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By
Carlos Fernandez |
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Havana, Cuba, an intriguing city, frozen
by Fidelism in 1959, much as old Prague was
frozen by Stalinism, and Venice finished by
Renaissance wealth in the 16th century. The old
streets are quiet. One can hear the life of the
city, people talking, music, a sense of
tranquility, absence of automobiles, yet there
the life and vitality of a cosmopolitan,
energetic and visually stunning though decrepit
city. |
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Unlike any other city in the Caribbean, and far
surpassing colonial cities such as Lima, Quito,
or La Paz, Havana exhibits the extraordinary
wealth and power of the Spanish empire, Rum,
Gold, and Slaves. In my travel experience only
the relatively small town of Potosi, Bolivia (population
200,000) had similar colonial wealth. Potosi was
the major source of Spanish silver; it mines and
mints churning out the doubloons that financed
Spanish colonialism. |
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In 1762 the Spanish joined the French in the
Seven Years War (AKA the French and Indian War).
The British captured Havana and eventually
traded it back for Florida. After losing the
war, France had the choice of keeping Canada or
the 150 square mile islands of Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines. Canada was ceded to Britain! It
might have been short sighted but at that point
in time the value of a small rum producing
island was greater than the potential of Canada.
(Or the French were far sighted and knew that
Club Med would never fly in Calgary). |
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Havana is a city of 2.1 million people, one
fifth of all Cubans. It consists of
a 17th Century city, Havana Vieja; a 19th
Century city, Centro Havana; a 20th century
city, Vedado; a port city; and a beach resort,
Miramar. All surrounded by outer bario housing
industry, and the recreation and sports mecca,
Parque Lenin.. Founded in 1514, it rose to
importance because of its northwest location,
close to the riches of Mexico and South America.
The treasure gallons would marshal into convoys
in Havana harbor, the annual “Flota,” a fleet to
thwart British pirates. The considerable wealth
of the Spanish colonial empire passed through
Havana. Cuba produced its own black gold, rum,
in those days the fountain of many a fortune.
Cuba is 44,000 square miles of prime sugar
country and the wealth produced by sugar slaves
from the rich Cuban soil is visible to this day
in the marble mansions and colonial palaces of
Havana. |
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