Today’s guest writer is Tracy Zhang, a 21-year-old travel photographer based in Vancouver, Canada.
When Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights opened at the theater near my house, the 14 year-old me begged my mother to go watch it with my friends. She refused.
Swept away by the passion between Katey and Javier and fueled by a sense of teenage rebellion, when I finally did watch the film on TV a year later I was determined to visit the Cuban capital one day.
Seven years later, I stepped off a plane in Cuba, anxious for the colonial architecture, opulent history, and exotic culture that the island had to offer. But when my taxi pulled up in front of the National Capitol building in Havana, I knew I had encountered something else altogether.
The affluent days of colonial power had long passed and the country’s depth of poverty oozed through the crumbling walls. Frequently, locals walked by me, whispering as they passed to ask if I was interested in buying cigars or rum. Once, a man asked me if I could give him soap from my hotel.
But despite the poverty, I felt a sense of energy – a liveliness long suppressed by the Cuban government. More than anything, I felt a happiness and joy. As I roamed the streets of Havana, music, dancing, and laughter filled the streets. Children played in the park after school; taxis drove by with the melodic sway of Caribbean music echoing out the window.
Eventually I did find the culture, history, and architecture that I was looking for. But it was this contrast of poverty and liveliness – the tug and pull between living through meager financial means and embracing life with opulent joy- that stood out the most in my mind.
The buildings may be in dire need of a paint job but the clothes, hung over balconies everywhere in Cuba, add a splash of color to Havana.
A man on a motorcycle stops in front of me in a narrow alley. A large Cuban flag hangs in the background, reminding me of the patriotic slogans I had seen painted on the side of the buildings.
Havana’s Chinatown is one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in Latin American. More than 150,000 Chinese people immigrated to the island as contract workers in the 1850s. However, most of them fled to the United States when the country’s political situation changed in 1959. As I walked around the area, I was the only person of visible Chinese descent.
A work yard filled with trains is open for tourists. The National Capitol can be seen in the background.
A girl hangs laundry out of an old building whose walls and doors have long faded in color. It’s not difficult to imagine what the building might have looked like in its former glory days.
A group of girls in uniform walks home after school.
Although this building suffered a roof fire, residents still manage to live inside the structure.
The National Capitol, named and modeled after the United States Capitol in Washington, was built in 1929. It is one of the few buildings in Havana that is not completely worn out and abandoned.
In Cathedral Square, a Roman Catholic Cathedral is one of the main attractions of Havana.
Two girls walk home carrying their Hannah Montana backpacks. Although the Cuba-US embargo is still in effect, American goods still find their way into the lives of Cubans, mainly through presents sent from relatives living in Florida.
A grandfather holds a child as he converses with a neighbor from his balcony.
The Artisans’ Market in Cuba is another popular tourist attraction in Havana. Here, the paintings capture Cuba’s vibrant past. The deep colors and free-form strokes convey a richness of Cuban life, beyond money and possession.
An old bus is parked on the side of the street. The public transportation system is a major problem in Cuba – buses are always full and never on time. Locals often resort to hitchhiking instead.
As I drove away from the city, I stopped to take one final look at the Havana. From the distance, the country’s economic situation is hidden beyond the beautiful facades of city’s skyline.
About the Writer
Guest writer Tracy Zhang
Tracy Zhang is an adventurous travel photographer who loves to capture the natural beauty of her destinations.
At age 21, Tracy has already lived on three continents and traveled to 25 countries, but she still finds time to relax in her quiet suburban home in Vancouver, British Columbia.
To see the world through Tracy’s lens, make sure to check out her blog, Just In Time Travels. You can also follow her adventures on Twitter at @tracyzhangphoto.
Have you been to Cuba?
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What colorful and vibrant pictures! I’ve never been to Cuba, but friends who have gone (and the post) have loved their visits there.
Thanks for the comment! I love Tracy’s photos of Cuba. It’s also on my wish list 🙂
Driving a ’57 Chevy in Cuba is on my bucket list. I want to go, but am conflicted by the feelings of my Cuban friends. They don’t like the idea of giving any money to the country that they left. They tell me that the majority of the money I’d spend in Cuba goes directly to the government. As an American, even if I could go right now, I’m not sure I would. YET. I guess I have a while to think about it. I love your photos and the stories behind them. Excellent job.
Interesting perspective! Up to this point most of the US visitors to Cuba have been Cuban-Americans, but the country is preparing for a boom in US tourists due to the looser regulations. It will be interesting to see how travel to Cuba changes as a result.
This is my own personal opinion.
I find the comment by Leah absolutely ridiculous. I’m in Southern California. Most people here would enjoy a high literacy rate and educational opportunities like they have in Cuba !!
Free education up to PHd level would be great !! more than a 50 percent or higher drop out rate in most California schools. Also infant mortality, or childbirth is equal in Cuba to that of the USA. In some cases even better. It is the best in Latin America and rates in the high teens or 20s among the world. Think of all the children and adults that would not be alive in Cuba today..in the tens of thousands, if it were not helping the poor deliver babies. We trade with China, Vietnam, and Russia even, but not Cuba?? You can also buy cigars and rum in any other country other than the USA. We already trade in agricultural products and travel there is legal now with some restrictions. If you can afford it, you can go to some exclusive travel agencies in the USA to Cuba. Or go illegally through a second country. How is one person not wanting to go to Cuba, going to stop years of belief in a system they want? There is a pride in Cuba in stopping mafia and american interests from engulfing the island. Americans before the Revolution use to go to Cuba to enjoy the prostitutes. Now all girls and women have an education, are doctors, and can do what in most countries would be unheard of. Ridiculous. Look at Cuban history..hundreds of years of slavery and a pawn of foreign powers. The Revolution gave them freedom. No system is perfect, but they don’t give money or influence to the mafia and american corporate interests that only benefitted the Americans while the poor starved and suffered, before 1959. I can buy cheap chinese beer and vietnameses products and even travel to those countries without anyone complaining from those lands that are now living in the USA,..but if I go to Cuba, the old people still in Florida hold a grudge. Give me a break. The people of Cuba suffer from the blockade along with the government !! Who do you think most Cubans work for down there? In a socialized system, they work for the government. You just hurt the Cuban people. lol
You should see the airport and the amount of goods people bring over for their fams. Insane.
A very interesting read with incredible photographs. Cuba is such an oddity in many ways and your pictures do a great job of highlighting the contrast.
I love the image of the school girls wearing Hannah Montana backpacks! Gorgeous photo essay of a city, that in many ways, remains a mystery to the larger world.
Agreed- the Hannah Montana backpacks are fascinating. I guess some aspects of American culture/entertainment come through!
I just love those old crumbly buildings.. so much character.. well done Tracy – you really captured the moment well!
More photos from Havana:
“See See Havana”
http://www.efn.org/~hkrieger/cuba.htm
I enjoyed your photos. I’m of Chinese descent and my great, great uncle was an indentured laborer in Cuba. I’ve often wondered what Barrio Chino was like back in it’s heyday. During my first few trips to Havana I would hear shouts of “Chino!” from all corners. Now, not so much. I’m not sure if it’s because there are more Asians visitors to the city or because of the crackdown on harassment of tourists.
If anyone is interested, follow me on Twitter @HabanosBrothers where I tweet a new photo of Havana daily.