Adolescents at Large (Part I) - Elegantly Dishevelled

Adventure to Cuba

As I mentioned in the previous post, I have just come back from Cuba. I was away for ten days as well as one day at the end in London for a shopping spree. My dad, is such a cool cat! Cuba was incredible, really different from anything I have ever seen before. I am asked by many to try and compare it to something, or somewhere rather, but I am stumped at the thought. It really is like the pictures you see in travel shops and places like Buena Vista, old women looking blankly at the camera with an oversize cigar hanging nonchalantly out of their wrinkled mouths, or, men in Panama hats trying to sell you the latest newspaper copy, which at closer inspection is dated May 2009. As I walked down some main streets in Old Havana city I was overwhelmed to a point where everything was, just that, overwhelming! My eyes had never seen such strange and odd sights. Beautiful vintage cars, Dodges, Fords and dilapidated Volkswagens were among the many luxury and exotic vehicles that we seem to haul thousands of rands toward in the hopes of owning our own yet for them it appears a boring, everyday norm. Sad and dampened-hoped faces seem to peer in the dark shadows of doorways, once property of lucrative businesses and hotels, although now the once grand architecture of a bustling city is crumbling at the skirtings. Huge graffiti portraits of a great and iconic Cuban hero, Che Guevara, lures watchingly over the people of Havana, it seems you are not too far off after seeing a typical Communist propaganda attempt when bombarded with yet another. The more I think of it the less I am prone to think that the people of Cuba are extremely happy and content with their current governmental situation. Whenever faced with the burning question, 'And the government? Good? Happy?' a man we met and asked, shuffles slightly in his seat, shifts his gaze and nods. Just nods. Which gives the impression of some sort of advanced oppression. An oppression that has gotten to the point where no great waves of hope are evident because every day is the same.

Although talk is good (and cheap at that), a picture speaks a thousand words. And with no further ado... Cuba, in a snapshot.




























I think it is fitting, 'scuse the pun, that I launch a blog devoted to fashion soon. In other words, a fashion blog. I said 'devoted' to sound snazzier. But, as you can see I have refrained from taking street snaps of the local style scene, simply, I regret, cause there is none. I don't know if it tickles your fancy, but heaps and heaps of netty meshy stuff in bright colours, pinks, yellows, whites etc. And an overload of stiff linen shirts with a large 'Havana Club' emblem blasted on the back. Hmm, now there's something that just whips me into an inspiration frenzy. Maybe it's the heat that makes people think they are exempt from good style habits? I don't know. Anyway, it doesn't start here but will be showing you some fab-ness soon.