Cuba Baseball Experience Havana, Cuba November 5-12 2016 There’s one common element that can bring Cuba to a fever pitch: baseball. The sport LAND PACKAGE RATES originally landed in Cuba in the 1860s along with citizens returning from travels Occupancy Price Per Person abroad in the United States and with American sailors pulling into Cuban ports. Single $7500 Baseball took the island nation by storm and has firmly rooted itself in Cuban culture. Double 6800 Triple Call The Cuban League was founded in 1878 and in 1899 professional players from the Quad Call league formed the All Cubans, which was the first Latin American team to tour the PRE-TRIP HOTEL NIGHT(S) United States. Single Call Double Call Cuban Baseball Experience Preliminary Itinerary Triple Call Quad Call • Day 1: Miami - Welcome Dinner Reception, Pullman Hotel Miami POST-TRIP HOTEL NIGHT(S) • Day 2: Miami/Havana Flight - Muraleando, Hotel Sevilla Single Call • Day 3: Havana - Cuban Baseball History Experience, Old Havana, Baseball Game Double Call at Estadio Latinoamericano Triple Call Quad Call • Day 4: Havana - Cuban Baseball Historian Presentation, Cigar Factory, University of Havana, Cuba National Series Baseball Game at Estadio Nelson Fernandez • Day 5: Havana/Matanzas - Matanzas (City of Bridges), Pharmaceutical Museum, Castillo de San Servino, Baseball Game at Victoria de Giron Stadium • Day 6: Havana - Cementerio de Colon, Finca Vigia (Ernest Hemingway’s home), Children’s Academy of Baseball, Leisure Time Early arrival and late departure days include all applicable hotel taxes and • Day 7: Havana - National Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, fees. Q&A with panel of Cuban experts, performance by Habana Compas, San All Packages and Rates are subject to Cristobal mansion change and availability. • Day 8: Havana/Miami 800-662-4424 | sportstravelandtours.com Cuba Baseball Experience Havana, Cuba November 5-12 2016 Cuban Baseball Experience Preliminary Itinerary DAY 1: Miami - Welcome Dinner Reception, Pullman Hotel Miami DAY 2: Miami/Havana - Muraleando, Hotel Sevilla After a short flight, arrive at the José Marti International Airport in Havana and then on to lunch at El Aljibe Restaurant. After lunch we visit the community art project of Muraleando. Artists, musicians & dancers have turned this once neglected neighborhood into one of the city’s cen- ters of self-expression. Hear the stories of the project from community leaders and members. Next, arrive at the Hotel Sevilla and check in to your room and settle in. You can exchange currency at the front desk or at the exchange office located in the lobby. Depart the hotel for the welcome dinner at La Guarida, Havana’s most well-known paladar or privately owned restaurant that citizens have been allowed to operate by the Cuban government as a form of free enterprise. DAY 3: Havana - Cuban Baseball History Experience, Old Havana, Estadio Latinoamericano After breakfast at the hotel, this morning, we meet with a representative of the Baseball Federation of Cuba, the governing body of the sport of baseball in Cuba for a briefing on the Cuban baseball system and its unique structure of leagues. Next, set out to explore Old Havana, founded in 1519, on a walking tour through the city’s historic squares. Learn about the city’s colonial architecture and meet with some of the city’s cuentapropistas (independent business owners). And then have lunch at La Imprenta, located in Old Havana. Next, enjoy an afternoon at Hotel Ambos Mundos, which was home to author Ernest Hemingway for seven years. For those who wish, visit room 511, which now serves as a small museum to Hemingway. Afterwards, join the rest of the group at the hotel’s rooftop for a cock- tail and share stories of the day. After some time at the hotel, attend a game at Estadio Latinoamericano, located in the Cerro neighborhood of Havana. With a capacity of 55,000, it is popularly known as “The Colossus of Cerro”. In 1999, this stadium hosted an exhibition series between the Cuban National Team and the Baltimore Orioles. It is currently home to Havana’s most popular team, Los Industriales. DAY 4: Havana - Cuban Baseball Historian Presentation, Cigar Factory, University of Havana, Estadio Nelson Fernandez Begin the morning with breakfast at the hotel. This morning, meet with Ismael Sene, a sports historian and expert in Cuban baseball to learn about the history of baseball in Cuba. Afterwards, visit the “Esquina Caliente” or the Hot Corner, where baseball fanatics passionately compare their knowledge of statistics and debate about their favorite sport. Then, visit a fábrica de tabaco (tobacco factory) to meet with cigar experts and rollers to learn about the role that tobacco has played in Cuban history and enjoy lunch at La Moraleja. After lunch, visit to the University of Havana for a guided walk around the historic campus with students and staff. Afterwards, engage on a question-and-answer session with the students and staff and then return to the hotel for a break. Next, depart for the provincial capital of San Jose de Las Lajas to attend a game at Estadio Nelson Fernandez to watch one of Cuba’s newest teams, the Mayabeque Hurricanes. Each of Cuba’s National Series teams are located in the capi- tal of each of Cuba’s provinces. In 2010, the province of Habana, was divided into Havana City and 2 new provinces, resulting in two new teams. *World Atlantic flight and itinerary subject to change. DAY 5: Matanzas, Pharmaceutical Museum, Castillo de San Servino, Victoria de Giron Stadium Start your day with Breakfast at the hotel and then depart Havana for the city of Matanzas, known as the City of Bridges, for the seventeen bridges that cross the three rivers that traverse the city. Upon arrival embark on an orientation tour of the city, including a visit to the Pharmaceutical Museum, containing medicines and original furniture from the early 1800’s, and Ediciones Vigia, an independent publishing collective specializing in handmade books. Finally, enjoy lunch at Hotel Velasco. After lunch, visit Castillo de San Servino, a military fortress built by the Spanish in 1735. Learn about its history including its use as a prision for Cuban patriots and as a slave trading port Tonight, attend a game at Victoria de Giron Stadium, home of the Matanzas Crocodiles. After the game, return back to Havana. DAY 6: Havana - Cementerio de Colon, Finca Vigia, Children’s Academy of Baseball, Leisure Time This morning after breakfast, visit the Cementerio de Colon (Columbus Cemetery) in the Vedado neighborhood. Learn why this cemetery, laid out between 1871 and 1886, is one of the most distinguished in Latin America. Then, visit Finca Vigía, Ernest Hemingway’s home, and the 12- acre property that contains original furniture, artwork, personal memorabilia, and other objects collected by the author. Of special importance is the author’s 9,000 book library containing thousands of irreplaceable letters and telegrams, more than 2,000 photographs, scrapbooks, manuscripts, and galley proofs. Enjoy lunch at Il Divino. After lunch, visit the Children’s Academy of Baseball, where many Cuban Major Leaguers got their first start. Meet with a representative to learn about Cuba’s development system. Return to the hotel. The remainder of the evening is unscheduled for personal pursuits. DAY 7: Havana - National Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Q&A, Habana Compas, San Cristobal mansion Our final full day in Cuba begins with breakfast at the hotel. Meet with a representative of the National Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) for a briefing on Cuba’s approach to its sports education system. Next, attend a performance by Habana Compas, an Afro-Cuban dance group that incorporates different styles of dance and music in an energetic performance. Enjoy lunch at El Litoral, located on the famed Malecon. After lunch, attend a question-and-answer session with a panel of Cuban experts, including a sociologist and economist to discuss Cuba’s emphasis on sports and the economics of sports in Cuba. This evening, gather for a reception before a farewell dinner at San Cristobal, a paladar located in a restored 19th-century mansion. DAY 8: Havana/Miami After breakfast at the hotel, we depart the Hotel lobby for the airport. Return to Miami International Airport via World Atlantic flight 426*. Connecting flights should be booked for after 4:00 pm. 60 Main Street • P.O. Box 50 • Hatfield, Massachusetts 01038 800-662-4424 • 413-247-7678 • Fax 413-247-5700 • www.sportstravelandtours.com.