CUBA – ENCOUNTERS WITH SOCIALISM Part 1

Lat: 23 05.0N / Long: 082 30.1W

After four and a half days of sailing with light winds we reached Hemingway Marina 
located in the West of Havana early in the morning

At the marina’s entrance we were already expected by an Open air office and a 
four-hour clearing in process took its course

First the medical doctor came on board, after him came the dog for finding drugs- and explosives, then the veterinarian and the inspector of the agricultural department. After them came customs and the clearing in team.

Government officials in the cockpit

All were friendly – also the dog. The actual inspections of the boat were more than quick and superficial and as soon as the different parties were under deck they were happy to receive a drink and a gift…

 ...whereas the dog was more than content with a sausage

This wasn’t going to be our only meeting with socialism.

For the next day sightseeing was on our schedule and indeed Havana has lots to offer in that respect:

Discovered by Spain's “Official Island Discoverer'' Cristobal Columbus in 1492 and taken in the possession of the Spanish crown, Havana became New Spain's capital and main shipyard. For the period of eleven months the British had taken rule of Cuba. But they then traded it against parts of Florida, which at that time was in Spanish hands (which it is again nowadays)

In the late 18th to early 19th century, Cuba was the largest sugar-exporting nation. Witnesses of this prosperous period are the great palaces and boulevards built by the so-called "sugar barons'' in a neo-baroque style with marble floors and pillars. In the beginning of the 20th century, elaborate Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings were added to the majestic buildings.

Since 1982 many of the neglected and run-down buildings of Havana Vieja, the historical part of 500 years old Havana, are gradually being restored with funds from Unesco, which declared this part of town a World Heritage Site, and is now bringing back its former glory, making Havana the most pompous and worldly metropolitan than any other city in the Caribbean.

He was there before us

In the 1930s and 1940s amusement moved big style into the country with American millionaires, gamblers, Mafia gangsters and politicians who brought their money to Havana to enjoy what at home was prohibited: Alcohol, drugs, sex and gambling. Havana became the hotbed of the U.S.

A monumental witness to this era: The Hotel Nacional de Cuba. A meeting point of the mafia bosses and stars like Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner and Nat King Cole

Mobile witnesses of that past are the most beautiful American classic cars in candy colours, which still dominate the street scene in Havana today. These old beauties may be a joy to car freaks; to the Cubans they are harsh reality because they literally can’t afford to buy themselves a new one. Therefore every car driver is also a mechanic and the Oldtimers are kept going with motors of Russian cars or with spare parts of other car brands.

Plymouth 1957  & Ford Fairlane Convertible 1958

 Buick 1948 & Plymouth 1948

 Havana is the biggest car museum of the world - Ford Model T 1928

Buik 1958

We had great fun getting to know Cuba’s highly praised nightlife with its tempting musical rhythms. We visited the world famous Tropicana Nightclub. Hollywood stars of the 40ies and 50ies, American tourists and the Mafia enjoyed its shows and casino.

At the time there were direct flights from Miami, then directly to the casino and
back home the next morning

Together with our crew we had a great evening with Cuban music
in the style oft ‚Buena Vista Social Club’

The Cuban population is a mix of 40% White, 20% Black and 40% Mulattos.
The latter often quite appealing – therefore Gerhard had to pay five Dollars for this picture…

...when he ran out of money these two dames had to do, they only asked for two Dollars

When we asked to be brought to places where the Cubans go out for dinner and dancing we were told that there was no such thing, they simply don’t have enough money to do that. This is symptomatic for the island: When the victorious revolution led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara in 1959 put an end to the U.S. puppet regime of the dictator Batista and all foreign investors and many Cuban entrepreneurs were driven out, the country took a different course ... (see Part 2)

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