Housing
 
Housing consists of a mix of government provided rental units and privately owned housing. Those who own can bequeath to next of kin and can trade for another house or apartment of similar value, but ordinary sales are not allowed in theory (although in practice it happens regularly). If one owned an apartment or house prior to the Revolution, then one was allowed to continue owning it as long as one did not get it confiscated for being an enemy of the Revolution. Of course, many of the nicest houses were abandoned after the Revolution when most of Cuba's professionals and landowners fled. Many of the grandest homes in Cuba are now used as embassies or ambassadors' residences while others house enterprises in the emerging sector (that is, the new businesses jointly owned by foreign capitalists and the Cuban government).
 
 
A beautiful private home in Miramar. The inside is stunning. These people earn extra income renting rooms to foreign visitors.   A lovely private apartment in Miramar. These people operate a paladar, or private restaurant, in their apartment.
     
 
Once a beautiful home, now subdivided and deteriorating.   I wonder if that shack on top of these lovely apartments is some kind of private housing?
     
 
A fairly typical entryway in an apartment building.   At least this entryway is painted. The common bathroom is at the end, by the way -- these apartments don't have their own.
     
 
This apartment is off the entryway above. Note the lack of windows, as well as the stairs, which are six inches wide.   These apartment complexes were constructed during the socialist period. Not the most attractive period, but then there's plenty of this awful stuff in the U.S., too.
     
 
This must have been beautiful at one time.   This apartment overlooks the square at the cathedral in the old city. I could live there.
     
 
A comfortable apartment for a family of three in central Havana. The two at the table are American students who rent rooms for $25 per day.   Houses at an agricultural cooperative.



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Maintained by William N. Trumbull. Updated 8/11/99