There is a very shortlist of cities in the Americas that have celebrated a 500th birthday. November 16th the citizens of Havana hosted the 500th Anniversary of the founding of their beautiful city by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar.
Huge crowds attended several free concerts all along the Melcon seawall. A driving rain Friday night merely delayed the Birthday celebration. Cubans are use to the weather of their island home. One crowd was estimated at over 30,000 listening to rhythms of Grammy Award winning band, Los Van Van, Saturday night November 16th. Music and dance has been a huge part of Cuban culture for these 500 years. A grand fireworks display began around 10pm from the Castillo de Morro in front of Havana harbor.
Huge crowds attended several free concerts all along the Melcon seawall. A driving rain Friday night merely delayed the Birthday celebration. Cubans are use to the weather of their island home. One crowd was estimated at over 30,000 listening to rhythms of Grammy Award winning band, Los Van Van, Saturday night November 16th. Music and dance has been a huge part of Cuban culture for these 500 years. A grand fireworks display began around 10pm from the Castillo de Morro in front of Havana harbor.
© Ralph De Palma Photographer
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