STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Cuba Seminar AN IN-DEPTH PEOPLE EXCHANGE March 15 to 28, 2015 a program of the stanford alumni association STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY CIENFUEGOS Since Cuba’s doors have opened slightly for Americans, it has become the latest “must visit” country. It is indeed a remarkable destination with friendly people, a fascinating history and a vibrant culture reflected in the food, music and art that make up daily life there. As part of the government arrangement for travel of U.S. citizens to Cuba, Stanford Travel/Study programs to Cuba are under the U.S. Treasury Department’s People to People license that promotes personal interaction between Americans and Cubans. You’ll meet and talk with local people, learning firsthand about their way of life, their challenges and successes, their hopes and dreams, and their desire to learn about us. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to discover a nearby neighbor that now, after half a century, is accessible once again. Join us! BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Highlights WALK Havana’s cobble- LEARN of Cuba’s MEET with ordinary stoned plazas, lined with tumultuous and complex Cubans from all walks 18th-century baroque history through visits to of life: artists, students, buildings, in the company important historical sites teachers, musicians, of Havana’s foremost archi- and lectures by our own doctors, entrepreneurs, tectural historians. faculty, specialist guides farmers and others. and guest speakers. BARACOA U NITED S TATES Miami FLORIDA Gulf of Mexico Havana A t l a n t i c O c e a n Cienfuegos Trinidad C UBA Baracoa C a r i b b e a n S e a Santiago de Cuba TUESDAY, MARCH 17 strong artistic heritage at the Itinerary HAVANA tree-lined Plaza de Armas Embark on a morning walk- and learn about the Plaza’s Please note, this program is ing tour led by a local architect colonial and pre-revolutionary subject to the renewal of Stan- that includes such architectural architecture with a walk down ford Travel/Study’s license and gems as the Bacardi Building, Calle Obispo to marvel at the approval for travel from the U.S. erected in 1930 and one of 16th-century Castillo de los Office of Foreign Assets Control. Cuba’s most impressive ex- Capitanes Generales, now the In addition, this itinerary includes amples of art deco architecture. Museo de la Ciudad. With a only the tourist sites we will be vis- After lunch enjoy a guided tour local artist as our guide, visit of the Museum of Cuban Art iting; guest speakers and special the Taller de Grafica Experi- with a local art curator. Later, mental, Havana’s printmaking events are also planned but will attend an interactive talk on the and lithographic workshop, and likely not be confirmed until shortly evolution of Cuban music by meet the artists working there. before our departure. Our intent a local professor. HOTEL PARQUE Our final stop today is Havana’s with this program is to give travel- CENTRAL (B,L,D) oldest square, the 16th-century ers a well-rounded introduction to Plaza Vieja. HOTEL PARQUE CENTRAL the region, ranging from tourist WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 (B,L) HAVANA highlights to interaction with This morning visit the United local people. FRIDAY, MARCH 20 States Interests Section, which HAVANA / BAY OF functions as a de facto embas- SUNDAY, MARCH 15 PIGS / CIENFUEGOS / TRINIDAD HOME / MIAMI, sy and represents U.S. interests FLORIDA, U.S. in Cuba. Visit the historic Hotel Depart this morning for Cien- Arrive in Miami independently Nacional where we stop for fuegos by way of the infamous and check in to our hotel. lunch. This afternoon, go to Bay of Pigs where we visit the CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MIAMI AIRPORT Parque Trillo and the home of a Playa Giron Museum with its priest in the company of a local displays of artifacts from the MONDAY, MARCH 16 guide who teaches us about failed U.S.-based invasion of MIAMI / the role of African religion and Cuba. Our special guest today HAVANA, CUBA culture in Cuba. HOTEL PARQUE is a Cienfuegos architect and Transfer to the Miami Airport for CENTRAL (B,L) conservationist who joins us on our one-hour flight to Havana. a walk through the neoclassical Check in to our hotel, ideally THURSDAY, MARCH 19 town’s main square, Paseo del located in central Havana. Enjoy HAVANA Prado, and the Terry Thomas a welcome reception and dinner Today attend a private flamenco Theater. This afternoon, we this evening at one of Havana’s performance and talk to the continue to Trinidad. HOTEL BRISAS best paladars (private restau- group’s director and members. TRINIDAD DEL MAR (B,L,D) rants). HOTEL PARQUE CENTRAL (B,L,D) We’ll also explore Havana’s U NITED S TATES Miami FLORIDA Gulf of Mexico Havana A t l a n t i c O c e a n Cienfuegos Trinidad C UBA Baracoa C a r i b b e a n S e a Santiago de Cuba MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR BUILDING, REVOLUTION SQUARE, HAVANA SATURDAY, MARCH 21 tion of the city’s patrimony. After THURSDAY, MARCH 26 TRINIDAD lunch at El Morro Restaurant, BARACOA / HAVANA Today we explore the Valley of visit the 17th-century El Morro Transfer to the airport for our the Sugar Mills, the most im- Fortress, which has served morning flight to Havana. Upon portant sugar-producing region both as a fortress and a prison. arrival, drive to the home of during colonial times and now a Time permitting, we may travel artist Jose Fuster for lunch in UNESCO Cultural Heritage site. to the Basilica del Cobre. Dine the fishing town of Jaimanitas. Also tour several museums and this evening at a paladar. Fuster has decorated more the studio of local artist Yami HOTEL MELIA SANTIAGO (B,L,D) than 80 of the town’s houses Martinez. Dinner this evening is with colorful ornate murals and at a nearby paladar. HOTEL BRISAS TUESDAY, MARCH 24 domes, transforming Jaimani- TRINIDAD DEL MAR (B,L,D) SANTIAGO DE CUBA / tas into a vast work of public BARACOA art. HOTEL PARQUE CENTRAL (B,L) SUNDAY, MARCH 22 Travel by motorcoach to the TRINIDAD / town of Baracoa at the north- FRIDAY, MARCH 27 SANTIAGO DE CUBA eastern end of the island of HAVANA This morning fly to Santiago de Cuba. Visit the Finca Duaba, Today begins with a lecture Cuba. Our tour today takes us where we learn from local farm- from a local economist from the Avenida de los Lib- ers about the production of co- followed by a short drive to ertadores to Revolution Square coa and get to sample Cuban visit Hemingway’s former home, and on to San Juan Hill, site of hot chocolate. This evening, La Finca Vigia. Stop for lunch at the final battle of the Spanish- after dinner at a local paladar, an organic farm before our visit American War and made fa- we may have the opportunity to to an equine therapy facility. mous by Teddy Roosevelt and enjoy a music and dance per- This evening enjoy a farewell his Rough Riders. Later, visit formance by a local troupe. reception and dinner at La the Taller Cultural Luis Guias HOTEL PORTO SANTO (B,L,D) Guarida, a paladar and the Oduardo, a center for artists setting for the film, Strawberry and writers. Dinner tonight WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 BARACOA and Chocolate. HOTEL PARQUE includes a private performance This morning attend a perfor- CENTRAL (B,L,D) by an African-Cuban-Caribbean mance of dances typical of dance company. HOTEL MELIA SATURDAY, MARCH 28 the region around Baracoa. In SANTIAGO (B,L,D) HAVANA / MIAMI, the afternoon, meet the young FLORIDA , U.S. MONDAY, MARCH 23 performers at Proyecto Alabey, Enjoy a leisurely morning at our SANTIAGO DE CUBA then visit a children’s communi- hotel before transferring to the Our day begins with a visit to ty center to attend a choir per- airport for our afternoon charter formance, view the children’s the city’s historic center, where flight back to the U.S. (B) local experts teach us about artwork and converse with the preservation and conserva- them. HOTEL PORTO SANTO (B,L,D) CAPITOLIO, HAVANA Trip Information DATES: those specified as included Independent March 15 to 28, 2015 (14 days) and private transfers Trip-cancellation/inter- ruption and baggage insurance Excess- SIZE baggage charges Personal items such Limited to 28 participants as internet access, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services COST* $9,925 per person, double occupancy WHAT TO EXPECT $10,725 per person, single occupancy The “People to People” license stipulates that *Association nonmembers add $200 per person visitors to Cuba must engage in a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities resulting in meaningful interaction between INCLUDED the visitors and individuals in Cuba. Therefore 13 nights of best-available hotel accommo- participation in all the scheduled activities is dations 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 9 required per the terms of license. We consider dinners Welcome and farewell receptions this program to be a moderately strenuous Gratuities to porters, guides and drivers for program that is at times physically demanding all group activities All tours as described in and busy. Drives range from one to five hours, the itinerary Cuban visa fees Roundtrip including rest stops. Daily activities involve up chartered flights between Miami and Ha- to one to three miles of walking on city streets, vana; internal flights within Cuba Transfers which can be uneven or cobbled, and climbing and baggage handling on program arrival stairs without handrails.