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January 1959  Zero point

January 1959 Zero point

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alexander stefanatos


Premium (Pro), thessaloniki

January 1959 Zero point

Carribean Sea
Cuba
Havana
January 1959. Zero time for island's history. The military junta collapses under the Kastro forces and dictator Batista flees to Portugal after seven years of strict totalitarian rule. During those years, Cuba openly accepting, covering and "washing" great sums of corrupted money incoming to the island from all kind of illegal sources,especially Mafia,flourished becoming the financial Paradise of world's greatest tycoons.Also, a very rich high civilian class had developped with elegant houses and palaces that quite often decorated the pages of classy style magazines.
In 1959 all this mythical picture ,as if by magic, collapsed in one night.With Batista every single rich fled from the island to save their lives leaving all their fortunes and wealth behind. A lot was looted and the remained confiscated by the Castro regime.Poor people entered the rich and beautiful houses residing permanently there for nothing but, in the majority of cases, not disposing even a single penny since then to mentain or repair them.
Now strolling in the streets and neighbourhoods of Avana one can still admire those imposing houses reduced to dismal ruins without even a single window glass or door repaired and with people in certain cases sneaking like cats and dogs in and out...

Comments 5

  • Lawson McCulloch 24/10/2014 20:32

    There is still beauty in this now run down building Alexander. I think this shot just had to be in colour.
    best wishes,
    Lawson
  • SINA 24/10/2014 9:16

    FANTASTISCH DAS LICHT AUF DIESER ARCHITEKTUR
    WIEDER EIN GENIALES FOTO ALEX
    BEST REGARDS SINA
  • Harold Thompson 24/10/2014 9:13

    Now the result of what happen that day so sad to see this result
    :-)) Harold
  • Sue Thompson 24/10/2014 8:44

    Your picture shows well the dilapidation of these once beautiful buildings. They must have been truly awesome in their day.

    :))
  • rolvin 23/10/2014 23:47

    The eventful history of Cuba. Very well represented in your text. Your photo shows a fit of this magnificent building. Great colors and very good vision guidance characterized from your photograph. Only the feet of the pretty Cuban woman I would have liked to see ;-) Great Alexander! Bw Roland

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Camera NIKON D200
Lens ---
Aperture 4.5
Exposure time 1/200
Focus length 28.0 mm
ISO 640

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