CUBA - The University of Alabama

cuba
GREATEST VOYAGE IN NATURAL HISTORY
The Amazon is a living labyrinth of forests, wildlife and people, all bisected by a storied
river meandering 4,200 miles across South America. Cloaked in mist, boasting every
shade of green, the heart of the Amazon is a wilderness that has pulled at the spirits
of adventurers for centuries. Over the 33 years that International Expeditions has
been exploring the Amazon, our guests have enjoyed unrivaled access to the rainforest’s
most pristine areas and the company of the river’s most knowledgeable guides. Leaving
behind only the diminishing wake of our riverboat, IE can transport you to the Amazon
of your imagination to discover a rainforest that pulsates with diversity of life.
classic art & culture
Osher lifelOng learning institute
at the university Of alabama
departs march 18, 2016
“The OLLI Cuba itinerary will be an extraordinary exposure for first-time visitors to the people, culture and geography of Cuba, and a chance for those who have been there before to see Cuba at
this exciting stage of its history. March is one of the best months to visit Cuba. I know from experience
that International Expeditions runs programs of the highest quality and that its expertise and connections in Cuba will be a real benefit to OLLI travelers.” Stan Murphy: Former UA lawyer, organizer of its Cooper Cuba Initiative, practicing attorney and Cuba researcher
Why People-to-People Travel? IE’s people-to-people travel authorized itinerary affords you an immersive opportunity
to connect directly with the Cuban people, learning more about each other through direct contact and cultural exchange.
During your time in Cuba, participate in a daily slate of engaging activities focused on education and cultural exchange.
Let the Rhythm Move You!
Pulsating rhythms wrap you like a
blanket as the sounds of Cuba — salsa,
rumba and jazz — carry from almost
every street corner and club, day
and night. To truly be immersed in
the daily lives of Cuban people, you
must first listen. And listen to the
music — mingled with laughter —
spilling from a local club serving as
a warm invitation to join into the daily
lives of locals.
Dancers
entertain
at lunch
brush aside the Cuba that you “know” from history books and current
events, and there is an unfiltered view of this vibrant island found only through
the eyes of its people. While traversing the countryside and sipping coffee in
small cafés, IE guests encounter working-class locals eager to share, learn and
ensure lives and options are transformed.
With music, art and athletic prowess, Cuba has long demonstrated to the
world that it is bastion of talent and style. From the Tropicana nightlife to
the Buena Vista Social Club, Cubans have entertained us. Cuba’s vices are
legendary — mellow cigars of renown quality, lavish cabarets, Salsa dancing
and smooth rum. This has always been a playground for inspired eccentrics.
Author and adventurer Ernest Hemingway whiled away his time in Cuba,
but it was the writings of Jose Marti that best defines Cuba’s hunger for
freedom and independence.
Despite governing policies, Cuba’s culture thrives, while nature pays no
attention to political differences.
A musician
in Havana
Cuban tody
Historic Connection:
People-to-People Travel
After World War II, President Eisenhower
wanted to bring people together,
recognizing that lasting peace could be
advanced by engaging with people of
other cultures. Groups of citizen ambas­
sadors traveled on programs designed
to engender a mutual understanding
and appreciation. People-to-people
travel continues to enable U.S. citizens
to travel with a purposeful objective —
to gain insight and understanding for
people living in different societies.
IE guest sits in
with the band
Learn about the role art has in capturing both
the history and future of Cuba.
Day 1 – FRIDAY, MARCH 18 BIRMINGHAM / TAMPA Fly from
Birmingham to Tampa and spend tonight at the Hilton
Garden Inn.
Day 2 – SATURDAY, MARCH 19 TAMPA / HAVANA Board our
charter flight to Havana. We are met by our guide and drive
into Havana with a stop at Revolution Square for photos
en route to the deluxe Melia Cohiba, home for four nights.
Enjoy dinner at Paladar Dona Eutimia, a private restaurant
(paladar) just off Cathedral Square in Old Havana. Paladar
owners are truly Cuba’s new breed of entrepreneurs, and
during visits to several of these private restaurants, you
meet the families to discuss the impact of private business
on Cuba’s economy. Following dinner, those who wish may
enjoy a leisurely stroll along Obispo Street, a lively pedestrian
boulevard. Be sure to stop in the Floridita, a bar famous
as Hemingway’s favorite and known as the “Cradle of the
Daiquiri.” (D)
Day 3 – SUNDAY, MARCH 20 HAVANA Begin the day
walking through the historic squares of Old Havana. Some
parks and plazas are famous for book sellers lining the
edges of the park and others are known for art and music.
At Plaza Vieja, stop at the Camara Oscura building to see
360 degree live views of Havana through mirrors. Stroll
through the plazas of San Francisco and Plaza de Armas.
See Hotel Ambos Mundos, where Ernest Hemingway
kept a room for years. The hotel served as a refuge for
writing such works as For Whom the Bell Tolls and as
a base for frequenting his favorite bars. See the room
where Hemingway worked before sampling a mojito on the
rooftop terrace. We end at Cathedral Square. Later in the
afternoon, visit the Museum of the Revolution which is
Learn about Cuba’s famed tobacco
housed in the former presidential palace of the dictator
Batista. Alternately visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
where a museum curator guide meets us for a special visit.
While here we concentrate on the modern art collection,
which includes works by such Cuban artists as Wifredo Lam,
Rene Portocarrero and Victor Manuel Garcia. Return to the
hotel on a route that takes us along the Paseo del Prado, a
wide avenue separating Old Havana from the central city.
Paved in marble, this promenade is a popular place for
locals to relax while children play. See numerous art deco
buildings, including the famous Barcardi Building, en route
to the hotel to freshen up. Before dinner meet author and
Reuters foreign correspondent Marc Frank for discussion
about current events in Cuba and the outlook for improving
relations with the United States. Marc’s book, Cuban
Revelations, Behind the Scenes in Havana, is recognized
as the best resource of its class since publication last year.
Dinner tonight is at L’ Atelier, a paladar in a Vedado neigh­
borhood mansion decorated with wonderful contemporary
Cuban art. Those who wish may consider an optional cabaret
show at the famous Tropicana. (B,L,D)
Day 4 – MONDAY, MARCH 21 HAVANA: TO SOROA & VIÑALES
VALLEY Drive west to the orchid garden of Soroa. This is
one of the finest gardens in the entire Caribbean and one
of the best in all of South America. We are led on a walk by
a botanist guide from the University of Pinar Del Rio which
conducts research here. Continue to the scenic Viñales
Valley, a spectacular landscape where the finest tobacco is
grown. First we have a walk and then a short boat trip on
an underground river inside one the huge limestone caves
running through a mogote – limestone karst outcropping.
Sample homegrown vegetables at an organic farm while
Havana
meeting the family responsible for the land. Spend time in
the small town of Viñales before returning to Havana. On
one side of the street is a bodega where Cubans use ration
books to purchase necessities using the national pesos that
they are paid. Across the street, however, is a shop that
only sells goods to those who have the Cuban convertible
peso. Seeing the difference is very interesting! Dinner is on
your own. (B,L)
Day 5 – TUESDAY, MARCH 22 HAVANA Return to Old Havana
to visit the Belen Convent, which provides services and
meaningful activities for senior citizens of the neighborhood
and also provides educational activities for children. On the
other side of Old Havana we visit a social project unlike any
other. Arte Corte began with the simple purpose of training
people in the neighborhood to become hairdressers and
barbers but it turned into a masterpiece of community
regeneration that improved the neighborhood and is
supporting social centers such as a senior home and a
children’s park. Alternately, we can also visit a Cuban cigar
factory. There you see scores of workers, each making
cigars entirely by hand. It’s an unrushed, artisanal process —
one that has not changed in any major way for hundreds of
years. After lunch at La Moraleja, go to the University of
Havana for meetings and discussions with faculty and students
with topics to be determined by OLLI during classes prior
to departing for Cuba. This evening, enjoy drinks in the
gardens of the historic Hotel Nacional overlooking the sea
and then continue to Old Havana for dinner at Paladar La
California. Tonight we go to Café Taberna to hear the famed
Buena Vista Social Club. (B,L,D)
Day 6 – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 HAVANA / SAN FRANCISCO
DE PAULA / BAY OF PIGS Pay homage to “Papa” Hemingway
at his former home Finca Vigia, preserved almost as it
was on the day of his death. Hemingway’s boat Pilar has
Cuba Guests’ Experiences
“ie’s cuba trip was very interesting on many levels —
historically, politically, socially and economically.
learning about cuba on all those levels — and directly
from the people — was the most fascinating aspect of
the trip. it was especially touching to spend time with
families along the malecon.” Emily H.
been restored and is also on display. Join a Cuban Hemingway
expert for a discussion of the history of the home and
Hemingway’s time here. Lunch is nearby at Paladar IL
Divino, considered one of the best private restaurants in Cuba.
We also visit the garden that supplies fresh vegetables and
other ingredients to the restaurant. Head south to the Bay
of Pigs. Visit the small museum which houses memorabilia
and photographs telling the story of the Bay of Pigs invasion
from the Cuban viewpoint. On display are weapons used
during the invasion. The Bay of Pigs borders the Zapata
Peninsula, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve encompassing
Cuba’s most important wetland area. There are around 900
species of flora, 171 species of birds (18 endemics), 31 species
of reptiles and many mammal species. Our accommodations
tonight are at the simple Hotel Playa Larga, located on the
Miami
Havana
M A R C H 1 8 -2 6 , 2 0 1 6
Gulf of Mexico
Varadero
Havana
Soroa
San Francisco
de Paula
Vinales
Matanzas
cuba
Playa Larga
Bay of
Pigs
Caribbean Sea
Bay of Pigs at a secondary landing site
during the invasion. Dinner is at a
private restaurant located near the
hotel and we are joined by Frank
Medina, the director of the Zapata
National Park. (B,L,D)
Day 7 – THURSDAY, MARCH 24 BAY OF
PIGS / AUSTRALIA / MATANZAS Join
Frank Medina or another naturalist for
an early morning walk searching for
endemic birdlife, including Cuban
trogon and Cuban green woodpecker.
At the Korimakao Project, which
houses and trains some of Cuba’s
finest musicians, dancers and artists,
learn about how these creatives refine
their skills before traveling to remote
villages to perform and teach. Meet
the project staff before attending
rehearsals and an open discussion
with some of the performers. Continue
to historic Australia, an important
sugar production center and the loca­
tion of Fidel Castro’s command center
during the Bay of Pigs invasion. After
lunch in a Matanzas paladar and an
activity in town, cross the causeway
to the Varadero Peninsula. Varadero
is known for its beautiful beaches
and luxury international class resorts
and though we are staying in one of
the best hotels it isn’t the turquoise
Double Occupancy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � $4,849
Single Occupancy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � $5,685
waters and white sands beaches that
bring us there. It is the nearby city of
Matanzas, which was Cuba’s major
colonial era port exporting coffee,
tobacco and sugar, and serving as an
important slave trading port. The bay
is the deepest in Cuba, and during one
battle in 1628 more than 20 Spanish
galleons were sunk here by a Dutch
admiral. Spend two nights at the Melia
Marina Varadero, Iberostar Varadero,
Melia Varadero Resort or similar. (B,L,D)
what’s included
Airfare from
Birmingham
Full schedule of
engaging people­
to-people activities
Fully escorted by an
Expedition Leader,
Cuban government
guide & local guides
Visit to
Hemingway’s former
home, Finca Vigia
Sampling of local
fare at privately
owned paladars
Tour galleries &
museums under the
guidance of experts
in local history & art
19 meals
Excursion to hear
Buena Vista Social
Club
Hotel in Tampa prior
to charter flight
Choice of local beer
or soft drink – at
group lunches &
dinners
Bottled water
on transfers &
excursions
Cuban-government
mandated medical
insurance
Tips to porters, day
guides & waiters for
included meals
Cuban visitor visa
In summary, everything except fuel surcharge;
passport fees; tips to guides, Expedition Leader
and driver; and items of a personal nature�
Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute
approval by the State of California. CST:2045230-20
Day 8 – FRIDAY, MARCH 25 MATANZAS &
VARADERO Our visits in Matanzas
include Las Munequitos de Matanzas,
a center for traditional Cuban dance
where we meet with young Cuban
dancers and rhythmic musicians. Also
visit the Cuban Art Instructors School
and a Colonial pharmacy. Returning
to Varadero, visit the Varadero Art
Gallery. Enjoy dinner at Xanadu Man­
sion, which was built by Irenee Dupont
de Nemours and now serves as the
club house of Cuba’s only premier golf
course. (B,L,D)
Day 9 – SATURDAY, MARCH 26 VARADERO / HAVANA / TAMPA /
BIRMINGHAM Check out of our hotel
and drive to the airport in Havana for
our connecting flights home. (B)
The accommodations used on this
journey are among the very best
available in Cuba; however, it is hard
to guarantee specific hotels in advance
as availability is controlled by the
Cuban government. While in Havana,
we plan to use the Hotel Melia Cohiba
(pictured above). This property is well
located on the famed Malecon.
cuba
classic art & culture
I n t e r n at I o n a l
expedItIons
World Leader in Nature Travel
For more information or to reserve space to Cuba with OLLI contact:
Steve cox
International Expeditions
(205) 565-2161
| steve.cox@ietravel.com
International Expeditions offers people-to-people travel to Cuba that engages participants in meaningful interactions with individuals in Cuba.