Vibrant Cuba in pictures Posted on 19 March 2019 Tags:Cuba, Havana The mention of the Caribbean island nation of Cuba conjures up thoughts of cigars, 1950’s vintage cars, the colourful colonial buildings of Havana, and vibrant Latin-American music. Here are some images that may entice you to visit or at least live vicariously. Cars Cuba’s fleet of American cars from the 1940s and 50s make it appear as if time has frozen on the island. The presence of these gorgeous old vehicles is thanks to former dictator Fidel Castro’s ban on imported vehicles after the 1959 Cuban revolution. Cubans had to resort to tinkering and fitting a hodgepodge of parts to keep these old cars going. Many of them are taxis, called máquinas (machines), although Fidel’s brother President Raúl Castro lifted the ban on vehicle imports at the end of 2013 and so the vehicular landscape is set to change over time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🛫Josua’s Travel Blog🛬 (@traveldistrict83) on Dec 14, 2018 at 5:08pm PST View this post on Instagram Havana #cuba #oldcar #havana #explorecuba #travel #roadtrip #havanacity #colorhouse #flag #street #streetart #travelstoke #travelmore #exploremore #amazingplaces #city #cubanlife #bestcountry #visitcuba #havanavieja #chevrolet #cubacars #oldhouse #wanderlust #neverstopexploring #cubatravel #colorful #travelholic #streetphotography A post shared by Soizic (@soizicbrouillard) on Dec 23, 2018 at 12:00pm PST View this post on Instagram #cuba #kuba #oldcar #oldtimer #carshooting #beach #beachshooting #luckybreakphotography #cubacars #hobbyfotografie #hobbyfotograf #photooftheday #holiday #urlaub #oldcars A post shared by Jörg Jörgensen (@joerg_luckybreakphotography) on Mar 18, 2019 at 5:20pm PDT Cigars Although smoking is a dangerous occupation, there’s no denying that there’s something charming about seeing Cuban cigars in Cuba. Whether you choose to partake or just watch and photograph those who do light up, they’re worth looking out for. View this post on Instagram I hear what you saying, but I just had to try it for myself. #cubancigar #habana #cuba #travel #happybirthday to me! A post shared by LeAndrea (@leandreasluxelife) on Mar 19, 2019 at 12:54am PDT View this post on Instagram #hoyodemonterrey #hoyodemonterreylehoyodesanjuan #rancholosmkks #bosque #habano #habanos #habanoslover #habanosweek #habanosespecialist #cuba #cigarcuba #puro #purocubano #cigarphotography #cigar #cigarette #cigaroftheday #cigaraficionado #cigarsociety #cigars #cigarstyle #cigarsnob #cigarworld #cigarpic #cigarlife #cigarlifestyle #cigarporn #cigarlover #blendtabacco #cigartmx A post shared by Cigartmx (@cigartmx) on Oct 1, 2018 at 3:44am PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rimღ 🇺🇸 (@rimi.seo) on Mar 19, 2019 at 12:37am PDT Colour Buildings painted in typical ice-cream coloured hues, bright floral dresses and shiny hand-polished vehicles are just some of what makes this country vibrant and so fantastic to photograph. View this post on Instagram Cienfuegos, Cuba . 📸 by @blondie_brunette_trips . #cuba🇨🇺 #tourvirtual #cubapordentro #aircenturyrd #lahabana #cienfuegos #cultura #historia #tours #travel A post shared by YulnaraGD 🇨🇺 (@cubapordentro) on Mar 18, 2019 at 1:14pm PDT View this post on Instagram 🌺ANA IN CUBA🌺 …we actually can’t get enough of this colour palette, that dress, that girl 😍 Ana dancing in the streets of Cuba in ~AMALFI MAXI~ // Shop new arrivals x A post shared by Salty Crush (@salty_crush_aus) on May 1, 2018 at 2:16pm PDT View this post on Instagram 🆕 Get also inspired by: @france.vacations & @paris.vacations 📷 Picture by: @juggernaut1 ≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔ 📍Location: #havana #cuba 🔎 Chosen by: @toinou1375 ≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔≕≔ #⃣ Tag your pictures with: #americas_vacations A post shared by Americas Vacations (@americas.vacations) on Mar 18, 2019 at 6:45am PDT Buildings The De Valle Palace, or Palicio De Valle, is a beautiful building on the coast at Cienfuegos (that translates to ‘one hundred fires’) built by Italian architect Alfredo Colli from 1913-17. It draws its inspiration from various sources including Spanish-Moorish, Romanesque and Baroque architecture. The historic building houses a restaurant and a rooftop bar, which is perfect for having sundowners on. View this post on Instagram Cienfuegos in #cuba literally translates to “one hundred fires”🔥or if you like “Pearl of the South” has become one of the most outstanding regions of the country. The jewel of #cienfuegos is the overwhelming building of #palaciodevalle (what a stunner btw!) built by the #italian #architect Alfredo Colli and finally owned by the dealer Don Acisclo del Valle – not bad for an owner of several #sugarcane plantations right?🤗 . . #cuba🇨🇺 #architectures #building_shotz #memories #sheisnotlost #travelgram #thatwasfun #wannagoback #visitcuba #moorish #architecturelovers #podroże #vitaminr A post shared by Marta (@marta_choj) on Jun 11, 2018 at 1:10pm PDT The interior of the De Valle Palace restaurant. View this post on Instagram ¿Qué nos dices de una cena especial en un castillo de encaje? #PalacioDeValle #Cienfuegos #CienfuegosCuba #arquitectura #restaurantes #MeliaCuba #Cuba A post shared by Melia Hotels Cuba (@melia_cuba) on Feb 12, 2019 at 7:51am PST The old buildings in Havana are a little shabby, but charming nonetheless. View this post on Instagram Havana❤ #memories #travel #explore #sky #clouds #cuba #havana A post shared by Sunčica Tvrdorjeka (@sunce_t) on Mar 19, 2019 at 12:28am PDT View this post on Instagram Catedral ⛪️ de San Cristobal in Havana🇨🇺 . 📸:🙋🏽♂️ . . #memories_are_made_of_this #cuba #cubana #cubalibre #cuban #habana #lahabana #havanna #havana #laplaza #bluesky #cathedral #island #latinamerica #placedelarepublique #cheguevara #johnlennon #fidelcastro #cigar #cigarcuba #oldtimerscuba #oldtimer #travel #exploring #globetrotter #colors #streets A post shared by 🛫Josua’s Travel Blog🛬 (@traveldistrict83) on Dec 24, 2018 at 3:53am PST View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hip Havana 🇨🇺 (@hiphavana) on Sep 22, 2018 at 6:27am PDT John Lennon and more… You may be surprised to discover that there is a statue of John Leonon in Havana. The Beatles’ music was banned in communist Cuba, but Fidel Casto had it erected in 2000 twenty years after John Lennon’s death. He commented, ‘What makes him great in my eyes is his thinking, his ideas,’ he said. ‘I share his dreams completely. I too am a dreamer who has seen his dreams turn into reality.’ View this post on Instagram “Imagine all the people living life in peace…” ~ John Lennon (1940-1980) Today it’s 38 years ago that John Lennon was shot in front of his apartment in New York. This statue of John Lennon is found in the John Lennon Park in Havana. In the sixties the Beatles’ music was banned in communist Cuba, but the Cubans who wanted to experience the rock ‘n roll evolution listened to smuggled tape recordings. 🌎 Havana, Cuba 🇨🇺 • • • #havana #havanacuba #lahabanavieja #cuba #johnlennonpark #parquejohnlennon #johnlennoncuba #thebeatles #johnlennonmemorial #johnlennonstatue #johnlennonquote #travelphotography #travelphoto #wanderlust #explorecuba #discovercuba #visitcuba #iphonephotography #iphonephoto #photoblog #cubatravel #cubatrip #lahabana #johnlennonforever #cubaphoto #cubaphotography #travelholic #travelstories A post shared by Walter van Zwienen (@waltergraph) on Dec 8, 2018 at 9:07am PST The people of Cuba are known for their friendly disposition. View this post on Instagram . The power of a beautiful hug, Cuba. . I think most of us could use some form of a good hug right now. Here, a husband and wife, Raul and Mercedes, hug each other during a celebration in Pogolotti, Cuba, on Saturday. On this Tuesday morning I send out a big, warm, collective hug to all. . © Peter Turnley, Pogolotti, Cuba, March 16, 2019 . . A post shared by Peter Turnley (@peterturnley) on Mar 19, 2019 at 1:04am PDT When visitng Cuba, don’t miss out on the beautiful Varadero Beach. View this post on Instagram 🏝@_varaderobeach 🏖 Vía: @slandam 📸 〰️ Varadero, Cuba 🇨🇺 📍 #varadero #varaderocuba #matanzas #lahabana #habana #havana #varaderobeach #varadero🇨🇺☀️🌊🌴 #Cuba #cuban #🇨🇺 #🏝 #ig_cuba #visitcuba #cuban #cubano #cubalibre #igerscuba #cubanlife #visitcuba #instacuba #caribbean #lovecuba A post shared by Varadero Beach (@_varaderobeach) on Mar 4, 2019 at 7:42am PST Getting there It takes between 20 and 30 hours to fly to Cuba from Johannesburg and you can fly there via Europe, the USA or South America. South African passport holders will need a visa for the States and on arrival you’ll need to organise a visa for Cuba. This reportedly can take two to three hours, so plan your connecting flights accordingly. If you are flying via Europe or South America, you can organise your Cuban visa (which they call a tourist card) from South Africa. You could also fly to the USA and then board a Caribbean cruise that visits Cuba, such as those offered by MSC. For more info on visas contact: Cuban embassy in Pretoria (012-346-2215) Musicians in Havana, Cuba. Image credit: Ban Yido/Unsplash Related Posts Rahiem Johnson: Why representation in travel matters 27 March 2023 Founded by Rahiem Johnson, Tray Table Seat Back is a Black-owned travel business that aims... read more 7 great spots to picnic near Cape Town 1 November 2022 Looking for somewhere to kick your feet up and embrace the warm days in Cape... read more 6 best beach campsites in SA 14 June 2022 From bucket-and-spade seaside spots to rugged and remote coastal coves, we’ve got your camping weekends covered.... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
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