Havana

Havana is just like the pictures... a fabulously decaying city, saved from the architectural destruction of the 60s, 70s and 80s that just about all other urban centres worldwide have suffered. The whole city is almost like a museum, both architecturally and in some ways culturally, as there are refreshingly few signs of capitalism.

The cars and transports are of course, legendary, and yes, the roads are filled (OK, the traffic is incredibly light for a compact city of 2 million) with US Cars from the 1950s, all still working (makes you think about how wasteful producing and disposing generations of cars is, and how wasteful the motor industry is), as well as glorious soviet creations, including the home made stretched Ladas. The only modern vehicles are the tourist taxis, tour buses and hire cars (ah yes – and the Chinese urban buses too).

The streets in the old own (where we're staying) are filled with grand, crumbling buildings, though many have now been, or are being restored. Street life is filled with people sitting from balconies having conversations up and down the street, balcony to balcony, balcony to street and so on.

Went to the ballet one evening and saw Carmen, which was fabulous. Theatre is considered a right of the people, and locals can get a ticket for 12cents.

More pictures of Havana here!