Simple life in Cuba

The simple and humble life of the Cuban people is reflected in each old, simple street, colorful vintage cars or large hand-painted poster.

Cubans watch a television broadcast of President Raul Castro's speech at a restaurant in Havana on December 17. The United States is planning to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than 50 years of embargo. US President Barack Obama spoke with President Raul Castro for an hour yesterday to discuss the changes. Photo: Reuters.

A car drives past a poster showing five Cuban prisoners held in the United States on December 17. Two of them have just been released. The US President yesterday announced a change in policy towards Cuba, including the opening of the country's embassy there and the beginning of talks to normalize relations. The steps to normalize relations include Cuba releasing US citizen Alan Gross, 65, after five years of imprisonment. Cuba also released an intelligence officer who spied for the US and had been imprisoned for nearly 20 years. In return, the US will release three Cuban intelligence officers. Photo: Reuters.

On October 28, students prepare to throw flowers into the sea along the Malecon Avenue in Havana to commemorate the hero Camilo Cienfuegos. Mr. Cienfuegos, commander of Fidel Castro's rebel army, disappeared at sea on October 28, 1959, along with his plane while en route from Havana to Camaguey. Neither the plane nor Cienfuegos' body were found. Every year, on October 28, Cuba throws a wreath into the sea to commemorate his death. Photo: Reuters.

Dancers practice in an old theater in downtown Havana, October 14. Photo: Reuters.

Alicia Alonso, Cuba's renowned ballerina and founder of the National Ballet, arrives at the opening ceremony of the 24th International Ballet Festival in Havana on October 28. The festival runs from October 28 to November 7 under the direction of Alonso. Photo: Reuters.

A boy plays on a deserted street in the capital Havana. Photo: Reuters.

Tulio Diaz, a fencing instructor and world champion in 1991, reads a newspaper before class at the Martyrs of Barbados gym in Havana. The gym was named after the 73 fencers who died in a 1976 attack in Barbados. About 100 students train at the gym. The graffiti on the wall reads: "Sport: a right for everyone." Photo: Reuters.

A child poses for a photo next to a portrait of Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara (real name Ernesto Guevara De La Serna) and hero Camilo Cienfuegos in the central Cuban city of Camaguey. Forty-seven years after he was captured in the Bolivian jungle and executed, Ernesto Guevara De La Serna remains a national hero in the hearts of Cubans. Guevara fought alongside Fidel Castro to overthrow the US-backed dictatorship and build a revolutionary government in Cuba. Photo: Reuters.

Michael Petit, an American tourist in South Carolina, captured many beautiful images of Cuba during his visits to the island nation. Michael Petit / www.cubagraphy.com.

Petit has visited Cuba ten times since 2012. His most recent trip to Cuba was a visit to his girlfriend, who lives in Centro Habana, Havana, last November. Photo: Michael Petit / www.cubagraphy.com.

Petit said most Cubans he met were not upset with Americans because they understood that the frozen relationship was a matter for the two governments. Photo: Michael Petit / www.cubagraphy.com.

"What surprised me the most was how friendly and genuine the Cuban people were. I have never met anyone who had a negative opinion of Americans, and that is the truth," CBS News quoted Petit as saying. Petit welcomed the news that the US was normalizing relations with Cuba. Photo: Michael Petit / www.cubagraphy.com.

Deserted streets in Centro Habana. Photo: Michael Petit / www.cubagraphy.com.

According to VnExpress