Why in Cuba the windows are without glass, and the walls are without wallpaper

Perhaps the happiest people in the world live on the beautiful tropical island of Cuba. Their happiness does not lie in the level of well-being, which is not high in the country. The real Cuban is happy by default: because the sun is shining, because the sea breeze is blowing, because the music is playing.

The streets of Havana are gorgeous and ugly at the same time. Beautiful colonial architecture, imbued with history and the spirit of freedom, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. But the state of old Spanish houses is shocking. Almost all buildings require major repairs.

Most perplexing is the fact that there are no glass in the windows of most buildings. And if somewhere instead of them, wooden shutters similar to blinds are used, that is, window openings that are not closed at all.

Even in the central square, the windows of the houses opposite the Capitol are not glazed.

Cubans have a very peculiar understanding of privacy and security: there are no glass in the buildings of museums, banks and schools. Walking past the classroom located on the first floor of the Havana school, you can practice your Spanish or math without ever going inside.

There are two reasons for the current situation. The first is related to poverty: the average inhabitant of Liberty Island cannot afford the luxury of glazed windows.

The second is due to the hot and humid climate. Temperatures in Cuba are rarely below 15 degrees, even on the coldest winter night. At the same time, the daytime 36-degree heat is not uncommon. The economic situation prevents most of the island's inhabitants from using air conditioning. Wooden blinds blown by the sea winds are life-saving and very well complement ceiling fans.

The climate is also due to the lack of wallpaper on the walls of Cuban apartments. Tropical humidity together with intense heat is comparable only to the conditions of a Russian bath. It is hard to imagine that in the steam room someone decided to paste over the walls with paper. Here even metal falls into disrepair in a few months. That is why all rooms in Cuban homes are painted with paint.