Why Cubans have not been buying new cars for 70 years: the life of motorists on Liberty Island (4 photos)

Rum, cigars and tropical sun - that's what we have associated with Cuba, better known as the Island of Liberty. But sandy beaches, good drinks and gentle sunshine are not the only visiting cards of this state. Much stronger Cuba is known for its cars.





It must be understood that after the revolution of 1959 the government islands banned citizens from buying cars without a special permission from the authorities. An exception can be called officials, but rare taxi companies for elite tourists - they were still given these permissions, it was impossible for a mere mortal to get it - we have socialism here, somehow.

This led to the fact that the island actually remained only cars imported and bought there before 1959, which to our time have become a real rarity. Only now, over the years life, these cars have undergone significant changes. resourceful Cubans changed engines in them, put homemade spare parts in them, and even turned the old Zhiguli and Volga into convertibles. In general, from the factory configuration there today there is only one case left, and even that redone.

At the same time, even selling such a car to a new owner is a long years it was impossible: cars were passed down in the family from generation to generation, constantly being modified and transformed. As a result, so far a whole fleet of unique cars has formed in Cuba, which are nowhere else No. Only now the ban on the purchase of cars was lifted a few years ago - in 2014, but almost no one changed the cars. Why is this happened? Do people really like to ride in cars assembled from vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers?



You will be surprised, but to some extent - yes. Cubans with big they treat their cars with warmth, because many of them they still got from their grandfathers. Yes, they are not new, but they are a kind of family heirloom, which is difficult for many to part with. They spent the whole life of several generations, so getting rid of such a car is like throw away the family photo album.





The second reason for not buying new cars is business. It's no secret that modern Cuba lives off tourism. A tourists, especially American tourists, love used cars and rare homemade. Therefore, it is simply economically beneficial for people to maintain their "old lady" in working order to make money on it as much as possible more money.



Finally, it is impossible not to remember the standard of living. Cuba - a rather poor country, so money for a new foreign car (and there is no production on Liberty Island) the population simply does not have. Yes, with taking into account the cost of cars in Cuba, you can save up for a new car tens, and hundreds of years - the amounts are simply unbearable for a simple worker.

However, people sincerely like their lives. They like them cars. They do not cling to the pieces of iron and just sincerely rejoice life. I think this is the secret of their happiness - to live for today, love yourself and not think about money. After all, happiness is not in them.