THE CITY AND PORT OF HAVANA SINCE CASTRO TOOK POWER
According to the CIA World FactBook, Havana, with an estimated population of 2,125,000 is the capital of both Cuba and of Ciudad de la Habana province. It is the largest city and chief port of the West Indies and one of the oldest cities in the Americas.
Havana is the political, economic, and cultural center of Cuba. An important hub of air and maritime transportation, it is the focal point of Cuban commerce, exporting sugar, tobacco, and fruits and importing mainly foodstuffs, cotton, and machinery and technical equipment. Havana possesses one of the best natural harbors in the Caribbean and has long been strategically and commercially important (Miller, 1992, 14).
The original settlement, called San Crist=bal de la Habana, was founded in 1515 by the Spanish explorer Diego de Velßzquez on Cuba's southern coast but was relocated to the site of present-day Havana in 1519. Spanish treasure galleons assembled in Havana's harbor for their return voyage to Spain, and the city tempted many English, French, and Dutch buccaneers (Miller, 1992, 23).
By the early 19th century, the city ranked as one of the wealthiest and busiest commercial centers in the Western Hemisphere. Until 1959 the close political and economic relations between Cuba and the United States were strongly reflected in the commercial and cultural life of the city.
After the Castro government took control, the U.S. presence in Havana was replaced by that of the Soviet Union, with which the Cuban government maintained close ties. Castro's policy
of directing economic resources towards rural areas resulted in
the deterioration of Havana, particularly the old city. The modern section of the city has wide boulevards, impressive public buildings (notably the lavishly decorated capitol), and magnificent residences (Pacheco, 1998, 5).
In 1959, Cuban rebel troops led by Fidel Castro overthrew the ...