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nuestra habana photographs: markets and vendors page 8 of 10 |
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Funny thing about living in an industrialized country like the US or Japan… sure, it has its perks, but the imported tropical fruit is tasteless and expensive. This is not the case in Havana, where the agricultural markets are colorful and lively places. Economically speaking, the re-emergence of these produce stations as places where farmers can sell surplus crops in a semi-private fashion is a great example of one of post-Soviet Cuba's transitions towards a free market system. Where else could you get a bag of pineapples and mangos for less than a buck? If you go (and you should!) you're likely to see types of fruit you've never laid eyes on before. |
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The various craft fairs mostly catered to the touristas. Everything from expensive water color paintings to cigar butt key chains were available. There's a lot of beautiful things mixed in with a lot of souvenir trash. Be ready to do some serious searching. We suggest not going when it's raining (see photo). |
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This artist was painting in a square outside a gallery in Habana Vieja. Art is cheap by US standards, and there is some great stuff for sale. Unfortunately, most of the paintings would have wiped out a significant chunk of our meager student travel budgets. |
