Cuba: Anything But Ordinary

Transcription

1 Sharon Blomgren President Arts + Cultural Travel info@artsandculturaltravel.com Cuba: Anything But Ordinary Jan 16, Jan 21, 2019 There's a lushness to the decay, and the pace of the country is slow. Your journey begins in Old Havana where you'll experience the sites, sounds and rhythms of this colorful, vibrant country through the expert knowledge of your Cuban tour escort. Enriching and engaging discussions filled with fascinating history and a glimpse into a country and its people. This tour is limited to 6 travelers. Your home away from home will be in a Casa Particular (Cuban style B&B), you'll tour around in Cuba's iconic classic cars and enjoy some of Havana's finest Casa Paladares. (privately owned restuarants). Your tour will be accompanied by adjunct professor of digital photography and photojournalism, Joan Clifford, who will share techniques to help you create a unique photographic story of your journey using your smart phone!

2 Page 2 of 9 Incorporated in this US Government Approved Program is a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities that will result in meaningful interaction between the travelers and individuals in Cuba. CUBA January 16-21, 2018

3 Page 3 of 9 Trip Summary January 16 - DAY ONE -Arrival Day + Classic Cars Morning Arrival into Havana, Cuba Sunset Drive: Malecon + Welcome Festivities Included: Lunch + Dinner Smart Phone Photography January 17 - DAY TWO- Habana Vieja Walking Tour Habana Vieja + Art Studio's January 18 - DAY THREE- Viñales Valley Vinales Day Trip January 19 - DAY FOUR- La Muralando La Muralando + F.A.C. January 20 - DAY FIVE -Fine Arts Museum + Fusters Museums, Studios + Artists Included: Breakfast + Dinner January 21 - DAY SIX: Departure Day Departure Day

4 Page 4 of 9 January 16 - DAY ONE -Arrival Day + Classic Cars Morning Arrival into Havana, Cuba Arrival Airport: Jose Marti International Airport After clearing customs and claiming your luggage, your tour director will be waiting to assist with your transfer to your accommodations in Havana. Lunch: Amos Photography Studio You'll have time to relax, settle into your accommodations and then meet up with the rest of your travelers for evening festivities. Below are examples of a few of the casa particulares we work with. Sunset Drive: Malecon + Welcome Festivities Just before sunset you'll head out for a beautiful evening drive in one of Cuba's iconic classic cars along the Malecon, with the light reflecting upon the crumbling facades and waves crashing along the sea wall, you'll experience what many call the heartbeat of Havana's soul. Dinner will be at one of our favorite Casa Particulars! Included: Lunch + Dinner Smart Phone Photography

5 Page 5 of 9 The best camera in the world is the one that's in your hand when that special moment happens. For many of us, that camera is the smartphone! We've invited Joan Clifford, adjunct professor of digital photography and photojournalism, to travel with our group for those travelers wishing to enhance their knowledge about the features on their smart phones along with a host of creative apps to help you capture those awesome travel photo's with your phone! January 17 - DAY TWO- Habana Vieja Walking Tour Habana Vieja + Art Studio's After breakfast we set out on a walking tour of "Old Havana" a stunning treasure of architectural style spanning six centuries. With buildings dating from the 16th through 19th centuries, Havana is one of the most authentic colonial cities in the Americas. The four main squares are just bursting with inspiration... Plaza de Armas, Plaza de San Francisco de Asis, Plza Vieja and Plaze de la Catedral, it's hard to choose but we'll do our best! We'll gather a bit of history, make a stop for lunch and cool refreshments. The afternoon you'll have an opportunity to call on artists in their studios, learning about process and life as a full-time artist with lots of opportunities to purchase original art. There will be stops along the way as Joan guides you through new ways of seeing and photographing using your phone. Lunch: The group will make a stop for lunch at one of Hemingway's favorites haunts. Dinner is at your leisure, your tour director will have plenty of ideas to experience the best of Cuban nightlife!

6 Page 6 of 9 January 18 - DAY THREE- Viñales Valley Vinales Day Trip After breakfast you'll head west into the province of Pinar Del Rio to the famed Viñales Valley. Viñales boasts Cuba s most strikingly beautiful landscapes and is where the island s best tobacco is grown. At a family-run tobacco farm, the family discusses their lives and why their crop is among the world s best. The valley is punctuated by huge limestone caves that form inside one of the many spectacular mogotes limestone karst outcroppings. You'll experience a behind the scenes look into the famous Cuban cigar with an opportunity to purchase directly from the farmer. Lunch: Farm to Table lunch on the family run farm Dinner is at your leisure back in Havana! So many options to choose from it will be a tough decision for sure! January 19 - DAY FOUR- La Muralando La Muralando + F.A.C. After breakfast it's off to Muralando, where you will enjoy exploring this successful community art project. Created by Cuban Artists and Writers to help the people of the Lawton neighborhood of Havana, this community project has transformed areas of the street that were once trash piles into vibrant works of art. You'll meet with the community participants of the project, and learn about the different missions and workshops they have with the children and third generation groups. Then you'll enjoy lunch, a little live music and salsa dancing after which you'll have an opportunity to create a small work of art with one of the community artists! The Muralando project is special to Arts + Cultural travel, on past visits our travelers have enjoyed donating art supplies to the community. If you'd like to participate, we'd be happy to assist you with

7 Page 7 of 9 ideas. You'll head back to your casa and the balance of the afternoon is yours to create! Evening: Fabrica de Arte Cubano (F.A.C.) 8:00 PM - 3:00AM FAC run by Cuban musician X Alfonso, occupies the heart of Vedado nightlife and the Cuban art scene. The club, bar and gallery space was opened in the renovated old Oil factory in late 2013 and has gone on to become a corner stone of Cuban culture. The gallery space is used to exhibit Cuba's young emerging talent along with a theatre and film space. Fábrica del Art Cubano concept of making the gallery space a part of the nightlife encourages everyone to integrate themselves with art. Art is also available for purchase. January 20 - DAY FIVE -Fine Arts Museum + Fusters Museums, Studios + Artists After a leisurely breakfast, it's a day filled with art and inspiration as you view the magnificent collection at the Museao Nacional, tour the world-renowned home and studio of Jose Fuster, and if your energy holds out you'll pay a visit to a few of Cuba's working artist studios for engaging conversations about the day and a life of a working artist in Cuba. National M useum of Fine Arts: The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes houses over 30,000 national treasures spanning from the 16th century Spanish colonial rule, through to the 1990s. This impressive collection is split into three time periods, Colonial Art, Turn of the Century Art, Modern Art and Contemporary Art. There will be time for sketching in both the galleries and/or courtyard. Fuster s Home and Studio José Antonio Rodríguez Fuster is a world-renowned ceramist, draftsman, painter and printmaker whose home and studio draw a steady stream of tour buses and private visitors coming to marvel at the extravagant ceramic sculptures that adorn his home and the surrounding neighborhood colloquially called Fusterlandia. Fuster has made a major contribution during almost two decades of

8 Page 8 of 9 work to enliven the humble fishing village of Jaimanitas, on the western outskirts of Havana. He has decorated over 80 buildings with murals, paintings, sculptures, etc. Private Studio Visits: artists in their studios for interesting and insightful look into the day and a life of a working artist A stop for lunch will be made (not included) Dinner: Tonight we'll enjoy a special evening at one of Cuba's Casa Particulars for our farewell festivities. Included: Breakfast + Dinner January 21 - DAY SIX: Departure Day Departure Day After breakfast, we bid our farewells and make the journey to Jose Marti International Airport and your flight home. Breakfast Included Information & Documents Trip Information Destination Workshop: Cuba Limited to a Group Of Six Persons The Above Program Is Designed To Meet US Regulations For Americans Traveling To Cuba INCLUDED: 5 Nights Accommodations in Casa Particulares 5 Breakfast, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners All activities + entrances as per the itinerary

9 Page 9 of 9 Private In-Country Transfers Full-Time Tour Escort 24hr emergency service during program Assistance with Visas and other documentation needed for entry into Cuba for US citizens Gratuities for meals included in itinerary NOT INCLUDED: Airfare Passport Fees, Visas for Cuba Travel Gratuities for driver + tour director Beverages with meals Hotel Room Tips & Extra Room Service Charges Payment Deadlines: $ Deposit to reserve your place. Final Balance Due: October 31, 2019 Travel Insurance We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for life s unknowns. We suggest a plan that offers coverage for medical and dental emergencies, lost baggage, missed connections, and trip cancellation. Arts + Cultural Travel, LLC is not responsible for cancellations due to medical emergencies or reimbursement of airline tickets in the event of a program cancellation. Here are a few suggestions: World Nomad Travel Insured Travel Guard Travelex ***Please note that while we do our best to adhere to the above itinerary, traveling in Cuba requires flexibility, and changes to hotels and activities may occur. To enhance your journey through Cuba we ask that stay curious and open-minded!