I learned from an Aussie friend that nearly half of the Cubans living in Old Havana were staying in residences unfit for humans.

On the last touring day we stepped off the main roads and saw a very different sight. The houses were so disgusting and broken down. I couldn’t believe people were actually living there.

I instantly became grossed out and didn’t want to eat or drink anything from there. I’ve worked in restaurants before and could only imagine what the kitchens looked like. Gross.

You can tell at one point the buildings were really beautiful but it’s been years since they’ve had new paint or work done. They’re all washed out and the concrete is crumbling.

There are residences with very narrow staircases where the first floor is all dirty and inhabited then you look up and see laundry hanging out the second and third floor windows.

We passed a block that looked abandoned and dirty then a couple doors down, a furnished house with working TV.

A bunch of kids were playing volleyball in a square amongst more dilapidated buildings and half of them had no shoes on.

It made me sad to see a place I though was so beautiful was really a shell of what it once was. So many stories and photos from differnt stuff.

I’ve got cuban cars, food, style, travellers, music and more all written and I just need to post them. I would have taken week to do it there! I really enjoyed learning about life there.