Havana, Cuba — A Taste Of Bygone Era

Theres more to Havana than meets the eye.

- Melody Tan

Although the concerns and conflicting theories of travelling to Cuba may be deterrents to some, this largest island in the Caribbean remains an alluring destination for many. The harsh reality of the political and economic climates that its locals live in paints a stark contrast to the pictures shared on social media of shiny vintage cars and fancy rooftop bars.

My first impression of Havana, the capital of Cuba, was that I had time-travelled back to the ’70s or ’80s. As my mind adjusted (and confirmed that I was indeed in 2017) itself, I let my gaze take in the timeworn yet vibrant-coloured colonial buildings that line the streets, vintage Coco taxis (bright yellow, egg-shaped rickshaws) that populate the roads and the general bustle around me. Reinforcing that sense of having stepped back into another era was the realisation that internet connectivity was largely limited to Wi-Fi parks and areas populated by tourists.

Beneath its vibrant façade, however, one discovers the “real truths” of living as a local. Frequent electricity cuts are a daily occurrence, aside from crammed living conditions and complete disconnectivity from the world outside. This is the city that, in 2017, was battered by Hurricane Irma, which left a trail of destruction that sadly added to the island’s landscape of collapsed buildings that have given way over time owing to poor infrastructure and a lack of maintenance.