Liz and I were in Cuba June 7-20. We were on a scuba dive boat June 10-17 but around Havana the other days.
From the B&B's balcony on arrival day we had a bird's eye over a main street across from the capitol building.
Anyone know what these are?
Lit up National Theater of Havana as we came out from dinner the first night.
Our first full day we thought we were going get on a public on-and-off tour bus but they weren't running. But we were hanging out near the taxi stands with many of the best restored cars. Pedicab in front of this one:
And 3-wheeled minicabs behind this one.
Custom hood ornaments.
Our family had a 55 Buick when I was a kid. Needless to say it was not a pink two-tone convertible.
Most of these 1950's cars have new drivetrains. The owners with original V-8's are proud to show them off.
We gave up on the bus and went for a ride in this 31 Ford.
Liz knew enough Spanish to get our driver to take us into his local neighborhood to check out a local music shop and an unusual combination Santeria church/modern sculpture art display.
A couple of Chrysler products:
DeSoto, a nameplate discontinued in 1961
Some noteworthy custom paint jobs:
When we returned to Havana after diving, we had a cab ride in this 49 Chevy. This was far from original, as on a front fender it was labeled "turbodiesel."
This one was in the Vedado neighborhood where we stayed three nights after the diving.
Late model Chevys,1958:
1959:
1960:
1960 US cars are rare, as Castro took over Jan. 1, 1959. However the commercial break with the US occurred with wholesale nationalizations in 1960. On our trip to Pinales National park we saw this 1960 Ford.
On our last day near the waterfront Malecon we saw this 1959 Buick.
And this 1958 Cadillac
The grand finale, in front of the dive groups' hotel June 9 hotel, would appeal to Bruce Springsteen.
Note the wooden bar, "I just wonder what you do there in the back....."
"...of your Pink Cadillac."
From the B&B's balcony on arrival day we had a bird's eye over a main street across from the capitol building.
Anyone know what these are?
Lit up National Theater of Havana as we came out from dinner the first night.
Our first full day we thought we were going get on a public on-and-off tour bus but they weren't running. But we were hanging out near the taxi stands with many of the best restored cars. Pedicab in front of this one:
And 3-wheeled minicabs behind this one.
Custom hood ornaments.
Our family had a 55 Buick when I was a kid. Needless to say it was not a pink two-tone convertible.
Most of these 1950's cars have new drivetrains. The owners with original V-8's are proud to show them off.
We gave up on the bus and went for a ride in this 31 Ford.
Liz knew enough Spanish to get our driver to take us into his local neighborhood to check out a local music shop and an unusual combination Santeria church/modern sculpture art display.
A couple of Chrysler products:
DeSoto, a nameplate discontinued in 1961
Some noteworthy custom paint jobs:
When we returned to Havana after diving, we had a cab ride in this 49 Chevy. This was far from original, as on a front fender it was labeled "turbodiesel."
This one was in the Vedado neighborhood where we stayed three nights after the diving.
Late model Chevys,1958:
1959:
1960:
1960 US cars are rare, as Castro took over Jan. 1, 1959. However the commercial break with the US occurred with wholesale nationalizations in 1960. On our trip to Pinales National park we saw this 1960 Ford.
On our last day near the waterfront Malecon we saw this 1959 Buick.
And this 1958 Cadillac
The grand finale, in front of the dive groups' hotel June 9 hotel, would appeal to Bruce Springsteen.
Note the wooden bar, "I just wonder what you do there in the back....."
"...of your Pink Cadillac."
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