Havana Walkabout

This Cuban city swallows you whole, depositing you right into its belly. The vibrance of the street life immerses you in its vitality; The people, the colours, the smells, the sounds, vibrate through you as you walk beneath the crumbling facades of once ornate balconies. Families beat the heat by living on the sidewalks, the social scene encompassing the passers-by as well. On the street, the shining flanks of brilliantly coloured 1950s automobiles, glide past, their occupants bouncing on leather to an unseen rhythm. The old sea wall, the Malecón, is witness to all walks of life as the sun sets over the ocean; musicians playing their instruments, children on rollerblades and skateboards, lovers entwined, babies in prams, families enjoying the cool evening sea breeze, tourists shooting their 'selfies' with the setting sun behind them, fishermen casting in hope, all with a smile of joy. In the heart of the city, official buildings and revolution monuments abound. Historical bars, tourist hotels, churches and the neo-classical cathedral, add weight to the pastel coloured apartments, either crumbing with age or being restored. This is a city in flux, attempting to rise above the years of neglect, fascinating, always worthwhile.