Compounded by the fact that Cubans aren't allowed to just travel about at will. They're supposed to have special permission - documents to leave their hometowns and a good reason for doing it. Paint began appearing this year and is making most of the difference. I'd guess in a couple more years it'll be looking a lot more like it did in the old capitalist glory days. The place really depresses me now though.
Most side streets are still filthy and unpainted.
The people, for lack of much of anything to do, stand about yelling at each other. Every year there seems to bring another 180 degree shift. The tourist dollar has also trickled down to the markets now, every store is crammed with goods. A very few years back it was even difficult to find toilet paper. They're a hot and proud folk, but surrounded by sad, grey, fungus-streaked architecture isn't very funny.