Cuban comedian Jardiel González has taken to social media to highlight a bizarre traffic signal situation on Cristina Street in Havana, where a five-gallon steel tank has been repurposed as a traffic sign. In a video filled with irony, González refers to the makeshift tank as the "real Cuban Tank," playing on the word "tank," which is widely used colloquially in Cuba.
"When you crash into a tank, what's up?" he quipped in his post. "If it's a war tank, how do you end up? Scrapped," he remarked, using popular slang to describe the potential impact a vehicle could face when colliding with such an obstacle on the road.
In the video, González examines the inside of the tank and uncovers a false bottom, joking about the depth of the pothole where it was placed. "If you fall there, you'll find oil," he commented, exaggerating to highlight the street's poor condition. "You peek in and find Jules Verne down there. It's 20,000 leagues under the sea to the center of the Earth. That's creativity and creative resistance. That's the real Tank," he emphasized.
Just a month ago, a tragic incident occurred when a 13-year-old boy died after falling into an open manhole during a flood in Havana, sparking a wave of complaints about uncovered drains and holes in the city's streets. Residents from various neighborhoods, such as El Vedado, Playa, Boyeros, and Cotorro, have reported the presence of open holes and drains posing a constant danger to pedestrians and drivers.
Beyond the humorous tone of González, the scene mirrors the Cuban reality: streets riddled with potholes, a lack of proper signage, and citizens resorting to improvised solutions to prevent accidents. It's yet another example of how, in Cuba, creative resistance isn't just a slogan but the sole means of survival.
Exploring Cuba's Infrastructure Challenges
What sparked the use of a steel tank as a traffic sign in Havana?
A lack of proper signage and infrastructure in Havana led to the creative use of a steel tank as a makeshift traffic sign, highlighting the city's ongoing challenges with road maintenance.
How has the community responded to infrastructure issues in Havana?
Residents have expressed concerns and reported hazards such as open drains and potholes, which pose significant risks to pedestrians and motorists across various neighborhoods in Havana.
What tragic event highlighted the dangers of Havana's infrastructure problems?
The death of a 13-year-old boy who fell into an open manhole during a flood underscored the severe risks associated with the city's inadequate infrastructure and the urgent need for improvements.