Travel to with The Authors Guild Foundation February 10-17, 2018

The International Book Fair of

Saturday, February 10

Midday Arrive in Havana

3 pm Check-in at the hotel.

5 pm Discussion with Rafael M. Hernández, writer, political scientist, researcher, and professor. Rafael is the Chief Editor of Temas, Cuba’s leading magazine in the social . He has been a professor at the University of Havana and has published on Cuban and U.S. policies, inter- American relations, international security, migration, and Cuban culture.

7 pm Enjoy a traditional Cuban meal overlooking the Straits of Florida at the Hotel Nacional with its spectacular view of the Havana sea wall and the old Spanish fortress.

Sunday, February 11

9 am Discussion with Cuban poet and novelist Wendy Guerra, whose praises were sung by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Guerra is the author of Todos Se Van (Everyone Leaves), Posar desnuda en la Habana (Posing Nude in Havana), and Domingo de Revolución (Revolution Sunday). Her works have been translated into thirteen languages. She was a guest lecturer at Princeton University and Dartmouth College.

11 am Walking tour of the Old City. Wander through the Plaza de Armas, a scenic tree-lined plaza, formerly at the center of influence in Cuba. Experience Plaza de San Francisco with its 18th century architecture and visit the baroque Iglesia and Convento de San Francisco. Explore the 18th-19th century dwellings of the Havana aristocracy at Plaza Vieja. Visit and Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana.

1 pm Lunch at El Figaro. Located in the Barbers Alley, this restaurant offers delicious, “hairless” food (so says its slogan) and has the seal of the Smith family.

2:30 pm Socio-economic discussion with urban planner Miguel Coyula on the subjects of housing, infrastructure, investment, and restoration. His lecture will help us to understand why Havana looks the way it does and what changes we should anticipate.

4 pm Private performance and lecture on Cuban Music at Bar Asturias by Musicologist Alberto Faya. Professor Faya has been working as a musician, archivist, and researcher within the Cuban musical world for thirty years. He will be joined by a quartet of some of the finest young jazz musicians who will take us on a lively journey through the country’s musical .

7 pm Attend a presentation at the Dulce Maria Loynaz Cultural Center, an off-site venue of the International Book Fair of Havana. Monday, February 12

9 am Morning discussion on Cuban with poet and essayist Susana Haug, a professor of American Literature at the University of Havana.

10:30 am Visit to La Finca Vigía. The former residence of Ernest Hemingway holds an expansive collection of his books, furnishings, art, and memorabilia. It was at La Finca Vigia (The Lookout farm) where he wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea. Built in 1886 by Spanish Architect Miguel Pascual y Baguer, the home was purchased by Hemingway in 1940, who lived there until 1960, part of the time with Martha Gellhorn, his third wife.

12:30 pm Lunch at El Aljibe, a government-run restaurant famous for its black beans, baked chicken, and large family style portions.

2:30 pm Visit with the Reina y Real, a female hip hop/jazz duo. The group’s musical activism focuses on breaking down gender and racial stereotypes in Cuban society. The duo will open up their modest home, share their music, and discuss the challenges that young Cubans face today.

4 pm Visit to Casa de las Américas, perhaps the most famous cultural institution in Cuba. Founded by Haydée Santamaría (who was a member of the and one of the leading women of the revolutionary brigades), this venerable institution awards the Casa de las Américas Prize, one of the most prestigious prizes in Latin American literature.

5:30 pm Discussion with Marta Nunez, a prominent Cuban sociologist and cultural critic, who will discuss the Cuban education system and her research on the impact of economic reforms.

Visit to the XXVII International Book Festival of Havana at la Cabaña Fortress. Explore the exhibition pavilions and meet exhibitors, publishers, and writers.

Tuesday, February 13

9 am Depart for Cienfuegos, one of the country’s oldest and most beautiful cities, which is located three and a half hours from Havana. Cienfuegos, called the “Pearl of the South,” features French and Spanish architecture and offers stunning views from the country’s largest bay.

12:30 pm Lunch at las Mamparas, a family run paladar where the food is simple and the owners are delightful.

2 pm Music and discussion with the local chapter of Unión Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba. UNEAC is a union of writers, musicians, actors, and artists.

3 pm Tour of Cienfuegos by the City Historian’s Office, including visits to the main square, the Palacio Del Valle and Punta Gorda.

4:30 pm Continue to Trinidad, a UNESCO world heritage site, known for its cobble stone streets, pastel colored homes, and colonial-era edifices, such as the Santísima Trinidad Cathedral and Convento de San Francisco

6 pm Check-in at bed and breakfasts, known as “casas particulares” or “private homes.” Since the 1990s Cuban families have been permitted to rent rooms to foreigners. Featuring comfortable accommodations and ample privacy, the casas provide an excellent way to interact with the Cuban people.

Wednesday, February 14

8:30 am City tour with a local architect, historian, and restoration specialist, who will provide an overview of the city’s history from an architectural, economic, and infrastructural point of view.

10 am Visit to the archeological site San Isidro de los Destiladeros, near the city of Trinidad. The site represents a typical sugar plantation, operated with slave labor in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Remnants include the owner's house, a three-story tower, a cistern, a sugar factory, and dikes. Almost all are in ruins or in imminent danger of collapse. Our guide will discuss the relationship between sugar cane and slavery in Cuba.

Afternoon free to explore Trinidad or the nearby Playa Ancon.

8 pm Enjoy a home cooked meal prepared by your hosts.

Thursday, February 15

Morning free to explore Trinidad or the nearby Playa Ancon.

12 pm Lunch prepared prepared by your hosts.

1 pm Check-out of casas and return to Havana.

5:30 pm Check-in at hotel. TBD

Visit to the XXVII International Book Fair of Havana at la Cabaña Fortress. Explore the exhibition pavilions and meet with local exhibitors, publishers, and writers.

Friday, February 16

9 am Morning discussion with Cuban poet, critic, novelist, and essayist Nancy Morejón, one of the most widely recognized woman writers of the post-revolutionary period. She was awarded the "Premio de la crítica" (Critic's Prize) and the National Prize for Literature.

11 am Meeting with Vistar Magazine, an independent music magazine, produced in Havana and created by Robin Pedraja in 2014. The owners will talk about the challenges facing the publication and distribution of independent magazines.

Free time and lunch

3 pm Visit to the UNEAC accompanied by Marcelino Feal, a member of the union who has worked as a writer for radio, film, theatre, and cabaret for almost 40 years.

6 pm Private musical performance by singer and songwriter Frank Delgado at Café Madrigal. Owned and run by film director Rafael Rosales, Café Madrigal is housed in an art filled colonial mansion. Enjoy tapas and cocktails while discussing the nueva trova movement in Cuba.

8 pm Farewell dinner at Paladar Atelier. This unique art-filled restaurant, situated in the former home of a prerevolutionary senator, is loved for its exquisite cuisine and cozy elegance.

Saturday, February 17

TBD Check-out of hotel and depart for airport in Havana.