That was fun...Most of the cars in your gallery were from my teen-age years.
-p
On 6/14/2018 10:47 AM, Igor PDML-StR wrote:
I had a very brief visit to Cuba last year.
One of the things that everybody who visits Cuba realizes is the old
cars on the streets. I've heard this long before the trip, and saw
plenty of photos. But the personal impression was much stronger.
If you are not interested in reading the story, - feel free
to skip it: https://42graphy.org/galleries/2017-havana-cars/ .
While looking at the cars, I realized that the cars essentially tell
the geo-political history of that country.
You see many "classic" pre-1959 US models, including Oldsmobile,
Chevrolet, Buick, Ford, Plymouth.
Those symbolize the vicinity and the close connection to the US prior
to the revolution.
Then you see Lada (aka VAZ), Moskvich, Volga (and Kamaz and ZIL
trucks) - brands from the Soviet Union - covering the "Soviet Block"
era (1960-80s)
And then, you see European makes: Fiat, Renault, Peugeot, Mercedes (I
don't remember, maybe also VW), Korean Kia and Hyundai, and a few
Chinese makes: Geely, Emgrand, GAC, as well as Chinese-Australian
(SAIC) Maxus and MG. Most of these cars are from post-2008, the era
when _some_ small private business has been allowed in this highly
regulated country, and especially post-2014, when Raul Castro, has
abolished the need for official permission to purchase a foreign-made
car. They are still much more expensive compared to what you pay for
them in the US and in Europe.
Actually, it is MUCH MORE, in capital letters.
I've heard that some people make a trip to Moscow, which is easy
logistically, buy auto-parts, and then resell them in Cuba, - thus
covering the cost of the trip and earning money for living.
The presence of the cars from China is a sign of the growing economic
relations with China (presumably, it is the biggest (or the 2nd
biggest, behind Canada) trade partner for Cuba now).
The "classic" cars serve too major roles:
1) The better preserved/restored ones (most convertible) are used for
the "fancy" tours around the city, - and you see many of those cars
parked along the "Central Park" - Parque Central - in the historical
part of the city "Habana Viejo" (old Havana), - next to the three
luxury (and very expensive! - $300+ per night at Hotel Parque Central)
hotels.
2) The "regular" cars, often with the crude patches on the body
(sometimes with large rough bolts, sometimes, - torch-welded), - are
used as the city transportation. This includes private taxis and
so-called "collectivos", which stands for "collective taxi". This is a
type of a taxis that circulate along the well known routes (just a
handfull) - throughout the city.
You can get in and get out along those routes, and pay a fixed price
(at least for locals, but we've also used this): 10 or 20 CUPs,
depending on the part of the city where you go (about 40 and 80 US
cents, respectively).
These collectivos can get packed: a couple of times, I was riding
among total of 8 passengers (in a bigger, almost SUV-ish or
station-vagonish old car with the 3rd row of seats)
I've seen a few private taxis using old Lada and even Moskvich. (If
you are not familiar, - those are rather small cars, no larger than
Dodge Colt or Toyota Tercel from 1980s)
Also, you can take a collectivo to travel to a different city. In that
case, I've read, the prices are on par or above the price for the bus
(Viazul, - the buses that targeting foreigners, and Astro bus, where
there is a large price difference for locals and foreigners). The
advantage is that there is a bit more flexibility w.r.t the time, but
you are riding in a car that might not have an A/C (Viazul bus has),
and might break in the middle of the road.
The curious thing is that quite a few collectivo drivers would caution
you about not slamming the door, - as the doors and door latches are
often a fragile point on some of the "classics".
So, here is a photo gallery that illustrates this story:
https://42graphy.org/galleries/2017-havana-cars/
Unfortunately, I've failed to take a reasonable photo of a "half-taxi"
- a
moto-scooter with a roof that can take 2-3 passengers, such as this one:
https://www.losviajeros.net/fotos/america/Cuba/index.php?fn=coco_taxi
For me, it was a fun and quite an adventure to ride the collectivos
and and negotiate the prices with others, - mostly of the "jalopy" kind.
It was an inexpensive and reasonable way of getting to and from a small
family-owned B&B that I've chosen to stay at.
I've read that prior to 2011, it was forbidden to take foreigners into
a car that didn't have a special taxi permit, but that rule has been
relaxed since that.
I hope you enjoy the photos and the story they tell.
All comments and critique are welcome!
Igor
PS. I hadn't been familiar with most of the Chineese auto makes until
just recently.
I just recently found out that GAC has displayed its car in the US,
and they "have been teasing a move to the US for at least five years":
https://jalopnik.com/chinas-gac-which-has-a-huge-display-in-detroit-aims-t-1822126769
--
Paul Sorenson
Studio1941
Sooner or later "different" scares people.
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