Stormy weather. The power goes out as the streets begin to fill and then flow like mountain rivers through this concrete jungle. Sparks sputter from chandeliers and appliances as the grid surges. Blades of lightening streak down towards Soviet-era architecture slicing the grey sky into pieces. Explosive thunder erupts over the roof like good friends’ […]
Communal taxis in Cuba
Forget your American city’s average black-and-yellow taxis: Cuba has taxi system that would even give Uber a run for its money. But instead of a Toyota Prius’, nearly all Cuban communal taxis are vintage American cars that were imported before the revolution (more on this here). Cuban communal taxis run on pre-established lines with flat-fees. […]
A (brief) history of (North American) cars in Cuba
In 2012, for the first time since the Revolution in 1959, the Cuban government legalized the purchasing of personal automobiles and established automobile dealerships. Suddenly, American news sources are becoming more and more interested in Cuban automobile ownership and use. The first car arrived to Cuba in 1899, coinciding with the end of Spanish rule. […]
Researching in Havana: Persistence, Sweat, and Serendipity
The entire surface area of my skin is damp with sweat, collecting on my upper lip and lethargically dripping down from the nape of my neck. In a singular motion I wipe it away with the back of my hand and return my attention to the wooden drawer filled with index cards before me. I’ve […]
I <3 CUBA
BLOG POST 8: LAWRENCE KIRK FASHION FEVER The Teatro Mellia is an incredible theater resting on Linea and B one of the main streets running through the neighborhood of Vedado in Habana. I was lucky enough to receive an invitation from a dear friend who is a designer at the national art institute El […]