Last week was wonderful with my family in Palm Springs.
After leaving Palm Springs Saturday I drove directly to the Los Angeles
airport. Yesterday I took a
flight to Cuba. I am going with a
tour company called Friendly Planet, taking a charter flight out of Miami. In order to visit Cuba from the United
States the tour company must have what is referred to as a people-to-people
permit. The trip to Cuba is not a pleasure trip where I can take off on my own and do things such as visit the beautiful beaches and snorkel. The people-to-people permit requires a "full-time schedule of educational exchange activities...that will result in meaningful interaction between the traveler and individuals in Cuba."
I will not have
Internet access for the next week but I will post my itinerary so you can follow me on my trip.
(Sunday) Miami/Havana. This morning, transfer to the Miami International Airport to board your non-stop flight bound for Havana, Cuba’s capital city and designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bienvenidos a Havana! You are welcomed by your private Cuban people-to-people representative holding a Friendly Planet sign outside the arrivals terminal at the Havana Airport. Board your air-conditioned coach, and jump right in as you head directly to your first destination in Cuba.
Havana Vieja Photo by Adam Jones
Enjoy your first lunch at a local restaurant in the center of Old Havana, followed by a leisurely orientation walk with your guide through the vibrant cobblestone streets as you immerse yourself in the colors of Cuba which surround you.
Explore the Used Booksellers Market, a cross-cultural treasure trove for readers of every genre. Meet local independent booksellers and engage in friendly conversation with Cuban readers about popular Cuban and American literature.
Now that you’ve had a taste of what lies ahead during your visit to Cuba, it’s time to check in to your hotel. After time to rest at the hotel, engage in a discussion with a panel of English-speaking Cuban experts on the history of U.S./Cuban relations in the 20th & 21st centuries with the opportunity to ask questions in an uncensored format.
This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel. Accommodations: Hotel Nacional or Telegrafo. Lunch & dinner provided.
(Monday) Havana. After breakfast this morning, visit a primary school (ages 5 - 12) located in a beautiful historical building which has been carefully renovated by Havana’s Office of the Historian. Interact with the children in their classrooms and participate in a discussion session with some of the school’s administrators and teachers about Cuba’s education system and how it compares to that of the United States.
Lunch is served at a local restaurant, followed by a visit to the Ludwig Foundation. Meet with local members of the foundation and discuss the roles that both art and artists have within the US and Cuba.
Continue on to the private studio of independent artist, Eduardo Roca “Choco”. Today you’ll learn different techniques of printmaking from an innovative and internationally acclaimed Cuban artist and his team.
This evening, meet with the owner or general manager and some of the workers of one of Havana’s finest and most interesting new restaurants, El Gijon. Hear firsthand how new businesses – especially restaurants - get started, find working capital, and make a profit in a society where private business ventures are almost unknown. Also, learn about the history of the “Association” restaurants, of which El Gijon is one of the best. Afterwards, enjoy dinner at El Gijon. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided
I promise to bring
back lots of great pictures to post on the blog.
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