El Presidente Posted August 13, 2023 Posted August 13, 2023 In Pictures: A second life for Cuba's seaside swimming pools Many of Cuba's swimming pools that require fresh water have fallen into oblivion Now abandoned and filled with seawater, the pools that survived the 1959 revolution are in the western Havana neighborhood of Miramar that flourished in the 1940s and 1950s with lavish mansions and luxury hotels. "These swimming pools are a tradition. From generation to generation, we come here," said Boris Baltrons, 44, accompanied by his daughter, sister and nephew. "These houses belonged to rich people. At the time, everyone had their own little pool," he explained, pointing to traces of Spanish tiles that originally lined the walls. Known only to locals, the pools are at the end of a rubbish-strewn walk. Swimmers sometimes share the pools with fish, crabs and even small octopuses. Published: August 13, 2023 10:12AFP 1 of 10 When summer temperatures start to sizzle in Havana, in-the-know locals head not to the beach but to seaside pools built by wealthy Cuban families in the first half of the last century.Image Credit: AFP 2 of 10 Now abandoned and filled with seawater, the pools that survived the 1959 revolution are in the western Havana neighborhood of Miramar that flourished in the 1940s and 1950s with lavish mansions and luxury hotels.Image Credit: AFP 3 of 10 "These swimming pools are a tradition. From generation to generation, we come here," said Boris Baltrons, 44, accompanied by his daughter, sister and nephew.Image Credit: AFP 4 of 10 "These houses belonged to rich people. At the time, everyone had their own little pool," he explained, pointing to traces of Spanish tiles that originally lined the walls.Image Credit: AFP 5 of 10 Known only to locals, the pools are at the end of a rubbish-strewn walk. Swimmers sometimes share the pools with fish, crabs and even small octopuses.Image Credit: AFP 6 of 10 "It's not a beach like Varadero, but children can have fun here," said Alberto, a 38-year-old scientist, referring to the seaside resort east of the capital.Image Credit: AFP 7 of 10 He came on foot with his family, before sunset, to take a dip in one of the open-air swimming pools. Havana's closest sandy beaches are about a 20-minute drive away, a luxury not everyone can afford on the Communist island where fuel shortages are common.Image Credit: AFP 8 of 10 Many of Cuba's swimming pools that require fresh water have fallen into oblivion, including ones built within sports facilities during the first decades of the revolution.Image Credit: AFP 9 of 10 These days they are used by skateboarders, graffiti artists, videographers and children playing soccer.Image Credit: AFP 10 of 10 Today, the island's lush vegetation has begun to devour parts of this vast slab of blue concrete, now deserted.Image Credit: AFP 2
In Pictures: A second life for Cuba's seaside swimming pools Many of Cuba's swimming pools that require fresh water have fallen into oblivion Now abandoned and filled with seawater, the pools that survived the 1959 revolution are in the western Havana neighborhood of Miramar that flourished in the 1940s and 1950s with lavish mansions and luxury hotels. "These swimming pools are a tradition. From generation to generation, we come here," said Boris Baltrons, 44, accompanied by his daughter, sister and nephew. "These houses belonged to rich people. At the time, everyone had their own little pool," he explained, pointing to traces of Spanish tiles that originally lined the walls. Known only to locals, the pools are at the end of a rubbish-strewn walk. Swimmers sometimes share the pools with fish, crabs and even small octopuses. Published: August 13, 2023 10:12AFP 1 of 10 When summer temperatures start to sizzle in Havana, in-the-know locals head not to the beach but to seaside pools built by wealthy Cuban families in the first half of the last century.Image Credit: AFP 2 of 10 Now abandoned and filled with seawater, the pools that survived the 1959 revolution are in the western Havana neighborhood of Miramar that flourished in the 1940s and 1950s with lavish mansions and luxury hotels.Image Credit: AFP 3 of 10 "These swimming pools are a tradition. From generation to generation, we come here," said Boris Baltrons, 44, accompanied by his daughter, sister and nephew.Image Credit: AFP 4 of 10 "These houses belonged to rich people. At the time, everyone had their own little pool," he explained, pointing to traces of Spanish tiles that originally lined the walls.Image Credit: AFP 5 of 10 Known only to locals, the pools are at the end of a rubbish-strewn walk. Swimmers sometimes share the pools with fish, crabs and even small octopuses.Image Credit: AFP 6 of 10 "It's not a beach like Varadero, but children can have fun here," said Alberto, a 38-year-old scientist, referring to the seaside resort east of the capital.Image Credit: AFP 7 of 10 He came on foot with his family, before sunset, to take a dip in one of the open-air swimming pools. Havana's closest sandy beaches are about a 20-minute drive away, a luxury not everyone can afford on the Communist island where fuel shortages are common.Image Credit: AFP 8 of 10 Many of Cuba's swimming pools that require fresh water have fallen into oblivion, including ones built within sports facilities during the first decades of the revolution.Image Credit: AFP 9 of 10 These days they are used by skateboarders, graffiti artists, videographers and children playing soccer.Image Credit: AFP 10 of 10 Today, the island's lush vegetation has begun to devour parts of this vast slab of blue concrete, now deserted.Image Credit: AFP
Corylax18 Posted August 13, 2023 Posted August 13, 2023 Just like the rest of the Country, left to Rot. At least somebody is still getting use out of them. There are a few of these pools that have been maintained through out the years. Below are links to a few photos of the pool/patio area at Vistamar restaurant in Miramar. I've eaten here several times, but never actually seen anybody in the pool. Haha. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vistamar/@23.1253114,-82.4250464,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipNsofy_DnQoZtOlQ0Fsjs3JfdVnED_hVLndymwV!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNsofy_DnQoZtOlQ0Fsjs3JfdVnED_hVLndymwV%3Dw203-h114-k-no!7i4032!8i2268!4m7!3m6!1s0x88cd7723c0abf305:0xb978c8c630abea0f!8m2!3d23.1253114!4d-82.4250464!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F1tm8lcq5?entry=ttu# https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vistamar/@23.1253352,-82.4250226,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipNAkzllKt9xXYGXoY-wcjRRqBCB647rZkljt9i_!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNAkzllKt9xXYGXoY-wcjRRqBCB647rZkljt9i_%3Dw203-h152-k-no!7i4032!8i3024!4m7!3m6!1s0x88cd7723c0abf305:0xb978c8c630abea0f!8m2!3d23.1253114!4d-82.4250464!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F1tm8lcq5?entry=ttu# https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vistamar/@23.1253352,-82.4250226,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipOIlqVpnHdkl8sSuIwMXngcNruEveDYa_yrTqgU!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipOIlqVpnHdkl8sSuIwMXngcNruEveDYa_yrTqgU%3Dw203-h269-k-no!7i3072!8i4080!4m7!3m6!1s0x88cd7723c0abf305:0xb978c8c630abea0f!8m2!3d23.1253114!4d-82.4250464!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F1tm8lcq5?entry=ttu# https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vistamar/@23.1253352,-82.4250226,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipNurk81loaQkX_HGIEBbwyndfHgJ9GFB958FM37!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNurk81loaQkX_HGIEBbwyndfHgJ9GFB958FM37%3Dw203-h152-k-no!7i4032!8i3024!4m7!3m6!1s0x88cd7723c0abf305:0xb978c8c630abea0f!8m2!3d23.1253114!4d-82.4250464!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F1tm8lcq5?entry=ttu# 3
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