Gaucho Getaways Cuba: Havana & Trinidad People-To-People
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Gaucho Getaways Cuba: Havana & Trinidad People-To-People Journey May 1-9, 2012 Join Gaucho Getaways as we explore Cuba on this 8-night People-To-People journey featuring Havana and Trinidad. Cuba is a resplendent tropical island unlike any other in the Caribbean. It is a country of picturesque colonial towns and magnificent 20th century architecture, a country of spectacularly beautiful landscapes, an intriguing Afro-Cuban culture and a vibrant music, dance and art scene. Of all the capital cities in the Caribbean, Havana has the reputation of being the most splendid and the finest example of a Spanish colonial city in the Americas. Restoration work in the old part of the city helps reveal the glories of the past. Many of its palaces were converted into museums after the Revolution and more work has been done since the old city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. Founded by Conquistador Diego Velazquez in 1514 Trinidad offers a romantic atmosphere mixed with its colonial slavery past, unique architecture and cobblestone streets. One of the area’s interesting sights is the Valley of the Sugar Mills, which has been declared a World Heritage Site. The valley has around 70 long-standing sugar mills which are a reminder of the importance of sugar to the Cuban economy over the centuries. Our 8-night journey allows the group to meet professionals from all walks of contemporary Cuban life as throughout this OFAC licensed program discussions with economists, artists, educators, business owners, and historians will allow travelers to gain an insight into life in Cuba today. This UCSB exclusive departure is limited to 34 guests. Note: This itinerary differs slightly than the February 12-19 itinerary. This is due to flight schedules on the particular days of the week that this itinerary is offered. May 1: Tueday. Havana Depart Los Angeles bound for Havana. Upon arrival transfer to the Parque Central, ideally located in Old Havana. Later this afternoon enjoy a short walk around the hotel area. Visit inside the wonderful art deco Bacardi building located just two minutes from the hotel. The views from the roof-top are superb but there are a lot of stairs to climb! Before dinner, gather for an introductory briefing and a welcome drink. Accommodations Parque Central Hotel (D) May 2: Wednesday. Havana Havana, Cuba’s capital, whose strategic and commercial importance is reflected in the fortifications surrounding the city. Havana was declared the capital in 1519, and on December 17 of that year the first mass was celebrated under a ceiba tree which, according to legend, is an ancestor of the one standing at the east end of the Plaza de Armas. Around it rose the center of the original city – the plaza – and the first government buildings. With continued attacks by the French and English, colonial authorities decided to make Havana itself a fort, and in 1633 began constructing city walls that eventually ringed what is now Old Havana. Restoration of the historic center is one of the city government’s priorities and our time here will allow ample opportunity to evaluate the progress. Enjoy a walking tour of Old Havana led by a city architect. Begin with a private viewing of the newly created model of Old Havana. The model serves as an excellent introduction to the lay-out of the city. It is color-coded by age with the historic buildings painted in crimson, pre-Revolution buildings in yellow and the post-revolutionary buildings in ivory. Continue on to the Plaza Vieja, a stunningly beautiful old square surrounded by mansions. Although the square was for many years in a sad state of repair, that decay is being reversed by the caring restoration of Habana Vieja. Continue on to the Convento de Santa Clara which has been restored to pristine condition and now houses the Centro Nacional de Conservacion y Museologia. It is a remarkable building with a lobby full of period pieces and an inner and outer cloistered courtyard. Lunch is in a restaurant with local music. This afternoon participate in a city orientation tour by bus which will be led by Eduardo Luis Rodriquez, director of the well-known journal, Arquitectura Cuba. The tour will include an inside visit to the wonderful Riviera Hotel which, when it opened in 1958, was considered a marvel of modern design. It was owned at the time by Meyer Lansky. The hotel has recently been restored to recapture its 1950s ambience. Drive along La Rampa which climbs past the offices of Cubana, the Hotel Havana Libre and Art-Deco apartment buildings to the Parque Copelia , an entire block of a large, lush park. Follow Calle L south from La Rampa and arrive at the wide steps which lead to the porticoed, columned façade beyond which lies the University of Havana. Walk through the Colon Cemetery which offers a wealth of architectural styles in the many family tombs constructed here. The grounds are so saturated that the state has taken over the giant vaults of people whose families left after the revolution. Legal sales of some of the more than 53,000 burial properties at Colon have ranged from $600 to $1,700 but it is well known that there are many illegal sales of plots. Stop at the tomb of Amelia Goyri, the most visited tomb at the cemetery, because, it is said, she grants miracles. Our group will get a chance to interact with scores of pilgrims who line up here each day to leave gladiolas and engraved marble plaques for Goyri. Before dinner this evening drive to the Ceramics Museum for a tour and performance of Cuban music performed by Juan Molina, a classic guitar player. Welcome dinner at Café Oriente. Accommodations: Parque Central Hotel (B,L,D) May 3. Thursday. Havana After breakfast this morning enjoy a lecture by Professor Julio Carranzas on “The Changing Faces of Cuba’s Economic Structure”. Late last year Fidel Castro was quoted as saying to an American journalist that the Cuban economic model “doesn’t even work for us any more.” Monumental changes since then have been announced including, but by no means limited to, the laying off of more than half a million state workers, the privatization of small businesses, a new credit law offering certain Cubans bank loans, and the devaluation of the peso to bring it on par with the dollar. As part of our round-table we plan to discuss whether or not these moves signify genuine change or not? After the lecture, walk from the hotel to the Presidential Palace, a huge ornate building topped by a dome. The history of Cuban political development is illustrated here from the slave uprisings to joint missions with the ex-Soviet Union. A few minutes away by foot is the Granma Memorial which preserves the vessel that brought Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and other revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba in 1956. The Granma, a surprisingly large launch, embodies the powerful, unstoppable spirit of the revolutionary movement. After lunch drive to one of Havana’s many urban gardens. The effects of the Special Period and consequent food shortages have had greatest repercussions in the city of Havana. With approximately 2.5 million people, Havana has about one fifth of Cuba's total population. While Havana's urban agriculture has taken on many forms, ranging from private gardens (huertos privados) to state-owned research gardens (organicponicos), Havana's popular gardens (huertos populares) are the most widespread and accessible to the general public. Popular gardens are small parcels of state-owned land that are cultivated by individuals or community groups in response to ongoing food shortages. The program for popular gardens first began in Havana in January 1991, and has since been promoted in other Cuban cities. In 2009, there were an estimated 30,000 popular garden parcels (parcelas) throughout the 43 urban districts that make up Havana's 15 municipalities. Our visit will include the garden at Vivero Alamar where the group will meet local gardeners and Noel Pina, the production manager at the garden. End the day at Ernest Hemingway’s home, which has been lovingly preserved by the Cuban government. The house is just as Hemingway left it, with the books on the tables and many of his favorite photographs on display. Although one can only admire the home from the outside, it is a fascinating visit. Dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodations: Parque Central Hotel (B,L,D) May 4: Friday. Havana Morning lecture and discussion on Cuban/US Relations to be given by Professor Carlos Alzuguray Accompanied by contemporary art curator, Abelardo Mena visit the new Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes: Arte Cubano (Cuban Collection). The Museo is actually divided into two sections, occupying two buildings: the Cuban Collection which we will see this morning, and the International Collection which we will see on Thursday afternoon. The museum’s origins date back to 1842 when the San Alejandro Art Academy started its collection, forming the nucleus of the museum founded in 1913. It expanded greatly after Castro took over in 1959, notably with works from the private collections of Julio Lobo and Oscar Cintas. End the morning with a briefing at the US Interest Section. Following lunch, local artists, Alicia Leal and Juan Moreira host us in their home to view their work and discuss Cuban art. Alicia’s Leal work is of a markedly narrative nature while those of her husband, reflect many of the historical, religious and cultural influences in Cuba. We have also invited Juan’s Moreira’s daughter, Cirenaica Moreira, and Alicia Leal’s son-in-law, Novo, both cutting-edge artists to join us.