Havana

I've just got back from Havana, where I took part in a seminar about the conservation of historic buildings. Of which Havana has plenty, many derelict due to a combnation of neglect, hurricanes and the use of seawater in the production of concrete.

Cuba is a truly extraordinary place, with few mobile phones, no advertising, not much in the way of shops, all those 50's American cars. The last outpost of the cold war, but it's begining to warm up (though at night it's a rather dim, cold blue colour as they have switched over to low energy lights wholesale).

It's said that Cuba is one of the most sustainable places in the world, which I can believe as they don't throw anything away and recycle everything. The absolute antithesis of the consuenerist society we are used to. No consumer electronics or flash cars. However there isn't much in the way of food either, although the Cuban's seem relatively happy. Music, rum, sun. I hope that I have the opportunity to get involved in restoration projects there in the future