoW another great set of images and narrative on Cuba Thanks for Sharing I feel as if I visited

It is amazing how all those very old cars are still going ? I guess the mechanical bits are still old/basic and no computer chips, so easy to self maintain and lots of room under the hood to get at the bit needing fixing unlike modern cars

Thanks Chevvy. Many of the Yank motors now have diesel engines and I'm sure quite a hotch potch of parts. Some of the really nice ones are still very original though, not sure how they manage it!

[Zuiko]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

Very different from Old Havana but still the same air of run-down neglect - and simply oozing character!

[KeithL]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

Sure looks run down and unmaintained. And I was wondering where our old phone box went to!

Overall looks surprisingly like San Saranda in Albania. Same style buildings, same air of poverty and decrepitude.

Interesting!

[Guest]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

If only the Cubans realised it, those classic cars they drive could easily be traded for modern SUVs with possibly a fistful of extra dollars in hand ! I would not be surprised if the American vintage car buffs started doing deals to get them back.

A great glimpse of this section of 'Downtown Vedado" Andrew!

Edit: In the last shot I see your request for a window seat in or out of Vedado was successful ... fantastic aerial shot

[Beagletorque]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

If only the Cubans realised it, those classic cars they drive could easily be traded for modern SUVs with possibly a fistful of extra dollars in hand ! I would not be surprised if the American vintage car buffs started doing deals to get them back.

A great glimpse of this section of 'Downtown Vedado" Andrew!

Edit: In the last shot I see your request for a window seat in or out of Vedado was successful ... fantastic aerial shot

Thanks Mark.
The Cubans do know the value of their classic cars but there is an export ban on them (and a lot of other stuff too)! This may change in time.....

I don't rate the Cuban window cleaner though!

[KeithL]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

I do like the Stalinist Gothic building in the middle of all that architectural tat!

BTW - which is the US SI Building behind the flagpoles? Over by the sea shore?

What does puzzle me is why the government doesn't maintain and repair all these buildings that are so decrepit. The people may not have money - but I'll bet the govt does! And some people obviously do too, judging by the new windows on the top balcony of the second block of flats in #4. New windows in a building that looks so mucky and run down. Bizarre!

[Beagletorque]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

It is the block with shiny windows just to the left of the flagpoles.

[KeithL]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

It is the block with shiny windows just to the left of the flagpoles.

That's the one I thought it was, but then I thought "those can't be flagpoles, surely?"
Thanks

[Beagletorque]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

It is a lot of flag poles! Prior to the latest understanding they were used to taunt the US, along with parades and demonstrations in the section in front of the poles. The US responded by showing uncensored TV programs and news from large screens in the upper windows!

[Beagletorque]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

我假设这是一件好事！

[Internaut]

Re: Cuba 42 - Vedado

Another great set, and a reminder as to why I ought to go to Cuba, before pepsification sets in.