Faded Elegance on the Malecon Photo

Photographer’s Note

The cold salt spray pictured yesterday has taken its toll on the many beautiful buildings which line the Malecon.

Once called the Gold Coast of Havana, the Malecon is a wide boulevard and promenade along the north shore of the city.

Most of the buildings are about a hundred years old, when a huge construction project was undertaken along this sea front. Many are much older, dating from the early Spanish settlements of the 16th Century. Only a few have benefited from the UNESCO funds dedicated to preserving the architecture of this beautiful city.

Forty years ago, these ornate buildings were home to the rich and famous who vacationed in Cuba's tropical playground. Now they are crumbling in the salt air and divided into apartments occupied by Havana's growing population.

Nottinghill, RGatward, pamastro, Hanssie, dmarizz has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

RGatward (19737) 2005-01-03 12:05

I just love those buildings, somehow even more appealing like this, but nice to see some contribution from UNESCO in old Havana. Maybe for this compo moving in on the orange building would have been good, especially with that guy there with the motorbike.

alexlie (5359) 2005-01-03 12:16

Beautiful one Peter. Good composition, colours, sharpness and light. Thanks for sharing because I very like Cuba.

justa (0) 2005-01-03 12:22

Great composition, I like old buildings, this photo is very interesting, good colours, good idea, bravo!

scalerman (25607) 2005-01-03 15:49

great job of conveying the atmoshpere of this famous seaside. Focused, saturated cityscape.

bebel (7337) 2005-01-03 16:01

it is difficult to think what is the good solution for those buildings. For people like here or business men like in Nice-city south of France where people is out ?
Anyway I like your picture and note.

Jeweller (4) 2005-01-03 18:38 [Comment]

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pamastro (7213) 2005-01-04 2:04

Very good colors and textures. I like the way you have captured the vibrant color and the faded color as well as the crumbling facade. It's a great contrast. The emptiness except for a couple people suits the scene, too. Looks ghostly and abandoned. Nice work.

Mrg (823) 2005-01-04 13:53

all tis kink of old stuff thet really works in a photo. Great colors , details. Well done

mayday (178) 2005-01-16 8:52

Great shot buildings look even more interesting for the decay!

Hanssie (9133) 2005-01-23 14:56

Form rich to old, but still (and that's for the tourist or the photographer) beautiful buildings. The colours and the textures are very nice captured in these different houses here and with a great sharpness, nice picture, Peter !

clueless (61) 2005-02-23 4:00

Beautiful. It's pictures like this that make me want to visit Cuba.

MichaelTrezzi (3132) 2005-07-23 12:44

Nicely seen. I wish to see the Malecon residences restored again - that would be a wonderfull part of Habana. Nice color contrast of the orange house. Cheers, Michael

nika (0) 2006-11-23 6:55

The picture reminds me one similar an Anette s friend took maybe of this building or another alike . In this case i adore this romanthic decadence dressed with the warmest and most joyful colours . Anyway Cuba needs something more than washing her face , but anyway she always looks so pretty , decadent , scummed or not so ...