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In the wake of Cuba beginning to gradually open up it's doors to US travelers - I recently became interested in the history of it's capital, Havana.
Just from my own casual research online I learned that in the few decades leading up to the Revolution of 1959, Cuba boasted a large middle class - one of the largest per capita in the western hemisphere (although the contrast in standard of living between inhabitants of the capital and the countryside was stark).
Havana has gorgeous architecture - Spanish fortresses, baroque churches, neo classical apartments/ townhomes, and grand civic buildings. Together with the architectural patrimony of the capital and the islands natural beauty it seems that Cuba has a lot of potential to become a major draw for international commerce and tourism.
With the Cuban government gradually taking a little more laxed approach to governance than it's usual austere policies, do you guys think Havana has the potential to become a glamorous and cosmopolitan city once again?
A lot of places seem really run down and a lot of work appears needed. I remember seeing all these really interesting buildings, but with damage ex cracking, chips and generally run down. It would be great if these places were spruced up. I would say it has a lot of potential as there is a lot of charm in the old structures that are there, but lots of work needed.
Havana is basically a typical Spanish city with some areas that resemble mid-century American suburbia and Soviet drabs scattered about. For much of the 20th century it was the richest and most developed city in the tropical world, one of the top 5 most developed cities in Latin America (on par with Mexico City, Montevideo, etc), and it was even more modern than Madrid. The potential is there, but whether that potential is exploited to the maximum is another story.
In fact, most of those islands and countries in the Caribbean are full of pontential, even Haiti; but potential alone isn't enough to get things rolling. Anyone that doubts this should take a closer look at Cap Haitian. It has one of the most romantic and complete historical centers in this hemisphere, and its of the French urban style to boot which is very attractive and quite rare in this hemisphere (typical Spanish cities are all over the place in Latin America, typical French cities only in highly select places). For a long time in the 18th century it was the richest city in the Western Hemisphere and its port was the busiest of any American city too, even busier than New York's. No other city in the world had more trade with Europe than did Cap Francais (once Haiti gained its independence the city's name was changed to Cap Haitian). It was called the Paris of the West Indies and with good reason. Even today its still a beautiful city (the historic center that is, the rest is a giant Haitian mess). The nice part of town even has a large swath of the coast which should make it easy for the city to become a popular cruise port of call. Alas, so much potential and much of it remains just that, a potential that hasn't been used. There is nothing worse than having potential for something great and then letting it stay as a mere potential.
Hopefully Havana (and other Cuban cities too) will not go down that road of having potential and nothing more.
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In fact, most of those islands and countries in the Caribbean are full of pontential, even Haiti; but potential alone isn't enough to get things rolling.
I completely agree, sometime in the future Cuba will come to this intersection unless it's government veers off course.
Let's hope the right decisions are made (for the sake of the citizens).
Both the Castroites and the exiles are right when they describe pre revolutionary Cuba.
In Havana the literacy rates were over 90%. In Oriente it was 50%. In Havana the workers were well paid and unionized. Not only was there a vibrant upper middle class, and a sophisticated business elite, but there was a thriving working class.
Go to Oriente and it was mass poverty, especially on the sugar estates.
The exiles like the narrative of pre revolutionary Havana. The Castroites of pre revolutionary Oriente.
You obviously don't watch Cubavision on daily basis, or probably only read propaganda geared for foreigners that don't understand Spanish.
Cubavision, which is a TV I like, is a constant glorification of pre-revolutionary Cuba. The entire tourism and promotional campaign is based in the past. There are magnificent programs about musicians, cabarets and public works of yesteryear.
Propaganda, communist propaganda, is reduced to minimum and on a ritual basis, much, much less than ads in capitalist countries.
Santiago was a very advanced city, as I have seen the ruins, and the countryside might have been abandoned, is abandoned, but was some sort of wild west were many became rich, Castro's father, for example.
There's no castriote-exile dicothomy anymore, only ritualistic, for tourist consumption. In fact, Cuban leadership and exile leadership are exactly the same and share the same enemies, populace.
. In fact, Cuban leadership and exile leadership are exactly the same and share the same enemies, populace.
So when are the Castro brothers going to resign, and free up the economy, and up end the bureaucracy that stifles business ventures of those not connected to the power structure.
Yes I do agree that the many elite Cuban Americans enjoy strong business ties in Cuba, much of this routed via Spain. But that doesn't sell on the streets of Miami, except among some of the younger folks, and the new arrivals.
Yes, but I think they're hitting the ball pretty solidly.
But then again, my ex-wife had potential.....had.
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