Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

[Beagletorque]

Just to prove what a photographers paradise Havana is, here is a nearly sequential sequence of photos shot in just under 8 minutes, wandering 80 yards down Calle O'Reilly in Old Havana.

At the top of the street this guy has given up in the 32 degree heat, hard to witness.



10 paces and a sneaky shot of one of the watch repairers. Note the Zorki 4k at the back.



Next to his "shop", incredible architectural details left over from a bygone age half mullered by the water pipe installers.



Then a shot down the narrow street that is O'Reilly's.



Fruit and Veg sellers 10 paces further.



The watch menders rival only 20 yards away. Note his glasses, no actual glass, with a custom mounted home made magnifier! I think he got the idea from Google Glass!



The watching man.
Interesting to do a Sherlock on him.
Nice expensive shoes, clean well fitting clothes, large scar on his hand and buckled fingers.
ID badge, home made chair from rebar with ply base and a wrapped water bottle usually means it has rum in it.
The three colours on his bangle - Mafia in Cuba?



The Egg Lorry. Just delivered to the shop and you can see the queue beginning to form.



Fancy a cream slice?

At this point were are not even half way along the street, so now you know why I managed to take nearly 15,000 shots!

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Fascinating: Such an interesting series of postings - Thanks

[Barr1e]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Thanks so much for another wonderful series - enjoyed them all.

Regards. Barr1e

[Floribunda]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

I have enjoyed you showing us Cuba - and especially this set. Every photo tells a story, impossible to pick a favourite.

[Phill D]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

What a place! these posts make a fantastic trip for the rest of us.
This is one of my favourite sequences of images.

[Guest]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Superlatives don't do either the location or your photography justice, Andrew - it has been a first class series and an education to us all. Thank you

[Beagletorque]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Superlatives don't do either the location or your photography justice, Andrew - it has been a first class series and an education to us all. Thank you

Thanks Mark, lovely comment. And thank you everyone else for your encouraging comments too, much appreciated.

[OM USer]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Thats a fascinating street. #4 shows off the wonderful colours of buildings very well.

[Ricoh]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Coincidentally Ch4 news had a slot on Cuba a few minutes ago, the images looked similar to the last 38 threads you've posted here. I was going to ask whether the 21st centuary had touched any part of Cuba, but seeing the news slot I may have the answer to my question.

If I was to visit Cuba, I'd be concerned about the state of health care, whether the hospitals are of a modern standard, the doctors well trained etc, and of course the state of the hotels where I might have to stay.

Is there another side to Cuba we're missing, if so it would be good to see the images.

As it's currently depicted, it's a clear case that communism doesn't work.

[Beagletorque]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Steve,
communism has not worked in Cuba, but that may be more to do with the US embargo than actual communism, although I'm no fan of it.
As for doctors, Cuba has some of the best trained in the world and exports more medical staff than anywhere else, many went to "fight" Ebola. It is true that medicines are in short supply as is medical equipment, see above!
Hotels vary as they do in any part of the world, in Havana the price ranges from $25 a night to $350 a night for a very swanky suite in the modern IBEROSTAR Parque Central hotel with a pool on the roof.
I saw brand new Audi A6 hire cars as well as the old Ladas and Yank motors!
On the whole it is an easy place to visit if you have £s in your pocket, but not an easy place to live in.

[Ricoh]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Thanks for adding the extra piece to the jigsaw. For the doctors to be so well trained either the country has excellent, well equipped, medical schools, and therefore some of the Cubans benefit in terms of treatment available (trainees need patients), or the medical students study abroad. I'm curious.

[Beagletorque]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer your point! Many medical students got to Cuba to study, not the otherway around. In fact I read that Cuba is becoming an elective surgery holiday destination as the care is so good and the cost is so low!
These websites may help...

http://www.cubamedicalelectives.org/?view=featured

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELAM_%28Latin_American_School_of_Medicine%29_Cuba

[Ricoh]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Sure I understand what you're saying, being a visitor doesn't make anyone an expert in the internal matters of another country. I'm curious for travel reasons, it's the sort of place my daughter might say she's going on holiday. She loves travelling.
On Ch4 news they spoke to a Cuban doctor who was leaving for better pay, he said he would get ten times his current pay. It showed him at the airport - which incidentally looked a bit third world, but you only see what they want to show.
That's where I came in with this discussion. If like me you take photographs to portray things as we wish others to see them, not necessarily as they are, we take what appeals and include or exclude those things that reflects our reaction to the scene. Therefore I'm conscious that your travel log could be a personal take on Cuba, and there could be another side that hasn't been presented.

[KeithL]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Another very interesting set! The second watchmaker: I think the magnifier is actually a proper one; you can buy them like that, made in China, and they are cheap. (I repair watches as a hobby) But I wouldn't want them working on a watch of mine, with all the dust about in those streets! Cleanliness is paramount for mechanical watches. Bit like India though - they still have street watch repairers like that!

Some very good photos there. Thanks.

[Beagletorque]

Re: Cuba 38 - Calle O'Reilly 10 minute sequential wonder

Another very interesting set! The second watchmaker: I think the magnifier is actually a proper one; you can buy them like that, made in China, and they are cheap. (I repair watches as a hobby) But I wouldn't want them working on a watch of mine, with all the dust about in those streets! Cleanliness is paramount for mechanical watches. Bit like India though - they still have street watch repairers like that!

Some very good photos there. Thanks.

Keith, take a closer look and see what you think....