Havana is an architectural jewel box where buildings collapse from lack of maintenance.
It's a coastal capital facing a sea nearly devoid of boats, thanks to U.S. sanctions and Cuban prohibitions.
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Havana is an architectural jewel box where buildings collapse from lack of maintenance.
This metropolis of conundrums and contradictions will celebrate its 500th anniversary Saturday facing some of its toughest challenges, from climate change to the U.S. boycott to stagnation in its communist economy.
In this Nov. 9, 2019 photo, a youth rollerblades amid cyclists and pedestrians in Old Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, under a rainbow, a man drives a classic American car past the newly opened Hotel Paseo del Prado in Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, a wall is covered by a mural of faces, representing local residents, in a plaza in Old Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, a youth does hand stands amid pedestrians in a square in Old Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, a woman pulls towels off the line after they dried on the balcony of an old home, missing part of its roof, in Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, people play dominoes near the malecon sea wall at sunset in Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 9, 2019 photo, a bicycle taxi driver navigates his client past buildings under restoration in Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, Lorenzo Ballester poses at the door of his house, decorated with a photo of revolutionary hero Ernesto "Che" Guevara, in Havana, Cuba. The city of Havana will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 9, 2019 photo, a man stands on the balcony of his home amid drying sheets in Havana, Cuba. The city of Havana will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, tourists take a joy ride along the malecon sea wall in Havana, Cuba. The city of Havana will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
Its leaders denounce global capitalism as they build chain hotels for foreign tourists.
In this Nov 8, 2019 photo, people walk next to the Capital building, with its dome recently restored by Russian specialists in Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
This metropolis of conundrums and contradictions will celebrate its 500th anniversary Saturday facing some of its toughest challenges, from climate change to the U.S. boycott to stagnation in its communist economy.
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, a dog named "Brujita," or Little Witch, looks out the window of a classic American classic car in Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 9, 2019 photo, a youth rollerblades amid cyclists and pedestrians in Old Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, under a rainbow, a man drives a classic American car past the newly opened Hotel Paseo del Prado in Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, a wall is covered by a mural of faces, representing local residents, in a plaza in Old Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, a youth does hand stands amid pedestrians in a square in Old Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, a woman pulls towels off the line after they dried on the balcony of an old home, missing part of its roof, in Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, people play dominoes near the malecon sea wall at sunset in Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 9, 2019 photo, a bicycle taxi driver navigates his client past buildings under restoration in Havana, Cuba. The city will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, Lorenzo Ballester poses at the door of his house, decorated with a photo of revolutionary hero Ernesto "Che" Guevara, in Havana, Cuba. The city of Havana will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 9, 2019 photo, a man stands on the balcony of his home amid drying sheets in Havana, Cuba. The city of Havana will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
In this Nov. 10, 2019 photo, tourists take a joy ride along the malecon sea wall in Havana, Cuba. The city of Havana will celebrate its 500th anniversary on Nov. 16. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)