Rain, deserted streets, police greet Obama in Havana

Driving rain, deserted streets and hordes of police—this was the Havana greeting Barack Obama on Sunday when he became the first US president to visit the Cuban capital in 88 years, reports AFP from Havana. The view from Obama’s armored Cadillac, nicknamed “the Beast,” would have been a long way from the postcard vision of sun-splashed Cuban mansions and sparkling blue seafront. Drizzle—the first rain to fall for weeks—started almost at the same time Air Force One touched down at the start of a landmark trip to end a decades-long US-Cuban standoff. By the time Obama and his family reached central Havana, the drizzle was a downpour and the city’s streets were eerily empty. Where the foul weather didn’t dissuade sightseers, the communist state’s security services finished the job. Swarms of police—plainclothes but easily recognizable with their athletic builds and hard stares—occupied street corners through the historic Old Town, long ahead of Obama’s arrival there for the first stop of his three-day visit. Many streets were barred altogether and large buildings in the area were put under lockdown, while security agents watched from rooftops. The Malecon, the iconic seawall running along the front of Havana, would usually be crammed with families, lovers and musicians on a sunny weekend day. But the rainswept wall, which might have been the perfect viewing point to witness Obama’s convoy traveling to the Old Town, was forlorn and deserted. Of the people standing even close to the Old Town area that Obama would visit, nearly all were police or foreign tourists. Cubans were in distant third place.
About 20 people huddled under a bus stop just outside the closed security zone. Two were Cubans. One of them declined to talk to AFP. The other, civil engineer Ariel Hernandez, 42, said Cubans were not being encouraged to get near the security zone. “Maybe they let me come here because they think I’m a tourist with my backpack,” he said.
Like many Cubans, Hernandez expected Obama’s visit to usher in an era of change in an isolated, impoverished island increasingly desperate to open to the wider world. “Since I was a child I’ve heard the story of the revolution and this was really the story of being against the United States,” he said. “It’s truly a historic moment, it’s huge.”
“For me, I really think the future will change,” he said. When Obama’s convoy arrived at the perimeter of the security zone, the president, First Lady Michelle and their daughters, together with their many aides and bodyguards, quickly disappeared beyond the cordon.

 

Rain, deserted streets, police greet Obama in Havana

Driving rain, deserted streets and hordes of policethis was the Havana greeting Barack Obama on Sunday when he became the first US president to visit the Cuban capital in 88 years, reports AFP from Havana. The view from Obamas armored Cadillac, nicknamed the Beast, would have been a long way from the postcard vision of sun-splashed Cuban mansions and sparkling blue seafront. Drizzlethe first rain to fall for weeksstarted almost at the same time Air Force One touched down at the start of a landmark trip to end a decades-long US-Cuban standoff. By the time Obama and his family reached central Havana, the drizzle was a downpour and the citys streets were eerily empty. Where the foul weather didnt dissuade sightseers, the communist states security services finished the job. Swarms of policeplainclothes but easily recognizable with their athletic builds and hard staresoccupied street corners through the historic Old Town, long ahead of Obamas arrival there for the first stop of his three-day visit. Many streets were barred altogether and large buildings in the area were put under lockdown, while security agents watched from rooftops. The Malecon, the iconic seawall running along the front of Havana, would usually be crammed with families, lovers and musicians on a sunny weekend day. But the rainswept wall, which might have been the perfect viewing point to witness Obamas convoy traveling to the Old Town, was forlorn and deserted. Of the people standing even close to the Old Town area that Obama would visit, nearly all were police or foreign tourists. Cubans were in distant third place. About 20 people huddled under a bus stop just outside the closed security zone. Two were Cubans. One of them declined to talk to AFP. The other, civil engineer Ariel Hernandez, 42, said Cubans were not being encouraged to get near the security zone. Maybe they let me come here because they think Im a tourist with my backpack, he said. Like many Cubans, Hernandez expected Obamas visit to usher in an era of change in an isolated, impoverished island increasingly desperate to open to the wider world. Since I was a child Ive heard the story of the revolution and this was really the story of being against the United States, he said. Its truly a historic moment, its huge. For me, I really think the future will change, he said. When Obamas convoy arrived at the perimeter of the security zone, the president, First Lady Michelle and their daughters, together with their many aides and bodyguards, quickly disappeared beyond the cordon.