Once upon a time, there was a white dove...
At 6:19 p.m. in Havana, a girl watched as time slowed. The image of the white dove, soaring above the others, was wrapped in a premonitory halo—a message that would clear many of her doubts. She simply thought: “This is the picture”. It was one of those moments when you see that everything fits. And just in case, she shot again a little more to the right. The picture of the puzzle slowly emerged... and what seemed chaotic opened the doors of understanding. She rejoiced at the exact moment, the light, wings and a lot of freedom everywhere, in short, pigeons, a man feeding them, and The Conversation(1) in the background of the frame.
A minute later... the Universe took care of delivering a bunch of letters in every corner of the world. And the girl felt a tear slide down her cheek.
So many magical things happened on my bike ride yesterday... and I rode 44 kilometers, which seemed a bit excessive to resume this activity after a few days without leaving home. But I didn't mind being in powder after I got home, I felt a beautiful, mixed energy that could touch anyone and spread to them with poetry.
This is one of the places that makes me feel peace in my city, it is known as the Pigeons Square in Old Havana.
I used to come here a lot in my college days. I also frequently attended the concert hall of the Convent of St. Francis of Assisi, the minor Basilica, to listen to masterful performances of classical music... and I loved it when the women's chamber orchestra Camerata Romeu 🎻🎶 performed.
That historic and magnificent building is under restoration and yes, there are pigeons in that shot too. I see three.
One of the things I like most about this place is when all the pigeons take flight. There are so many of them... and to me they do a dance. They fly in circles all over the square and it's beautiful, a great choreography.
I recorded this video for you and you can hear the water falling behind me at the lion fountain.
These guys came up and greeted me. It's nice how cyclists greet each other even if they don't know each other and help each other if they get into trouble in the street. Fortunately, my Bianchi is a very good bike and always gets me home without a hitch.
The woman asked them for help... if you visit Old Havana and go to the Pigeon Square you can't miss taking a picture in front of the St. Francis of Assisi Convent. 😅
Photographers are always doing their thing... they're looking at everything. I myself was captured by a photographer's lens when I arrived at that Plaza, with the intention of being there gawking at those cute feathered creatures.
I also walked through many cobblestone streets before arriving here, visited two fountains and listened to a man singing on a corner the song “Bésame mucho”... and I love being able to bring you my story when it is still Wednesday in Cuba. 😉
(1) The Conversation. Sculptural work of art designed by French artist Étienne Pirot and inaugurated on May 25, 2012. Located in Saint Francis of Assisi Square, in the Historic Center of Havana, is this piece donated to the Office of the Historian by the Italian Vittorio Perrotta, a friend of the institution. This piece is sculpted in bronze and in an abstract form, it shows two people conversing.
*Providing evidence 🤷♀
Original content by @nanixxx. All rights reserved ©, 2025.
I don't like pigeons at all to be honest, I'm a bit repulsed by them. But your photos are wonderful.
What a ride! 44 kms!! Guao!
Abrazos
Yes, back and forth. Providing evidence again... Hahaha...
😅 I understand, my friend, to each his own... That's the way it is.
But thank you for admiring my photos and visiting me. It's always a pleasure.
Your photos are beautiful and capture that magical moment of this bird so different from the others (long live the difference!). And not to mention that kind and pleasant chronicle. In my city (Cumaná) there are no squares where so many pigeons are concentrated; I do remember that in Plaza Bolívar in Caracas something similar to the one in the square you show us happens (as if the pigeons like places of renown, ha, ha, ha!). Thanks for giving us such a nice moment. Best regards, @nanixxx.
Maybe it's because pigeons need an audience to perform their choreographies... hahaha! 😉
It is a pleasure to share. Greetings and a big hug. 🤗 Thank you for your kind words and support.
God I hate pigeons! rats with tails look at them swarming after the thrown seed, great captures! In amongst a flock like that I would be worried of being pooped upon.
Have you got your phone lines replaced after the theft yet?
I am still without a phone line. It's more than a block of cable that they have to come and lay and they don't seem to be interested. Two days ago I called and made a complaint. However, no one has called me back. The phone company is supposed to at least contact me by phone to give me some kind of answer ... I don't know maybe they sent me a carrier pigeon and it got lost on the way. 🤣
Here they say that when you get bird droppings from the sky it's good luck. No pigeon shit on me that day. 😅🤣 I wish it did.... Hahahahaha.
Thank you, @grindle 😊.
mañana, mañana without the sense of urgency!
Good luck? LOL think I will pass
😅
I used to watch old havana through movies and videography, it's so stunning. It's as if time slowed down around there. What I love about Hive is exactly this, showing another part of a country that's far from the news because when it comes to Cuba, it's always the negative side 😅 like sure it exists everywhere but look at those architectural work, you don't get to see them just anywhere. Thanks for sharing these pictures, you're blessed living in such place or at least near one.
Hello @macchiata. That area of old Havana is very nice. Our remembered and beloved historian of the city, Eusebio Leal Spengler, who sadly passed away, did a lot to recover whole areas and buildings of colonial Havana so that the city could be restored to its former glory.
It really catches the attention of any foreign visitor and of us Cubans who can enjoy it as well. I went to many places that day and took many pictures so they will be coming to Hive in due time ;)
Thanks, best regards! ☕👋🏻
Listening to the fluttering of the pigeons was relaxing and beautiful, I closed my eyes for a moment and called out to the white pigeon... what message will it have for me?
How beautiful and how beautiful the photo where they are perched on the fountain. I love it!
44 kilometres is a long way to start... I wouldn't have legs anymore!
The white dove will speak to you and only your heart will be able to listen. 😊☕
The road was long but very rewarding. Then I cycled all the way back from Old Havana along the Malecon to Vedado. I saw two pelicans flying together there and an amazing sunset.
Those are the things I love most, those simple and beautiful things. I'll listen to the white dove...
It always makes me happy to see such buildings finally getting the right attention and being restored. Even if they're in dire condition. So much nicer to see the effort into fixing them up even if slightly changed for modern interest instead of just demolishing them entirely.
The same thing happens to me. This part of old Havana is known as the historic centre and a lot is really being done to preserve at least the most representative buildings. Of course, the family houses that are more than a century old are not all in the same situation and many of them are in danger of collapse. Let's keep in mind that Havana is 505 years old.
It was similar (and in one district in Yerevan also) in Tbilisi. The oldest district is very famous, but once you step off the main streets you see the decay of those buildings. But some attention is better than none. More preservation is better.
the first shot reminded me when I worked in H+NYC some parks had so many pigeons and doves at times, some love them some hate them
thats a big ride
Thanks for joining the Wednesday walk
Have a great day
Yes, pigeons have their loyal fans as well as their detractors. Hahaha... They are here among us, in the comments of this post. 😅🤣
Thank you for this fabulous initiative and community! Have a wonderful day.
👍🙂👍
It is the dance of freedom of the doves, the musical piece? We can hear that it is the symphony of the water falling from the lion which goes in harmony with each dancing flapping of the doves ❤️
The initial photo, without words... a work of art! ✨
I have seen the little owl, intense and toxic, in Spanish lands and now it arrives in Cuba and gets poetic. 🤣🙌🏻💆🏻
When I took the picture in my mind a voice said: that's the picture. I have voices trapped in my head. Or I don't know if they come flying in like pigeons.
Gracias ☺️
¿Toxico yo? 🦉 Mis tias son todas mias...
😅🤣 sí, sí... No hay ninguna objeción.
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Nice ride, always looking for interesting places and beautiful pictures. The spectacle of the pigeons is incredible, there are many cities in the world that have squares where the pigeons are protagonists.
Our Cathedral Square is beautiful, I like that they are rescuing some jewels of the existing architecture there. Nice Thursday daughter. 😘❤️❤️❤️
¡Mamani! En esa plaza he vivido hermosos momentos que siempre serán recordados. Las palomas me gustan mucho. Acaba de venir para ir allí y pasear juntas.
Haven't got a lot of pigeons here for such a shot😂😂
I've always wanted to take one like that.
Birds are actually hard to take pictures of in my city. Rough...
Lovely pics though, beautiful chaos
I too have always wanted to take ‘the photo of the pigeons’ and it seems that it took me years to achieve it. That's life... everything comes in its own time.
Many times I have been there without my camera. Other times I've been there, the photos didn't turn out like that and many things have happened... although each moment is unique, you know when the moment is the big moment!
One day, if you want to take a picture like this so badly, you will. Maybe where you least expect it.
:) Thank you!
I love that place...I used to go there, also went to the concerts at San Francisco de Asís... Camerata Romeo is one of ours best music group!!
It was really nice seen you today.....keep in touch!
It is a beautiful place and a great cultural centre in many respects .... and is close to the sea. There is magic everywhere.
Thanks, it was also a pleasure to see you today at the Bitcoin-Hive Pizza Day!
It's wonderful to read your stories and see your photographs. Hugs.
😄 Thank you. I'm glad you like them.
Hello @nanixxx, good morning. Here it is already Saturday... I arrived late ( or not) I read the publication with Camerata Romeu in the background, thanks for leaving this gem. I love the second photo..., a small miracle. Cesaria Evora, sublime.... Thank you for these moments.
A big hug.
The first two photos are a diptych hahaha....
Thanks for stopping by. It's never too late...
Since I am in this genealogy thing, making my family tree, I will tell you that the story of Zenaida Castro Romeu is very interesting.
What a coincidence! 😃 Antonio María Romeu, one of the great exponents of danzón in our country... His name was Antonio like the grandfather I'm looking for. 😅 Armando, one of his sons was considered a musical genius, he played the piano, and his daughter, Zenaida Castro Romeu's mother, was a piano teacher and her name was also Zenaida, but with the surname Romeu González.
So there you see our Zenaida, the one I know, a very dedicated and talented woman. I love the way she conducts the orchestra. And she always wears her hair short like that. Hahaha... This came to my mind now.
About Cesária Evora's performance, I would have liked to share the song in the voice of the man who sang it... But as I couldn't upload the video because of a connection issue... So I looked for this version which I love.
You are always welcome here. A big hug.
Hi @nanixxx, I know I'm welcome, but I appreciate you telling me, it's like a comforting echo of what I feel.
On another note, I didn't know Cesária Evora's interpretation, I enjoyed listening to it, it sounded very elegant and restrained to me. I liked it. And I love Antonio's search with all that interweaving of "coincidences".
Now I'm going to take a little nap. I wish you a great weekend.
A giant hug from Spain.
🤗