Pentax K-1000
50mm f/1.7
December 26, 2006
Centro Habana
Havana is a photographer’s playground, especially if you like vintage automobiles. These aren’t show cars, either, they’re necessary forms of transportation in a country where it’s virtually impossible to buy a vehicle because of the import and ownership restrictions, and that’s before cost considerations! (The average Cuban salary is in the neighbourhood of US$20 per month.) These “Jurassics” as Cuban people call them are mostly holdovers from pre-Revolution days, before the U.S. embargo. There’s even a “Jurassic Park”, Parque de la Fraternidad south of the Capitolio, one of the more well-known hangouts for these dinosaurs.
Nothing goes to waste in Cuba, but especially not cars. Automobile maintenance is serious business here. When I show you the photos of the alternative — public transportation — you’ll see why…
Technorati tags: film photography, Cuba, vintage automobiles
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sigh…i’d really like to be able to go there.
As horridly whatever as this may sound, I’d rather have a Cuban mechanic working on my car than any other because those folks actually keep those cars running without the benefit of updated technologies and the latest in automobile parts. Imagine what they could’ve done with the old dying Geo!
I’d love to go to Cuba just to see all the classic cars.
Its crazy to imagine all those cars running without an ECU or any of the advanced electronic aids we’re so used to.