LA HABANA

Volume 1, July, 2016

by Tapo Banerjee

Habana has a complicated relationship with its representation in popular photography.  A lot of attention is directed to classic cars, murals of Che Guevara and costumed characters with either musical instruments or cigars!

While the cars and murals are ubiquitous in Habana and the rest of the country, this series attempts to reveal urban facets of the daily lives of Habaneros.

Malecon Pelican

A pelican flies past the seawall (El Malecon) at dawn. In the distance, an oil refinery emits soot into the Habana sky.

Nacional_Polski

The historic Hotel Nacional with a Fiat 125, commonly called Polski after its country of origin, in the foreground.

San Lazaro

Early morning in Vedado, Habana

Neptuno

 Florist on Calle Neptuno, Centro Habana

News Infanta

 Newspaper stand on Calle Infanta

Colmar Cabaret

Ladies in the doorway

San Jose Market

After a quick afternoon shower, Habana Vieja (Old Havana)

Coco Stand

Cuban version of the auto-rickshaw

Colectivo

A large number of US made cars from the 1940’s and 50’s serve as share taxis (Colectivos) in Cuba. In popular parlance, they are known as maquinas or almendrones, the latter a reference to the almond like shapes of the automobiles from that period.

These taxis ply on fixed routes, and destinations are indicated by hand signals made by the drivers. They are not licensed to carry tourists.

It took some mental preparation to hail a ride in one of these, but it finally happened a day before departure.

Note: Habana is intentionally spelled as in Spanish i.e. with b instead of v

Author’s Bio- Note: 

Tapo Banerjee has been visiting Cuba since 2012. His last assignment in Habana was in Jan-Feb 2016. Originally a resident of Darjeeling (India), he now calls Chicago home.

Flickr Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/teabeefoto/albums

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