While the United States does not have diplomatic or regular travel relations with Cuba, the U.S. has allowed a limited number of people/groups to visit for educational purposes. Thus our trip in February 2001 was arranged through Academic Arrangements Abroad for 18 members of the Apollo Circle of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and included the MMA's Jeff Rosenheim, Curator from the Department of Photography. This was an extraordinary opportunity to see this beautiful and historic city . . . some parts still very much in the past, others as current and up-to-date as anything in the world. We also had meetings with many artists and writers in their homes and studios.
This unusual photo was taken by fellow traveler and photographer Charles Altschul (seen in the foreground) in the modern courtyard lobby of the Parc Central Hotel, Havana.
Antique cars and pedicabs are still found on many city streets in Havana.
Many buildings have been beautifully restored . . .
. . . but like anywhere in the world . . .
. . . not everything has been done . . .
Construction bracing from one building to another spans the narrow street.
