Cuban Lifestyle
The Caribbean nation of Cuba, population of 11,179,995 (July 2016 est.), is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Pennsylvania in size. The country’s capital city is Havana and Spanish is its official language.
Since re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States by President Obama in 2015, Americans are increasingly curious about the Cuban lifestyle.
The following collection of photos are striking depictions of Cuban lifestyle…
Sitting on the Malecon, Havana. Photography by JJ Merelo
Havana – home to over 2 million residents – is also one of the largest Caribbean cities. The other most populous Caribbean cities include Santo Domingo – Dominican Republic, Port-au-Prince – Haiti, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Boys playing in Trinidad. Photography by Jplavoie
Cuba has a 99.8% literacy rate; school is compulsory for all children between ages 6 and 15.
Life in Matanzas. Photography by Emmanuel Huybrechts
Bright colored classic American cars from the 50s – a haven for car collectors – are a part of the Cuban lifestyle. This is because for 50 years, Fidel Castro’s ban on foreign car importation prevented the sale of vehicles from abroad. The ban was lifted in 2013.
Photography by Geograf.gp
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Casa de la musica in Plaza Mayor, Trinidad. Photography by Gorupdebesanez
Music and dance are integral parts of Cuban lifestyle. In fact classic dances such as Cha Cha, Bolero and Mambo originated from Cuba.
“The music of Cuba, including the instruments and the dances, is mostly of European and African origin. Most forms of the present day are creolized fusions and mixtures of these two great sources. Almost nothing remains of the original Native traditions.” (wikipedia)
Cigar making in Santiago de Cuba. Photography by Bluesy Pete
Cuban cigars are among the finest in the world.
Woman relaxing. Photography by Philippe Antoine
Woman smokes her cigar in the Vieja district of Havana. Photography by David Steele
Cuba is an inherently multi-ethnic country. According to 2012 census results: White/European make up 64.1%, Mulatto and Mestizo 26.6%, Black/African 9.3%, and others. Havana has the largest population of Afro-Cubans in Cuba.
Bridge found on the road from Havana to Varadero. Photography by Matarese.com
Varadero – located on the Hicacos peninsula and known for its beautiful blond beaches – is Cuba’s most popular beach resort city.
Souvenir stall on the beaches of Varadero. Photography by Emmanuel Huybrechts
Central road in Camaguey, Cuba. Photography by Lukasz Katlewa
Watch Cuban Lifestyle Documentary | Reinventing Cuba
Homes in Pico Joaquin. Photography by Eduardo Manchon
Santería is a system of beliefs that merges the Yoruba religion with Roman Catholic and Native Indian traditions. This ceremony is called “Cajon de Muertos”. Photography by Jorge Royan
Religion and spirituality are a big part of the Cuban lifestyle, so much so that Christmas (once banned in 1969) and Good Friday are now national holidays in the country. Main religious groups in Cuba comprise of Roman Catholics, Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jewish, and Santeria.
The shore of Siboney, Cuba. Photography by Anton Zelenov
In 2015, a record 3.1 million tourists visited Cuba, a 17.6% increase from the previous year.
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