Cuba's classics

Shaunette Wright, Gleaner Writer

Cuba is an honest-to-God transportation museum. From horse-drawn buggies to 1940s classics to three-wheeled taxis, they have it.

And, with the country slowly 'opening up', more tourists are getting a glimpse of the Spanish-speaking nation's gems.

Beautifully coloured classics, referred to as cacharros, bartavias, máquinas or Yank tanks by locals, bring a sense of nostalgia to old-timers and intrigue for first-time visitors.

Faced with a commercial, economic and financial embargo by the United States since October 1960, these classics have been preserved by a society, not as a collectors' items, but as part of the country's legacy - its history, its daily existence and a permanent part of its future.

But the classics are not all. The clippity-clop of well-shod horse hooves on asphalted streets is a common occurrence. In Havana, carrying two or four passengers, buggies are used as taxis, as well as a means of touring the city.

buzzing sound

Three-wheeled motorcycles - coco taxis - provide one of the cheapest ways to get around for two passengers. Resembling eggs on wheels, they will annoy you with their buzzing sound until immunity sets in.

But beware, in the event of the driver running out of gas, you may be asked to step aside as he refills the tank with spare fuel kept under your seat.

Lots of locals were seen using the motorcycles with sidecars. These are great for couples.

Bike taxis, on the other hand, are one-passenger transports. When the local women use these taxis, they ride sidesaddle (sitting with both legs to one side instead of astride), without helmets, and are a picture of calm.

Public buses, similar to those in Jamaica, are used by locals, but tourists use them to get the experience. They are not air-conditioned, therefore, for a comfortable ride, a window seat would be a wise choice.

Then there are the colourful Russian Ladas. These are used as taxis or are precious family legacies. Upkeep is poor, but they get the job done.

One may conclude there are no modern cars in Cuba. This is quite the contrary as brands such as Peugeot, Hyundai and Mercedes- Benz made their way along the roadways. But the fascination lies with the old, not the new. So, whether it's the 1940s Chevys, the 1950s Cadillacs, the quaint, horse-drawn buggies, or an upgraded tricycle, Havana is the place to sit back and enjoy the ride.

shaunette.wright@gleanerjm.com