EXPLORING HAVANA ’S MUSIC AND AFRO CUBAN TRADITIONS March 19-24, 2019 Dear Fordham University Alumni and Friends: Is there another country that captures the imagination like Cuba? With its potent mix of revolutionary politics, warm and welcoming people, energetic music, lush tropical landscapes, and vibrant art, it is a place like no other. Join us on this carefully planned People to People licensed tour, where you will meet with Cubans from all walks of life to hear about their daily lives, their hopes for the future and their thoughts about relations between our two countries during this pivotal period in the country’s history. From the waves crashing against the Malecon, to the Afro-Caribbean beat, to the iconic ‘50s cars, Cuba is a feast for the senses, as well as a challenge to the intellect. Sincerely, Michael E. Griffin , Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations “For centuries, Cuba's greatest resource has been its people.” Pico Iyer DAY BY DAY ITINERARY March 19, Tuesday Ciboney, the hunter-gatherers who were pushed here by the more HAVANA advanced Taino. Independent arrivals in Havana mid-afternoon. After stopping at the park’s headquarters for a brief overview of the Upon arrival, visit the Plaza de la Revolucion, the most politically park service, walk along the Coco Solo Palmarito Trail through this important square in Cuba. mistily dreamlike landscape rich in plant and wildlife. Continue on to enjoy a drink in the Hall of Fame of the iconic Hotel Enjoy a fabulous feast at an amazing organic farm with beautiful Nacional followed by lunch on the hotel’s beautiful grounds. views overlooking the valley. This afternoon, visit the Presidential Palace, now the En route back to Havana, stop at the Orchid Farm at Soroa , which Revolutionary Museum which illustrates the history of the Cuban is maintained by the University of Pinar del Rio. The hilly grounds political development. Visit the Gamma Memorial which preserves contain over 800 species of plants, including 200 endemic to Cuba, all the vessel that Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and other revolutionaries thriving in the humid climate. brought to Cuba. After checking in to the historic Riviera Hotel, enjoy a welcome Enjoy dinner at leisure this evening. B,L. dinner at L’Atelier . After dinner, enjoy an evening of music at Lluvia del Oro and meet the band Son Tradicion . L,D. March 22, Friday HAVANA March 20, Wednesday This morning, enjoy a discussion on “US/Cuban Relations” with HAVANA Professor Raul Rodriguez . Accompanied by an architectural historian, enjoy a walking tour of Old Havana which has the reputation of being the finest example of After the discussion, watch a dance rehearsal of the extraordinary a Spanish colonial city in the Americas. dance group, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba. After lunch at La Moneda Cubana , learn about Cuban musical Continue to NostalgiCar , a classic car mechanic shop, where you tradition at an interactive musical workshop then put on those will meet with the owner of the shop who will talk about his dancing shoes and enjoy a private salsa class . business. End the afternoon at the Callejon de Hamel , the site of a huge Afro- From the car mechanic shop, drive in Cuba’s iconic classic cars to Cuban mural. Accompanied by a Santeria practioner , we will enter a a private lunch at the home and studio of artist José Fuster who has Santeria home to learn more about this religion which represents the turned his neighborhood into one enormous piece of mosaic art. synthesis of the cults of African slaves and the Catholic religion. End the day with a visit to Ernest Hemingway’s home which has Dinner this evening is at leisure. B,L. been lovingly preserved by the Cuban government and is just as Hemingway left it, with his books on the tables and many of his March 21, Thursday favorite photographs on display. HAVANA Depart for a full day excursion to the west part of Cuba, with its Distant Horizons will make dinner reservation at Cocinero , jungle-covered summits dropping down limestone cliffs to verdant located in an abandoned sunflower oil factory. After dinner, we valleys. will arrange entrance to Fabrica de Arte Cubana , a cultural center showcasing the best of Cuban artists both visual and Admire Cuba’s most famous landscape, Valle de Vinales, located in musical. Dinner and beverages are the responsibility of the traveler this the province of Pinar del Rio. This area was the last refuge of the evening. B,L. Photo by © Sven Creutzmann Exploring Havana’s Music and Afro Cuban Traditions March 23, Saturday, HAVANA Trip Price: $2,470 per person Santeria practitioners This morning, meet with two while you enjoy a Single room supplement: $420 cup of Cuban coffee. Together, cross Havana’s harbor by public ferry to visit the suburb Regla, the center of Santeria. Understand the role of Trip price includes accommodations in hotels as outlined in Santeria in Cuba today with a visit to Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de the itinerary based on double occupancy, all meals listed, one Regla , where locals flock to pay homage to the Black Virgen de Regla. drink is included with lunch and one with dinner, bottled water Presiding over her own private chapel close by is a statue of the Virgen kept on the bus, sightseeing and excursions as listed, transporta- de la Caridad del Cobre, Cuba’s patron saint. Syncrenetized as the orisha tion in a deluxe, air conditioned motor coach, the services of a Ochun, she also draws adherents of Santeria. of a local Cuban guide and tour manager, a Cuban visa, and After, visit Guanabacoa which was the hub of slave trafficking in Cuba. gratuities (not including chambermaids). Barred by their Spanish overlords from practicing their native African Tour cost does not include religion, Nigerian slaves adapted Santeria into the structure and airfare to and from Cuba, inde- formalities of Catholicism. Gods became saints (orishas), and rituals pendent airport transfers, departure tax, beverages outside of took on a veneer of Christianity without being profoundly transformed. the included one drink at mealtimes, luggage charges, trip can- Visit the city museum where the syncretism between Catholicism and cellation, lost baggage or medical insurance, chambermaid gra- African Yoruba religion, deeply rooted in this township, is very well tuities, items of a purely personal nature and any items not explained. From here walk to a private home and be greeted by the listed. “Babalawo ” (head priest). After receiving a cleanse from him, he will explain his role and how he looks into people’s future and gives advice based on what he sees. For more information or a more detailed itinerary, contact Melissa Costa at End the day learning about traditional Cuban cuisine with a cooking class as you prepare your own lunch at the home of Dr. Rena Perez, (800)333-1240 or she can be reached via formerly with the Ministry Agriculture. Dr. Perez will lead a discussion email at [email protected] on “ Living in Cuba Today ” Enjoy a farewell dinner at La Guarida , made famous as the setting for the Oscar nominated film, Fresa y Chocolate. B,L,D. Fordham University’s tour operator, Distant Horizons, is a California Sell- er of Travel (CST #2046776-40) and a participant in the California Travel Restitution Fund. Information regarding the rights of California residents March 24, Sunday to make a claim may be found at tcrcinfo.org. California Law requires RETURN certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. Distant Horizons Independent return flights to the USA. B. has a trust account. TOUR L EADER Accompanying this trip will be Mark Naison , Professor of History and African American Studies at Fordham University. He is the author of seven books and over 300 articles on African American politics, labor history, popular culture and education policy. Dr. Naison is the founder of the Bronx African American History Project, one of the largest community based oral history projects in the nation and has brought his research into more than 30 Bronx schools, as well as Bronx based cultural organizations and NGO’s. In recent years, the BAAHP’s research has led to granting landmark status to several streets with historic significance, as well as the founding of a cultural center honoring the Bronx’s musical heritage. A co-founder of the Bronx Berlin Youth exchange, Naison has published articles about Bronx music and Bronx culture in German, Spanish, Catalan, and Portuguese as well as English, and given talks about these subjects in Germany, Spain and Italy. He recently published a novel, Pure Bronx, co-written with his former student Melissa Castillo-Garsow, and a book of essays on educational policy and Bronx history, Badass Teachers Unite. His seventh book, recently published by Fordham University Press, Before the Fires, An Oral History of African American Life in the Bronx from the 1930’s to the 1960’s is one of the featured readings in a Naison's newest course at Fordham, “The Bronx: Immigration, Race and Culture.” APPLICATION FORM Please read and complete the form carefully then mail application along with a copy of your passport and a deposit of $1,000 per person to: 2019 Exploring Havana's Music and Afro Cuban Traditions Fordham University c/o Distant Horizons, Inc. 350 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 WHEN YOU RETURN THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE INCLUDE A LEGIBLE PHOTOCOPY OF THE PHOTO & SIGNATURE PAGES OF YOUR PASSPORT Fordham University Alumni: Exploring Havana’s Music and Afro Cuban Traditions Trip Date: March 19-24, 2019 Name: Dr. /Mr. / Ms.