Wandering the Streets of Havana

Photo Feature by Irina Pino

HAVANA TIMES – When walking down the street, it’s almost impossible not to see a landscape of decay. Everything has transformed into hopelessness. The surroundings are hostile, with broken sidewalks, trash bins overflowing at corners —sometimes with garbage scattered on the ground— or sewage water that must be avoided to arrive clean at our destination.

“The street is hard” is a popular phrase that reflects the current situation. It’s all-encompassing, where only a few manage to rise above it.

Since the last hurricane, little has returned to normal. In many areas of Vedado —a neighborhood highly regarded for its beautiful residences and tree-lined streets— issues with water supply persist, ongoing for months now. The same is happening in Alamar. People are paying exorbitant prices for water trucks to fill the apartment building cisterns, ensuring access to this essential resource for life.

And why even mention the prices at agricultural markets and private stores, draining money from the population like modern vampires? The other day, I saw that a pound of lemons costs 400 pesos. Vitamin C now equals a precious metal.

When I go to the market to buy root vegetables, fruits, and greens, I have to walk to Vedado, as the markets in my municipality are more expensive and farther away. This means crossing the 5th Avenue tunnel, which was recently restored —or rather, repainted blue and slightly patched up. Inside, there was graffiti, the kind that are abundant throughout the city. However, on the Miramar side, sewage water and the accompanying stench remain. I have no choice but to hold my breath as I pass through.

Walking along Línea Street, I notice an elderly woman, probably close to 80. She has a broom and dustpan and dedicates herself to sweeping the sidewalk daily. I assume this is her first task of the day. Perhaps it’s her way of clearing away all the negativity around her. Sweeping away filth could also mean a form of spiritual cleansing.

Another woman also catches my attention. She sits daily on a doorstep near the store on 18th Street, just outside the tunnel. Always dressed neatly, she wears an expression of nostalgia, her gaze lost in the distance. Is she reminiscing about her youth or better times in Cuba?

One thing that remains intact is our malecón, where fishermen position themselves, hoping for a gift from the sea to feed their families.

Street photography has become a habit. I think it serves as an important gauge of what’s happening in a country.

See more photo features here on Havana Times.

20 thoughts on “Wandering the Streets of Havana”

  • The Cuban government reminds me of an owl. An owl is a bird who lays it’s eggs in another other birds nest for them to raise their young.
    I feel that’s what the Cuban government is doing right now. It is expecting the outside world to take care of its responsibility…..

  • I love the friendly people of Cuba, the music, fresh fruits and vegetables.
    I enjoy the beautiful beaches and feel safe walking the streets alone during the day and at night.
    I have visited twelve times for 1to 2 months and I plan to return.

  • The Cuban people in the island must tell their leaders that the path they are following is not taking the people and the Country to prosperity. They have to tell the government officials that.

  • Stop the embargo’s and negotiate in good faith new economic reforms for this beautiful city and country….what is the United States so worried about?

  • It’s November 22 and there are shortages yes I’m in the south outside Holguin on the north coast and the resort is holding back supplies to entertain the elite who have come here for a hotel anniversary. Yet the locals get nothing to eat the hotel workers need to steal to survive ! Who tells them this ? Shareholders and the upper crust BASTARDS ALL OF THEM ! These patrons are the same as the Cubans working class men and women only difference is they are suppressed from the real world tourists enjoy and governments impose . Pathetic in my eyes PATHETIC !!!

  • It breaks my heart to read this article!

  • Cuban people are some of the most wonderful people in the world that don’t deserve a life like this . Unfortunately there is only 1 solution . You need someone’s help outside of your country to give you the financial help needed to escape this HELL they call Cuba . I have personally helped 4 people escape to United States.

  • It is so sad. The world is oblivious to the plight of these beautiful cuban people. Unfortunately the sanctions and embargos by the usa are preventing basic necessities entering and any hope of recovery is further hampered by a govt who obviously do not care.
    The aid organisations should realise the plight of these people

  • I’m too upset to leave a comment.

  • The United States of America is using Starvation as a weapon against the Cuban people. That is GENOCIDE.
    Huracain after huracain no country, nobody help Cuba.
    By the contrary, America imposed more and more sanctions against the people. Cuba is in the black list of terrorist countries, tell me which act of terrorism has Cuba committed?

  • Cuba is a basket case run by corrupt officials from the top down. Those fossilised who make up the senior ranks are useless and afraid of their own regime.
    It was OK when Fidel Castrio was involved in the drugs trade using Cuba as a platform to exchange sacks of white powder in the Florida Straits for sackloads of cash. Castro Inc. became cash rich with

    It’s a great pity that the Cuban regime are so corrupt. Castro Inc. made a lot of money in the drugs trade using Cuba as a platform and boats in the Florida Straits, a sack of white powder for a sack of cash. Hard currency from the drug trade and tourism being transported on Iberia Airlines as diplomatic cargo and finally arriving in the UBS bank, Zürich. Uncut diamonds in Angola in exchange for supporting the war there.
    They don’t give a thought to the population who are held down by an efficient state security system and running scared.
    However, now is the opportunity to take to the streets all at once to protest.
    Planes are already fuelled up 24/7 in case the top officials have to escape to Venezuela.
    Beautiful island screwed up by ideology and plain theft.

  • When my family and I left Cuba just after the communist takeover, it was a first-world country, one of the most prosperous in the western hemisphere. There was a thriving middle class. I’m told Havana’s streets could be mistaken for those in any US or European capital. Six decades later we see what Marxist totalitarianism brings. Tragic.

  • Tourism is in the toilet and will not save Cuba nor is it a viable revenue stream. Cuba has run out of options and no one is standing in the wings anymore to fly in and save the island, not the Chinese not the Russians, no one ,the communist experiment is a proven flop and Cuba is the latest example/victim.

  • Sad

  • We visited Cuba more than 10 times in the past. The fondest memories for our family are those of meeting and interacting with Cuban people. So full of life and joy in spite of poverty, generational hardships that are for us westerners, unimaginable to comprehend. Sadly, we decided to cancel our upcoming visit as we couldn’t bear to watch what’s happening in this beautiful country now. People are going to bed hungry. Please write to your local politicians, something has to change!

  • Capatilisim doesn’t work and I earn a lot of money work 7 days aweek but for the people of this world Capatilisim is for the very rich and companies who don’t care about people there’s a story that a wise man told me the man who works for the sewer company is as important as the billionaire because we all have to flush are toilets and that’s what people don’t think about

  • I have been to Cuba four times and intend to go again in February. I have seen the poverty I have seen the garbage. I have seen the faces of these precious Cubans. Their faces are filled with peace and glory, their mouth is full of praise and Thanksgiving. Their hearts are filled with the love of Jesus. And even in there now worst distress the answer is the same. Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations and trials. Know, that God will provide His substance. But even if it doesn’t come, like the 3 men Soon to be thrown into the Firey furnace of Daniel’s day, we will continue to praise Him, and never bow our knee to the assaults of the devil. My mother died with cancer praising Jesus, but never giving the devil any Glory nor power whatsoever. She said what was happening to her, is NOT HAPPENING TO HER IT IS HAPPENING TO JESUS IN HER. Know that the true substance OF God is His peace, His love, and His glorious Presence. Provision is on its way!

  • Your story confirms what my girlfriend tells me, how impossible her life there is. Fortunately, she hopes to fly out of Havana soon.

  • So sad as I have such fond memories of my very happy holidays spent in La Habana and rural Cuba !!

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