Iconic Havana hotel a monument of Cuban history
One building in Havana has witnessed some of the most important events of that hostile period, in U.S.-Cuba relations.
Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman took a tour of the 85-year old, Hotel Nacional.
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CUBA: Huge MARBLE STATUE of CHRIST overlooks HAVANA (CRISTO DE LA HABANA) ✝️
SUBSCRIBE: - Let's go visit the magnificent marble statue The Christ of Havana (Spanish: Cristo de La Habana) which is a large sculpture representing Jesus on a hilltop overlooking the bay in Havana, Cuba.
The statue was carved out of white Carrara (Italian) marble, it is about 20 metres (66 ft) high including a 3-metre (10 ft) base. It was built from 68 blocks of marble that had been brought from Italy. The figure of Christ is standing with the right hand held near the chin and the left hand near his chest.
Cuba is a Caribbean island nation under communist rule. It has sugar-white beaches and is dotted with tobacco fields, which play a part in the production of the country's legendary cigars. The capital, Havana, is lined with pastel houses, 1950s-era cars and Spanish-colonial architecture in the 16th-century core, Old Havana. Salsa music plays in the dance clubs and cabaret shows are performed at the famed Tropicana.
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Havana celebrates 500th anniversary
(11 Nov 2019) Havana has survived hurricanes, pirate attacks and an often fraught relationship with the U.S.
Despite it all, the city is now preparing to mark five centuries since its founding on Nov. 16, 1519.
Government workers are racing to put the finishing touches on monuments, buildings and public spaces ahead of the 500th anniversary on Saturday, and celebrations are expected to be all-encompassing.
The jubilee will include a visit from the Spanish royal family and fireworks over the Malecón seaside promenade, in addition to hundreds of events at restored monuments and historic sites.
And while much appears rushed and incomplete, many of the city's 2.1 million residents are admiring progress at places such as the Capitolio building and the looming Morro Castle, which once protected Havana from pirate fleets seeking to plunder Spanish gold.
Eusebio Leal, 77, Havana's city historian, says the anniversary is a notable historic achievement given the many challenges the city has overcome in its long development.
He began the project to renovate the Old City in 1993 after convincing then-leader Fidel Castro the project would bring in much needed tourist dollars from visitors eager to experience colonial Havana.
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CUBA: EXPLORING the OLDEST SQUARE in HAVANA, historic PLAZA DE ARMAS ????️
SUBSCRIBE: - Let's go visit
Havana's oldest square which was laid out in the early 1520s, soon after the city's foundation, and was originally known as Plaza de Iglesia after a church that once stood on the site of the present-day Palacio de los Capitanes Generales.
In the center of the square, which is lined with royal palms and hosts a daily (except Sundays) secondhand book market, is a marble statue of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, the man who set Cuba on the road to independence in 1868. The statue replaced one of unpopular Spanish king Ferdinand VII in 1955.
Also of note, on the square's eastern aspect is the late 18th-century Palacio de los Condes de Santovenia, today the five-star Hotel Santa Isabel.
Cuba is a Caribbean island nation under communist rule. It has sugar-white beaches and is dotted with tobacco fields, which play a part in the production of the country's legendary cigars. The capital, Havana, is lined with pastel houses, 1950s-era cars and Spanish-colonial architecture in the 16th-century core, Old Havana. Salsa music plays in the dance clubs and cabaret shows are performed at the famed Tropicana.
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Cuba-Santa Clara (Che Guevara's Monument and Mausoleum) Part 7
Welcome to my travelchannel.On my channel you can find almost 1000 films of more than 70 countries.
See the playlist on my youtube channel.Enjoy!
Ernesto Che Guevara
Ernesto Che Guevara,commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous countercultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia within popular culture.
As a young medical student, Guevara traveled throughout South America and was moved by the poverty, hunger, and disease he witnessed. His burgeoning desire to help overturn what he saw as the capitalist exploitation of Latin America by the United States prompted his involvement in Guatemala's social reforms under President Jacobo Arbenz, whose eventual CIA-assisted overthrow at the behest of the United Fruit Company solidified Guevara's political ideology.Later, while living in Mexico City, he met Raúl and Fidel Castro, joined their 26th of July Movement, and sailed to Cuba aboard the yacht, Granma, with the intention of overthrowing U.S.-backed Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Guevara soon rose to prominence among the insurgents, was promoted to second-in-command, and played a pivotal role in the victorious two-year guerrilla campaign that deposed the Batista regime.
Following the Cuban Revolution, Guevara performed a number of key roles in the new government. These included reviewing the appeals and firing squads for those convicted as war criminals during the revolutionary tribunals, instituting agrarian land reform as minister of industries, helping spearhead a successful nationwide literacy campaign, serving as both national bank president and instructional director for Cuba's armed forces, and traversing the globe as a diplomat on behalf of Cuban socialism. Such positions also allowed him to play a central role in training the militia forces who repelled the Bay of Pigs Invasion and bringing the Soviet nuclear-armed ballistic missiles to Cuba which precipitated the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Additionally, he was a prolific writer and diarist, composing a seminal manual on guerrilla warfare, along with a best-selling memoir about his youthful continental motorcycle journey. His experiences and studying of Marxism--Leninism led him to posit that the Third World's underdevelopment and dependence was an intrinsic result of imperialism, neocolonialism, and monopoly capitalism, with the only remedy being proletarian internationalism and world revolution.Guevara left Cuba in 1965 to foment revolution abroad, first unsuccessfully in Congo-Kinshasa and later in Bolivia, where he was captured by CIA-assisted Bolivian forces and summarily executed.
Guevara remains both a revered and reviled historical figure, polarized in the collective imagination in a multitude of biographies, memoirs, essays, documentaries, songs, and films. As a result of his perceived martyrdom, poetic invocations for class struggle, and desire to create the consciousness of a new man driven by moral rather than material incentives, he has evolved into a quintessential icon of various leftist-inspired movements. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, while an Alberto Korda photograph of him entitled Guerrillero Heroico (shown), was cited by the Maryland Institute College of Art as the most famous photograph in the world.
Santa Clara is the capital city of the Cuban province of Villa Clara. It is located in the most central region of the province and almost in the most central region of the country.
Santa Clara was the site of the last battle in the Cuban Revolution in late 1958. There were two guerrilla columns that attacked the city, one led by Ernesto Che Guevara and the other led by Camilo Cienfuegos. Guevara's column first captured the garrison at Fomento. Then, using a bulldozer, Guevara's soldiers destroyed railroad tracks and derailed a train full of troops and supplies sent by Batista. At the same time, Cienfuegos's column defeated an army garrison at the Battle of Yaguajay not far from town. On December 31, 1958, the combined forces of Guevara and Cienfuegos (along with other revolutionaries under William Alexander Morgan) attacked Santa Clara. The battle was chaotic, the defenders were demoralized, some fought, others surrendered without a shot. By the afternoon, the city was captured. This victory for Castro's troops is seen as the decisive moment in the Cuban Revolution as Batista fled Cuba less than 12 hours later.
Cuba-Havana (Streetlife of Havana) Amazing!!! Part 1
Welcome to my travelchannel.On my channel you can find almost 1000 films of more than 70 countries.
See the playlist on my youtube channel.Enjoy!
Havana / Cuba
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba.The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants,and it spans a total of 728.26 km2 (281.18 sq mi) -- making it the largest city by area, the most populous city, and the third largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean region.The city extends mostly westward and southward from the bay, which is entered through a narrow inlet and which divides into three main harbours: Marimelena, Guanabacoa and Atarés. The sluggish Almendares River traverses the city from south to north, entering the Straits of Florida a few miles west of the bay.
Havana was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century and due to its strategic location it served as a springboard for the Spanish conquest of the continent becoming a stopping point for the treasure laden Spanish Galleons on the crossing between the New World and the Old World. King Philip II of Spain granted Havana the title of City in 1592. Walls as well as forts were built to protect the old city. The sinking of the U.S. battleship Maine in Havana's harbor in 1898 was the immediate cause of the Spanish-American War.
Contemporary Havana can essentially be described as three cities in one: Old Havana, Vedado, and the newer suburban districts. The city is the center of the Cuban Government, and home to various ministries, headquarters of businesses and over 90 diplomatic offices.The current mayor is Marta Hernández from the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). In 2009, the city/province had the 3rd highest income in the country.The city attracts over a million tourists annually, the Official Census for Havana reports that in 2010 the city was visited by 1,176,627 international tourists, a 20.0% increase from 2005. The historic centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. The city is also noted for its history, culture, architecture and monuments.
Republican period and Post-revolution
The 20th century began with Havana, and therefore Cuba, under occupation by the United States. The US occupation officially ended when Tomás Estrada Palma, first president of Cuba, took office on 20 May 1902.During the chicken Period, from 1902 to 1959, the city saw a new era of development. Cuba recovered from the devastation of war to become a well-off country, with the third largest middle class in the hemisphere. Apartment buildings to accommodate the new middle class, as well as mansions for the Cuban tycoons, were built at a fast pace.
Numerous luxury hotels, casinos and nightclubs were constructed during the 1930s to serve Havana's burgeoning tourist industry. In the 1930s, organized crime characters were not unaware of Havana's nightclub and casino life, and they made their inroads in the city. Santo Trafficante, Jr. took the roulette wheel at the Sans Souci Casino, Meyer Lansky directed the Hotel Habana Riviera, with Lucky Luciano at the Hotel Nacional Casino. At the time, Havana became an exotic capital of appeal and numerous activities ranging from marinas, grand prix car racing, musical shows and parks.
Havana achieved the title of being the Latin American city with the biggest middle class population per-capita, simultaneously accompanied by gambling and corruption where gangsters and stars were known to mix socially. During this era, Havana was generally producing more revenue than Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1958, about 300,000 American tourists visited the city.
After the revolution of 1959, the new regime promised to improve social services, public housing, and official buildings; nevertheless, shortages that affected Cuba after Castro's abrupt expropriation of all private property and industry under a strong communist model backed by the Soviet Union followed by the U.S. embargo, hit Havana especially hard. By 1966-68, the Cuban government had nationalized all privately owned business entities in Cuba, down to certain kinds of small retail forms of commerce .
There was a severe economic downturn after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. With it, subsidies ended, losing billions of dollars which the Soviet Union gave the Cuban government, with many believing Havana's Soviet-backed regime would soon vanish, as happened to the Soviet satellite states of Eastern Europe. However, contrary to the Soviet satellite states of Eastern Europe,
Wikipedia
Havana prepares to celebrate 500th anniversary
(12 Nov 2019) LEAD IN:
Havana is preparing to celebrate the 500th anniversary of its founding this Saturday November 16.
Despite hard times, the Cuban government is planning a jubilee week, with hundreds of events at restored monuments and historic sites, a visit from the Spanish royal family and fireworks over the Malecon seaside promenade.
STORY-LINE:
Government workers are racing to put the finishing touches on monuments, buildings and public spaces ahead of the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana this week.
The city's 2.1 million residents are gearing up for the festivities and working hard to make sure the city looks its best.
Restoration has recently taken place on Havana's emblematic neoclassical capitol.
Arian Crespo, a tour guide for San Cristobal travel agency at the Office of City Historian says :
There is a lot of things going on in Havana related to the 500th anniversary of the foundation of the city. There is a lot of restoration going on and there will be kind of a ceremony, which is going to take place here, actually, from the outside of the Capitol building. So, it's kind of a big party.
Crespo says that Cubans see the Spanish invasion as an important part of their identity.
Some of them (tourists) they might see it as Spanish domination in Cuba, but that's also part of our history, which we are proud of it. That makes us who we are, that's part of Cuban people.
The town that eventually became the Cuban capital was founded by the Spanish in 1519 as a trading port.
Today it is an architectural treasure trove where historic buildings collapse from lack of maintenance.
Eduardo Torres Cuevas, President of the Academy of History of Cuba and Director of the National Library of Cuba Jose Marti says :
''We have been waiting for the 500th anniversary of Havana with much love and interest for a simple reason: it is our city, but it is also a city that has been under construction for 500 years and deserves to celebrate its anniversary.''
Residents and tourists are admiring the restoration work and enjoying street fairs and special exhibitions that have already begun ahead of the anniversary festivities.
The jubilee will include a visit from the Spanish royal family and fireworks over the Malecón seaside promenade, in addition to hundreds of events at restored monuments and historic sites.
What is good about Havana, sometimes mixed with sacrifices, with pains, but I also think it is a joy to be in a city like this for what it gives you.'' says Torres Cuevas.
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Cuba/Havana (Fiesta on the street) Part 6
Welcome to my travelchannel.On my channel you can find almost 1000 films of more than 70 countries.
See the playlist on my youtube channel.Enjoy!
Havana / Cuba
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba.The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants,and it spans a total of 728.26 km2 (281.18 sq mi) -- making it the largest city by area, the most populous city, and the third largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean region.The city extends mostly westward and southward from the bay, which is entered through a narrow inlet and which divides into three main harbours: Marimelena, Guanabacoa and Atarés. The sluggish Almendares River traverses the city from south to north, entering the Straits of Florida a few miles west of the bay.
Havana was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century and due to its strategic location it served as a springboard for the Spanish conquest of the continent becoming a stopping point for the treasure laden Spanish Galleons on the crossing between the New World and the Old World. King Philip II of Spain granted Havana the title of City in 1592. Walls as well as forts were built to protect the old city. The sinking of the U.S. battleship Maine in Havana's harbor in 1898 was the immediate cause of the Spanish-American War.
Contemporary Havana can essentially be described as three cities in one: Old Havana, Vedado, and the newer suburban districts. The city is the center of the Cuban Government, and home to various ministries, headquarters of businesses and over 90 diplomatic offices.The current mayor is Marta Hernández from the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). In 2009, the city/province had the 3rd highest income in the country.The city attracts over a million tourists annually, the Official Census for Havana reports that in 2010 the city was visited by 1,176,627 international tourists, a 20.0% increase from 2005. The historic centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. The city is also noted for its history, culture, architecture and monuments.
Republican period and Post-revolution
The 20th century began with Havana, and therefore Cuba, under occupation by the United States. The US occupation officially ended when Tomás Estrada Palma, first president of Cuba, took office on 20 May 1902.During the chicken Period, from 1902 to 1959, the city saw a new era of development. Cuba recovered from the devastation of war to become a well-off country, with the third largest middle class in the hemisphere. Apartment buildings to accommodate the new middle class, as well as mansions for the Cuban tycoons, were built at a fast pace.
Numerous luxury hotels, casinos and nightclubs were constructed during the 1930s to serve Havana's burgeoning tourist industry. In the 1930s, organized crime characters were not unaware of Havana's nightclub and casino life, and they made their inroads in the city. Santo Trafficante, Jr. took the roulette wheel at the Sans Souci Casino, Meyer Lansky directed the Hotel Habana Riviera, with Lucky Luciano at the Hotel Nacional Casino. At the time, Havana became an exotic capital of appeal and numerous activities ranging from marinas, grand prix car racing, musical shows and parks.
Havana achieved the title of being the Latin American city with the biggest middle class population per-capita, simultaneously accompanied by gambling and corruption where gangsters and stars were known to mix socially. During this era, Havana was generally producing more revenue than Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1958, about 300,000 American tourists visited the city.
After the revolution of 1959, the new regime promised to improve social services, public housing, and official buildings; nevertheless, shortages that affected Cuba after Castro's abrupt expropriation of all private property and industry under a strong communist model backed by the Soviet Union followed by the U.S. embargo, hit Havana especially hard. By 1966-68, the Cuban government had nationalized all privately owned business entities in Cuba, down to certain kinds of small retail forms of commerce .
There was a severe economic downturn after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. With it, subsidies ended, losing billions of dollars which the Soviet Union gave the Cuban government, with many believing Havana's Soviet-backed regime would soon vanish, as happened to the Soviet satellite states of Eastern Europe. However, contrary to the Soviet satellite states of Eastern Europe, Havana's communist regime prevailed during the 1990s.
After many years of prohibition, the communist government increasingly turned to tourism for new financial revenue, and has allowed foreign investors to build new hotels and develop hospitality industry. Wikipedia
CUBA: Beautiful MARBLE MONUMENT in HAVANA'S CEMETERY (CRISTOBAL COLON) ????
SUBSCRIBE: - Let’s view one of the most magnificent monuments in one of the largest cemeteries in the Americas, the Necropolis Cristobal Colon in Havana, Cuba. It is renowned for its striking religious monuments and for thousands of elaborate marble statues.
Havana is Cuba’s capital city. Spanish colonial architecture in its 16th-century Old Havana core includes the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, a fort and maritime museum. The National Capitol Building is an iconic 1920s landmark. Also in Old Havana is the baroque Catedral de San Cristóbal and Plaza Vieja, whose buildings reflect the city’s vibrant architectural mix.
Cuba is a Caribbean island nation under communist rule. It has sugar-white beaches and is dotted with tobacco fields, which play a part in the production of the country's legendary cigars. The capital, Havana, is lined with pastel houses, 1950s-era cars and Spanish-colonial architecture in the 16th-century core, Old Havana. Salsa music plays in the dance clubs and cabaret shows are performed at the famed Tropicana.
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CUBA: EXPLORING the COLON CEMETERY in HAVANA, one of world's most spectacular ✝️
SUBSCRIBE: - Let's go visit the spectacular Colon Cemetery (or more fully Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón) which was founded in 1876 in the Vedado neighbourhood of Havana, Cuba. Named for Christopher Columbus, the 140 acre (57 ha) cemetery is noted for its many elaborately sculpted memorials. It is estimated that today the cemetery has more than 500 major mausoleums, chapels, and family vaults.
Colon Cemetery is one of the most important historical cemeteries in the world and is generally held to be the most important in Latin America in historical and architectural terms, second only to La Recoleta in Buenos Aires.
Cuba is a Caribbean island nation under communist rule. It has sugar-white beaches and is dotted with tobacco fields, which play a part in the production of the country's legendary cigars. The capital, Havana, is lined with pastel houses, 1950s-era cars and Spanish-colonial architecture in the 16th-century core, Old Havana. Salsa music plays in the dance clubs and cabaret shows are performed at the famed Tropicana.
Vic Stefanu, vstefanu@yahoo.com.
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My videos include subjects about: video, tour, documentary, tourism, how to, scenic, graphic, traveling, travel, visit, historic, old, ancient, famous, world, tourist, art, culture, holiday, vacation, channel, youtube, history, events, trends, information, attractions, nature, museum, park, houses, palaces, forts, castles, vic stefanu, vlog, awesome, civilization, architecture, construction, landmark, what to see, what to do, where to go, places, locations, market, shopping, centre, guide, things, buy, fun, to do, science, journal, production, films, towns, cities, countries, Europe, Asia, America, USA, England, United Kingdom
Sunday Afternoon in Havana Streets
Street scene in La Habana, Cuba
Che Guevara remains a national hero in Cuba 50 years after his death
Outside of Cuba, there are mixed opinions about Che's legacy. But in Cuba, he remains a national hero.
Havana prepares to celebrate 500th anniversary
(12 Nov 2019) LEAD IN:
Havana is preparing to celebrate the 500th anniversary of its founding this Saturday November 16.
Despite hard times, the Cuban government is planning a jubilee week, with hundreds of events at restored monuments and historic sites, a visit from the Spanish royal family and fireworks over the Malecon seaside promenade.
STORY-LINE:
Government workers are racing to put the finishing touches on monuments, buildings and public spaces ahead of the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana this week.
The city's 2.1 million residents are gearing up for the festivities and working hard to make sure the city looks its best.
Restoration has recently taken place on Havana's emblematic neoclassical capitol.
Arian Crespo, a tour guide for San Cristobal travel agency at the Office of City Historian says :
There is a lot of things going on in Havana related to the 500th anniversary of the foundation of the city. There is a lot of restoration going on and there will be kind of a ceremony, which is going to take place here, actually, from the outside of the Capitol building. So, it's kind of a big party.
Crespo says that Cubans see the Spanish invasion as an important part of their identity.
Some of them (tourists) they might see it as Spanish domination in Cuba, but that's also part of our history, which we are proud of it. That makes us who we are, that's part of Cuban people.
The town that eventually became the Cuban capital was founded by the Spanish in 1519 as a trading port.
Today it is an architectural treasure trove where historic buildings collapse from lack of maintenance.
Eduardo Torres Cuevas, President of the Academy of History of Cuba and Director of the National Library of Cuba Jose Marti says :
''We have been waiting for the 500th anniversary of Havana with much love and interest for a simple reason: it is our city, but it is also a city that has been under construction for 500 years and deserves to celebrate its anniversary.''
Residents and tourists are admiring the restoration work and enjoying street fairs and special exhibitions that have already begun ahead of the anniversary festivities.
The jubilee will include a visit from the Spanish royal family and fireworks over the Malecón seaside promenade, in addition to hundreds of events at restored monuments and historic sites.
What is good about Havana, sometimes mixed with sacrifices, with pains, but I also think it is a joy to be in a city like this for what it gives you.'' says Torres Cuevas.
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1933 CUBAN TRAVELOGUE HAVANA CUBA 34874
Made in the year 1933 by RKO and narrated by Alois Havrilla, this charming travelogue shows the highlights of Havana including the famed bar Sloppy Joe's, the Presidential Palace, the new Capitol Building, and more. Ex-President Machado is seen leaving the Capitol as he flies into exile. Down the Prado, the film shows Morro Castle, the wonderful beaches of Havana, the San Souci resort. Cuban Rumba is shown at the 3:20 mark. The seaport of Matanzas is shown, rope making, and the town of Trinidad on the South Coast. Camaguey is shown at the 6:00 mark. On the Atlantic shore, the film shows Neuvitas and its famous berry trees and oranges, and then ends in Santiago at the 9 minute mark. The Barcardi Distillery is shown at the 9:30 mark, home of the famed rum of Cuba.
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example like: 01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit
CUBA: EXPLORING OLD HAVANA (HABANA VIEJA), what to see, top attractions
SUBSCRIBE: - Let's visit the most important historic sites of Old Havana (Spanish: La Habana Vieja) which is the city-center (downtown) and one of the 15 municipalities (or boroughs) forming Havana, Cuba. It has the second highest population density in the city and contains the core of the original city of Havana. The positions of the original Havana city walls are the modern boundaries of Old Havana.
Old Havana is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cuba is a Caribbean island nation under communist rule. It has sugar-white beaches and is dotted with tobacco fields, which play a part in the production of the country's legendary cigars. The capital, Havana, is lined with pastel houses, 1950s-era cars and Spanish-colonial architecture in the 16th-century core, Old Havana. Salsa music plays in the dance clubs and cabaret shows are performed at the famed Tropicana.
Vic Stefanu, vstefanu@yahoo.com.
#VicStefanu
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To send me an email: vstefanu@yahoo.com
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Splendour of Cuba in the 1930's - Film 217
Cuba, West Indies, Central America. Splendour of Cuba in the 30s.
Havana, capital of Cuba
Ship in Havana. Exterior Sloppy Joe's Bar ( several cars). Interior, crowds sit on high bar stools of a cocktail bar. Aerial view of Presidential Palace. Travelling along El Prado (beautiful promenade).
Capital building. Historic view: Ex President (Dictator) Gerardo Machado y Morales in the centre of a group leaving the Capital for the last time. (Machado resigned to government in August 1933 and left the country for good).
Travelling down El Prado , clubs, hotel, restaurants and handsome residences. Towards Ocean Driveway. Malo Castle. Statue General Macedo. Travelling through beautiful boulevard with little trees in the middle. Palatial beach house. People on beach, exclusive clubs in the background (Yatch Club and Military Club).
San Souci a beautiful huge road house, night club and pleasure garden. Cuban rumba dance (man and woman with frills, fairly extensive) party atmosphere.
View from train on the way to Matanzas ( lots of vegetation and palm trees).
Matanzas port ( North coast of Cuba, sugar export in large scale). Rope making Industry ( from sisal). Group of kids standing, sisal plantation in the background.
Royal palms (national tree of Cuba).
Trinidad (south coast Cuba) , church, people gathered in streets. Cowboys show off horsemanship.
Camaguey city ( Central Cuba)
Prosperous city streets.
The voiceover tells about Camaguey province is very important in copper mine, sugar plantations and timber. And that the well-known guava jelly and Camaguey cheese is made here.
Open street market. Spanish style cathedral. Altar with Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre (patron of Cuba).
Camaguey Hotel. Patios with enormous jars. Women posing with canyon. Cuban elite ladies (Spanish descendents).
Cuban family in their private garden. Gentleman farmer on horse back. Pasture land, cattle and Cuban cow boys. Cuban cowboy.
Train tracks, travelling shot from train from Camaguey north west to Nuevitas (Atlantic shore). The voice over tells us that Nuevitas is an American settlement and that their main industry is the cultivation of oranges). Huge mango trees. Mamonsillo tree (Honey berry tree). Two wealthy ladies eating mamonsillo.
Train tracks, travelling shot from train from Nuevitas to Santiago de Cuba (far east end of Cuba).
Santiago de Cuba
The voice over tells us that Santiago is famous for the final victory of the Cubans over the Spanish.
Narrow slopping streets with lots of people walking and cart. Tram. Cathedral.
Bacardi rum distillery, the opening gates of the Bacardi estate, interior of the distilleries, vats.
Group of women enjoying a relax time in balcony. Two men in balcony with view of city in background. The voice over tells about admiralty Pascual Servera.
THE END
Street Scenes & Cars Havana Feb 2014
Havana people watching from Castillo de Farnes Restaurant on the corner of Egido [Avenida de Belgica] and Obrapia. Short clip from a Cycle Rickshaw and views of the old car traffic from the Open Top Bus.. but unfortunately had to be through glass with reflections - 1 Feb 2014
Malecon is the famous boulevard in Havana Vieja Cuba
The Malecon is the famous boulevard and attracts locals and tourists. There is no other place that shows more the soul of Havana. This 7 km. long seaside promenade runs along historic parts of the city, the colonial center (Habana Vieja) and along the boring Russian apartments in Vedado. The boulevard is a summary of Havana `s history. There are a lot of very beautiful buildings along the Malecon. Unfortunately they are often in poor condition or faded by the sun and the salt of the sea. For the residents of Havana the Malecon is tradition and important for the people with the Sant Aria Faith. They throw offerings into the sea for Yemaya gods. The Malecon is a meeting place for young people. There is flirting, playing music, swimming and children playing games between the rocks. Others come here to catch their daily fish for dinner. Fortunately, more and more buildings are restored. Specifically at sunset the old buildings get a magical color as the sun shines. When visiting Havana you should definitely take a walk on the Malecon. The Caryatids building is one of the main buildings at the beginning of the Malecon. Built in the twentieth century and recently restored. Under the porch you see women in Art Deco style. Furthermore, you also see many buildings with Moorish motifs. At rough weather the waves hit meters high over the balustrade. Unfortunately, every year curious tourists on the quay rinsed into the sea. The history of the Malecon: On November 4, 1901 the U.S. authorities, who had conquered Cuba, began the work on the Malecon. A tree decorated promenade had to start at the Castillo de la Punta where access to the bay is the narrowest. Strong winds, frequent hurricanes and rough seas changed the plans. The American architect Mead and Frenchman Jean Forestier developed a better plan. In Habana Vieja (Old Havana) they built hotels and cafe `s. Beach facilities were constructed in Miramar. It was the road between the old and new part of Havana. Further away from the old town is the promenade along the modern skyscraper with the Vedado Hotel Havana Libre as eyecatcher. Furthermore, you see the Monument to the Victims of Maine, Hotel Nacional and the Tribuna Anti - Imperialista located in the front yard
of the American embassy.
For more information about Cuba...a special island take a look at my blog:
Vedado elegant mansions & buildings, Havana, Cuba 1950s. Photos. Piano solo.
Photos of Vedado's beautiful mansions and famous buildings from 1920s-1950s Cuba, and the nearby Almendares river that divides Vedado and Miramar neighborhoods, which are west of Old Havana. Photos of monument Marti, beautiful avenues Presidents and Paseo, classical museums, theatres, famous hotels, seacoast restaurants, schools De La Salle, Trelles and St. George's,
university, etc. I put those pictures of Cuba because I miss the beautiful land and I want others to enjoy the beauty that the island of Cuba had, and I love the USA. I would never go back to Cuba where there is communism that ended with my beautiful Cuba and the people, where I lived until I was 15 years old.
Famous Cuban song Quiereme Mucho, Cuban composer: Gonzalo Roig, piano: Giselle Martinez.
Havana Cuba Trip 2017
What YOU need to know before you travel to Cuba!
This is a raw shot short film of our Havana, Cuba trip!
My friends Chris, Omar and I went for two days!
We plan on going back!
Shot a lot of this video on my GoPro and iPhone (used snapchat app even though I couldn't upload it until I got back into the states since we had no wifi for two days)
The city feels like you go into a time machine and go back 60 years!
Since there are TWO currencies.. It can be a little confusing.
Just remember that CUC has monuments on the bills and CUP has people. 1 CUC = 25 CUP
If you pay in CUCs make sure your change is in CUCs or it's 25XCUPs
Also make sure you bring the exact amount of money you plan on spending before hand with you because once you spend your money you will have a difficult time getting more because Bank Cards and etc. don't work for gringos.
Unless you have a connect.
Once you arrive in Cuba and go through customs, there is a money exchange line outside where the cabs and buses are.
It's a big line.. you can't miss it.
Cab drivers may try and charge you PER person. This is WRONG!
Negotiate or walk away and find another cab driver.
We took the bus.
It was very cheap. Probably less than $1USD for all 3 of us. As apposed to paying around 25-50 USD for a cab ride into town.
You can get a hotel and pay a pretty penny OR you can ask around and find people (like the nice couple we met) who have rooms or extra apartments for rent.
Also be ready to pay $100 USD for the Cuban VISA
Support of the Cuban people is what we put on the application..
There's a list of 12 options
Hope this video helps!
Email me: RamseysRaw@gmail.com
Instagram: David__Ramsey