A sanctuary of wheeled history in our country, filled with strange classics and speedy motorcycles, has become one of my favorite places.
The weekend, so far, has been pretty awesome. It started off well on Saturday with Real Madrid's victory in El Clásico, and then I went to the place I want to tell you about today, the automotive sanctuary of my city.
Let me tell you about this quite peculiar temple. When the pandemic finally ended and cultural institutions returned to normal, as a history enthusiast, I wanted to visit a place that I had been eager to see: The Garage.
My country (Cuba 🇨🇺) is a living car museum; nevertheless, cars have their own temple: The Garage, the automotive museum of Havana. Despite being a big car enthusiast, I had never been able to visit this institution before. For many years, the museum was on the move, just like a car. And when it finally obtained a permanent location, the place was in such bad condition that it had to be closed to the public, and then the pandemic hit. All in all, it's been almost seven years of wanting to visit this place. The wait finally ended recently when, by chance, I was walking through the Historic District and a large yellow sign caught my attention: The Garage, the newly renovated venue. My desire overwhelmed me, and without a second thought, I walked in.
Since that first visit, I've lost count of how many times I've been there. The car exhibition hasn't changed much (unfortunately), but during my visits, I've met many people (the ladies at the entrance already know me). I've met renowned automotive historians and the restorers of the exhibited vehicles (true artists). Thanks to my frequent visits, I've been able to witness the magic of restoration. Recently, I was invited to see the entire process, from when the car arrives to when it's finally displayed.
I never imagined that restoration could be such a fascinating profession. More than once, I've wanted to take it up as my new hobby, but unfortunately, in my country, the conditions aren't the best for pursuing restoration.
This center is not just a museum; it also houses a library where several issues of old magazines documenting the history of automobiles in Cuba are preserved. Its walls are adorned with books and advertisements that have helped reconstruct the history of automotive culture in a country where keeping track of things can be challenging. The library sometimes serves as a bookstore, and it's where I've obtained some books that have made me fall even more in love with the cars of my country, the almendrones.
Recently, in collaboration with the center's management and as part of my recent project (@estiloviajerocu), we have formed an alliance to promote this newly renovated place. In our tours, we have included a visit for our clients, where they can explore the exhibited collection, including the crown jewel, a Desoto donated by the government of Chicago. Of course, most people are enamored by the variety of cars and motorcycles on display here, and it's no wonder. While you can see a greater variety of cars on the streets, The Garage showcases much older vehicles, truly antique ones.
In this place I have spent some very special moments recently: Some of the ones I remember most were when we took a man from France, who had been wanting to see Alejo Carpentier's Volkswagen Beetle for years, or the children's faces when they saw the big Mack (matte color) that is exposed in the center of the collection, or when without warning the restorers started a Harley Davidson and the sound of the engine echoed throughout the place, scaring more than one person. This place holds great experiences for me and moments that will stay with me wherever I go. This place is my passion come true.
As I write this post, I´m sitting in the library, diving into the history of a transportation method that has already disappeared in your country. There are several modes of transportation that could have a fascinating backstory, but one that comes to mind is the old streetcar. Streetcars used to be a popular way of getting around in many cities, but over time, they were replaced by other means of transportation like buses and cars.
Thank you for reading me and I hope you enjoyed this mini-tour as much as I did, but tell me: in your country is there a museum dedicated to cars? Do you enjoy visiting museums? Tell me which one would be your favorite?
