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Home , El Templete, Gran Teatro de La Habana, Hotel Sevilla, Old Havana, Plaza de la Catedral, Valle de los Ingenios

CUBA – PAST and PRESENT

April 24 – 30, 2004

presented by

HARRISONBURG 90.7 CHARLOTTESVILLE 103.5 LEXINGTON 89.9 WINCHESTER 94.5 FARMVILLE 91.3

1-800-677-9672

CUBA ~ PAST and PRESENT

WMRA Public Radio proudly presents our first tour to Cuba…..an educational travel experience that is truly “off the beaten path.” Learn about the art, architecture, and history of this fascinating Caribbean island that is as beautiful as it is interesting. Experience everything Cuba has to offer….from its most famous museums to the salsa and rumba rhythms heard in the streets to its breathtaking vistas. A portion of your tour is a tax-deductible donation to WMRA Public Radio, helping to support the news and classical music programming we bring you each day. This educational exchange program is licensed for travel to Cuba to promote cultural exchange and people to people contact. We look forward to seeing you on another one of our exciting tours!

FULLY ESCORTED TOUR INCLUDES

Round-Trip Air Charter Transportation from Miami 2 Nights — 2 Nights — 2 Nights Havana Private Motor Coach as per Itinerary Full Buffet Breakfast Daily — 3 Lunches — 4 Dinners All Cultural Programs as per Itinerary Performance All Entrance Fees, Gratuities, Service Fees, and Visa Fees

$2,990 per Person, based on Double Occupancy

DAILY ITINERARY

Saturday, April 24 - Depart Miami on an air charter flight to Cuba. Arrive in Havana and transfer by private motor coach to our hotel. Relax during the orientation coach tour of Havana as we pass by the Plaza de la Revolutión; Universidad de la Habana, modeled after New York’s Columbia University and where Castro gave a three-hour speech after welcoming the national baseball team back from their victory over the Baltimore Orioles in 1999; the Parque Coppelia, named for the 1870 by French composer Délibes; the Hotel Nacional; the Monumento al Maine, honoring the 260 American sailors killed in the 1898 explosion of that ship which led to the Spanish-American War; the Plaza de San Francisco; Hotel Habana Libre (originally the Havana Hilton); and sloping right down to El Malecón, Havana’s famous sea wall that runs past the harbor entrance and El Morro Fortress.

Check into the deluxe Hotel Parque Central, a luxurious five-star property situated in the city center on Havana’s most famous public park for which the hotel is named. The lavish architectural style preserves particular traits of the colonial buildings found in , and the hotel provides a wonderful panoramic view of the city from its rooftop.

Enjoy a welcome drink with an orientation in the hotel mezzanine. You’ll have the opportunity to experience the delicious national drink of Cuba - the mojito consisting of light rum, sugar, mint, lemon juice, and fizzy water. Conclude the day with dinner on the outside terrace of the enchanting colonial El Patio Restaurant located on an Old Havana landmark, the . (D)

Sunday, April 25 – Following breakfast attend a seminar on the history and development of the colonial cities of Cuba – Havana, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad presented by a noted architect, followed by a walking tour of this lovely area, including seeing some of the finest examples of Spanish colonial architecture.

Dubbed “Key to the New World” for its strategic geographical position, Havana was the staging point for the riches shipped back to Spain, and the tremendous wealth of this era is reflected in the 18th century plazas and mansions located throughout the . Visit the four plazas of Old Havana, including the Plaza de Armas, formerly used as the city’s administrative center and command post but now the city’s most literary square; , a neoclassical, faux-Doric temple built in 1828 and used for the city’s first mass and first (city council); Castillo de la Real Fuerza; and the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the former residence of the men who governed Cuba prior to the Revolution. Today the palace encompasses the Museo de la Ciudad de la Habana, containing unique treasures, an art gallery, and a palm-shaded patio where concerts often are held. Conclude the morning tour with a horse and carriage ride through the Old Town, tracing the old wall of the city.

Enjoy lunch at Al Medina Restaurant, an historic monastery that was part of an Arabic cultural center containing the city’s only mosque with an oasis-like courtyard that hosts arts and crafts shows, accompanied by traditional Cuban music.

An afternoon guided tour takes us to the Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro (El Morro), begun in 1589 and Havana’s landmark fort named for the Three Kings of Bethlehem. Furnished with a battery of twelve cannons facing the sea and another dozen nearer the ramparts, El Morro and its sister fort, La Punta across the way, made the city the safest port in the Americas at a time when both pirates and imperialists preyed upon the unsuspecting. Enjoy an early evening performance at the Gran Teatro de La Habana, a venue sporting a spectacular façade with white marble angels dancing gracefully on its four corner towers.

It’s a beautiful place to see operas, jazz shows, symphony performances, and plays. Dinner is on your own and can be enjoyed at one of the local, cozy paladares – private homes where you experience delectable home cooking. You will be provided with a list of paladares and assisted with reservations. (B, L)

Monday, April 26 – Following breakfast depart for Cienfuegos, popularly known as the “Pearl of the South,” an attractive, laid-back port city overlooking a deep bay of the same name. A relatively young provincial capital, Cienfuegos was founded in 1819 by immigrants from Bordeaux as part of a Spanish scheme to establish a city in a region that had long been the haunt of pirates. Though its French roots are reflected in some of its architecture, it’s a very Cuban city where the breeze often carries the melodies of local hero Benny Moré.

Stop for an independent lunch en route. Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation walking tour of the Old Town to become familiar with Cienfuegos’ main artery, El Prado, which is flanked by late 19th century colonnades and divided by a landscaped median. Visit the Galería Moroya, a colonial house south of Parque Martí that’s filled with paintings, sculptures, clothes, and handicrafts. Continue on to the Museo Provincial, housed in a stately building built in the 19th century, dedicated to local history, and furnished with antiques. See the city’s principal theater, Teatro Tomás Terry, built in 1889 with beautifully painted ceilings, statues, and carved hardwoods.

Check into the Hotel Jagua, once a notorious casino hotel built by the mafia, run by Batista’s brother, and located at the tip of the peninsula on the Bay of Cienfuegos towering over the palacios of Punta Gorda.

Dinner is at the picturesque and newly restored Cienfuegos Yacht Club overlooking the bay and accompanied by live music. Following dinner, you may choose to visit the popular El Palatino Tavern in the Old Town for an evening of live Cuban music. (B, D)

Tuesday, April 27 – Following breakfast depart for a full day’s excursion to Trinidad, founded in 1514 by conquistador Diego Velázquez, and filled with enchanting cobblestone streets lined with brightly painted adobe houses in the Old Town. Recognized in 1980 as a national monument, it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1990. Its historic center is like a vast, meticulously maintained museum full of restored mansions and manicured plazas. Stop for a panoramic view of the verdant (Valley of the Sugar Mills) where Trinidad’s colonial fortunes were made, and visit Los Molinos followed by an antique train ride through the valley to examine the plantation as it was in colonial Cuba.

Explore the city on a walking orientation tour of the Old Town Square. You’ll have the opportunity for independent visits to Museo Histórico, set in the impressive Palacio Cantero built by a sugar baron in 1830, with displays that trace the development of Trinidad, antiques, elaborate wall murals, and a superb view of the town and mountains from the lookout tower; Museo Romántico, where a great variety of antiques fills the fourteen rooms of this imposing mansion built in 1808; Plaza Mayor, the heart of the historic center that is dominated by royal palms surrounded by restored colonial mansions, two brass greyhounds, and ceramic urns; and a ceramics factory. Lunch is on your own with time to devote to the crafts market or more museums.

Return to Cienfuegos for langosta (lobster) at the impressive Palacio de Valle, one of the city’s most gracious mansions built with ornate arches, marble columns, and crystal chandeliers. Be entertained by Carmencita, the outrageous resident piano player. An exceptional treat this evening is an international prize-winning acappella choral concert performed by the Cantores de Cienfuegos – the young men and women of the region. (B, D)

Wednesday, April 28 – After breakfast return to Havana with a stop to visit a local school to see the children in national school uniforms. Stop for a light lunch in the countryside. Continue on to the small fishing village of Cojímar and Finca Vigía, Ernest Hemingway’s home from 1939 to 1961, and now preserved as the Museo Ernest Hemingway. From the many windows, look inside to view his hunting trophies, shoes, clothing, correspondence… everything exactly as he left it.

Upon our return to Havana for check-in at the Parque Central Hotel once again, you may wish to join our guide for an optional visit to the Central Synagogue in the area of town, or perhaps take a salsa dance lesson. Enjoy dinner on your own, perhaps again at one of the wonderful paladares, with an evening free for the enjoyment of listening to exciting Cuban jazz at some of the fabulous nightclubs in the area. (B, L)

Friday, April 29 – Begin this morning with a seminar comprised of a lecture and slides on the development of Cuban contemporary art. Engage in a walking tour along Havana’s famous Paseo de Prado to the , the setting for several episodes of Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana, and enjoy a private tour of the dazzling Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts) consisting of two outstanding buildings containing a varied and exciting Cuban collection of colonial religious paintings, portraits, landscapes, and street scenes from the 16th to 19th centuries. The power, color density, and intensity of Cuban painting is extraordinary, represented in works like El Rapto del las Mulatas by Carlos Enríquez, Gitana Tropical by Victor Manuel Garcia, and Maternidad by Wifredo Lam. Continue the tour through the fascinating Miramar and Vedado districts in modern Havana to see the Hotel Nacional, an elegant establishment recalling another era, and the Habana Riviera, home to El Palacio de la Salsa, one of Havana’s best music venues. In colonial days the Vedado district was off limits in order to provide protection from the pirates who attacked Havana but has long since been replaced by skyscrapers and wide leafy-green side streets. Also tour the lovely Miramar district where, at the beginning of the 20th century, Cuban magnates and American businessmen built their opulent homes.

Travel outside Havana for a visit to the fascinating home and studio of the painter, engraver, and ceramist, José Fuster, whose property and folk art are absolutely riveting. Señor Fuster has received numerous prizes in and outside of Cuba, and has exhibited in many countries, including the U.S., France, England, Chile, Italy, Spain, Brazil, and Central Europe. Enjoy a delightful Cuban Creole cuisine lunch served family style at his home before returning to town. The afternoon is free for shopping, exploring, or relaxing. Our farewell dinner takes place at the fun and casual El Aljibe Restaurant, a typical Cuban eatery serving roast chicken in an orange and lemon sauce and “sleepy beans” that are the house specialties. A late night option is a visit to the Tropicana, a lush, outdoor cabaret featuring Havana’s most famous floor show with more than 200 unforgettable dancers. (B, L, D)

Saturday, April 30 – After breakfast transfer to the Havana Airport for the returning charter flight to Miami.(B)

B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner

CUBA – PAST and PRESENT

April 24 – 30, 2004

$2,990 per Person, based on Double Occupancy $475 per Person extra for Single Supplement

To ensure your reservation, please complete the reverse side of this form and mail with your check, made payable to Travcon for $500 per person, to Travcon Inc. at 924 Farmington Avenue, Suite 100, West Hartford, CT 06107 Tel: (860) 232-9939 or (800) 999-9780 Fax: (860) 232-6310

GENERAL INFORMATION

CUBAN ORGANIZER: WorldGuest for WMRA, Harrisonburg, VA. WorldGuest reserves the right to change the itinerary subject to Cuban schedules. COST: Total charter air and land cost from Miami is $2,990. Single Supplement is $475 per person. A first payment of $500 per person is required with your application. Final payment is due by February 23, 2004. The program is based on a minimum of 25 participants. DOCUMENTS: A passport is required, valid for 6 months after return date. Any participant born in Cuba must secure a Cuban visa before traveling. COST INCLUDES: Round-trip charter air transportation from Miami to Havana, outbound airport taxes, all tipping, taxes and gratuities, and services as per itinerary, Cuban tourist card, license from the U.S. Treasury for this private people to people program to Cuba, and medical insurance while in Cuba. Cuban medical insurance is not available for guests 80 years of age and older nor does it cover pre-existing conditions. COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Passports, all items of a personal nature, optional visits, baggage and trip cancellation insurance, meals other than specified, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages with dinner or at any other time not mentioned as included, and Cuban departure tax of $25 paid in Havana. ACCOMMODATIONS: Provided in 4-5 star hotels on the basis of two persons sharing a twin-bedded room with private bathroom. LUGGAGE: There is a weight restriction on all charter flights. You are allowed a total of 44 pounds, including checked luggage and carry-on luggage. All luggage will be weighed. The cost of overweight luggage is $2 per pound. However, paying this excess fee does not guarantee its acceptance by the Cuban authorities. All excess luggage payments must be made in cash only. Porterage of one suitcase is provided throughout the tour. CANCELLATION: Cancellation requests must be received in writing. Payment is refundable upon cancellation of up to 60 days prior to departure, less a non-refundable administrative and processing fee of $250. 60% penalty applies to cancellations received 59 to 30 days prior to departure, and 100% penalty applies to cancellations received less than 30 days prior to the program event. INSURANCE: Baggage and trip cancellation insurance is available and highly recommended. NOTE: Pre-existing medical conditions are waived if the participant purchases trip cancellation insurance within 10 days after payment is submitted. If you anticipate joining this program and want the insurance, call Travcon before you submit your reservation form and request that an insurance application be sent to you. CUBA – PAST and PRESENT

April 24 – 30, 2004

REGISTRATION FORM: Complete form and return as soon as possible with your payment to: Travcon Inc, 924 Farmington Avenue, Suite 100, West Hartford, CT 06107 Tel: (860) 232-9939 or (800) 999-9780 Fax: (860) 232-6310

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