With its turquoise waters, its old American cars, its preserved nature, its festive atmosphere and its dazzling and colorful architecture, Cuba is a destination like no other. If the country seems frozen in time, appearances are deceiving. Since the 2017 reforms, Cuba has seen a large number of young self-employed entrepreneurs emerge. Jérôme Pitorin begins his journey in Havana, the capital of the island with its picturesque and captivating charm. He walks through the Prado, one of the most beautiful and typical streets of the city…

Alberto Gutiérrez Alonso, president of A Lo Cubano, the Havana automobile club, would be almost grateful for the 1962 US trade embargo against Cuba: Without the embargo, the grande majority of ces voitures n’existerait plus, explique-t-il, car l’importation de voitures neuves n’étant pas autorisée pendant des décennies, il a fallu que l’on se débrouille avec celles que we had. » There would be around 70,000 vintage cars on the island, Chryslers, Buicks or even Chevrolets, like this 1956 model that Julio César Cañas Martínez, Jérôme Pitorin’s driver, renewed for two years. The host will discover the fun contests organized by the owners of these shiny “antiques”. Not speed racing, but a contest of skill, which consists of carrying a full glass of water on your hood or on your roof, and going around a dented asphalt parking lot, spilling as little liquid as possible.

Beautiful getaways, Saturday May 6 at 9:00 p.m. on France 5

Frederick Rapilly