We will likely be leaving from Denver on the 7th to that we may make our connecting flights to Havana.

Transcription

1 Itinerary Itinerary is subject to change Potential Travel Day 1: Sunday, August 7 th (Miami Havana) We will likely be leaving from Denver on the 7th to that we may make our connecting flights to Havana. Day 1: Monday, August 8 th (Miami Havana) Arrival at Jose Martí Havana International Airport. Once you are past Cuban customs and have collected your luggage, you will walk outside of the Terminal and be met by your Cuban guide. Havana is a unique city in many different ways. Sitting pretty as the Caribbean s largest and most vivacious city, its romantic atmosphere and infectious energy are the stuff of legend. This is the only place in the world where you can find vintage American cars running off Russian Lada engines, ration shops juxtaposed against gleaming colonial palaces, and revolutionary sloganeering drowned out by all night parties. En route stops at major landmarks, such as Revolution Square and Capitol Building. Lunch at La Guarida Restaurant

2 On the top floor of a spectacularly dilapidated Havana tenement, La Guarida's lofty reputation rests on its movie location setting (The acclaimed Cuban film, Fresa y Chocolate was filmed in this building) and a clutch of swashbuckling international newspaper reviews. The food is up there with Havana's best, shoehorning its pioneering brand of Nueva Cocina Cubana into dishes such as tuna with a sugar cane glaze. Bus transfer to Hotel Check in Hotel Presidente Orientation meeting: Welcome to Cuba from Ocean Doctor (Guidelines and safe points for the trip) Lecture: (1) Introduction to Marine Science. (2) Coral reef monitorying basics and scientific method. Welcome Dinner with CIM members at Dona Eutimia Restaurant (Local Paladar) Calling Dona Eutimia contemporary is like calling Havana a little rundown: true, but enough of an understatement as to miss the point. The large main room is decorated with sparse modern lines, inside a typically idiosyncratic Old Havana mansion. Right in the heart of Cathedral Square, this tiny restaurant will bring you back the days when Havana was the most important colonial city in the New World. 1 * Day 2: Tuesday, August 9 th (Havana) Visit Center of Marine Research Havana University (Centro de Investigaciónes Marinas de la Universidad de la Habana) has been advancing marine science through research and education. This is the only Marine Research school in Cuba, and it is dedicated to promote environmental preservation and sustainable development through the integration of scientific research and the continual training of capacities in Marine Biological Sciences, Aquaculture and Coastal Zone Management, with a multidisciplinary approach and a tradition of excellence. The Center of Marine Research has worked in Isle of Youth for over a decade and will be leading, with Ocean Doctor Expedition Leader, field work, ecudational lectures and research projects in the Isle of Youth. Representatives from the Center of Marine Reseach will give a lecture to the group, and will lead a tour through the Center s facility. Representatives from the Center of Marine Reseach would give a lecture explaining the center s history and main projects. 2 Visit with staff at the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation of Nature and Man * ( Fundación Antonio Núñez Jiménez de la Naturaleza y el Hombre ) is a non governmental non profit organization that continues the legacy of Dr. Antonio Núñez Jiménez ( ) through programs of research and development activities that promote a culture of values 1* Service time 2

3 toward nature in local, national and international level to promote harmony in society and the environment. Its vision is a Cuban society with a well developed consciousness of the environment, recognizing nature as part of its identity and the resolution of environmental problems with a perspective that integrates sociocultural dimensions. Representatives from the ANJ Foundation will talk to us about art, culture and history. They will also will give us background information about current projects with different communities around Cuba. Lunch at local Paladar in Old Havana City Tour of Havana (Old Havana) Old Havana (Spanish: La Habana Vieja) is the city center (downtown) and one of the 15 municipalities (or boroughs) forming Havana, Cuba. It has the second highest population density in the city and contains the core of the original city of Havana. The positions of the original Havana city walls are the modern boundaries of Old Havana. In the late 1980 s UNESCO declared Old Havana a World Heritage Site, due to its architectural wealth. Dinner at Hotel Lecture 2: (1) Monitoring efforts among U.S. and Cuba, Two countries one Ocean. (2) Coral reef monitorying project design Day 3: Wednesday, August 10 th (Havana Isle of Youth) Hotel Check out Early departure to Batabano (~1 2 hours) Boat ride Batabano Nueva Gerona, Isle of Youth (~3 to 4 hours) The remote Isle of Youth is situated about 100KM off the southwest coast of mainland Cuba. The Island is split into two fairly distinct topographical sections, north and south, and is dissected by a large swamp. The south area of the isle comprises a 94 thousend Hectares of land protected area, being a landmark, due to its interesting topography and geology. On the southwest part of the Island is Punta Frances, a marine protected area that is home of manatees, hawksbill and green sea turtles and american cocrodiles. Bus Transfer to Hotel Colony (30 minutes) Option 1: Manatee and mangroves tour, snorkeling Using observational transects and sonar surveys, the students will conduct manatees surveys in the mangroves lagoons. Environmental data and position where the manatees are seen will be logged in order to study the effect of upwellings and vegetation communities in the distribution of manatees. Also, the studies will participate in tagging activities, contributing to the ongoing tagging manatee project studying manatee migratory movements.

4 Option 2 : Batabano Colony with dive in Pta. Frances Check in Hotel Colony Early Day 4: Thursday, August 11 th (Isle of Youth) 3 Coral reef monitorying * Lecture: (1) How to become a marine biologist? (2) Fish and coral reefs surveys GCRMN Day 5: Friday, August 12 th (Isle of Youth) Coral reef monitorying Lecture: (1) Coral reef monitorying surveys, Scientific method design. How to use this data? (2) Status and Trends of the Caribbean (JJackson study) Day 6: Saturday, August 13 th (Isle of Youth) 3

5 4 Coral reef monitorying * Lecture: Fish survey Overview and feedback Day 7: Sunday, August 14 th (Isle of Youth) Two groups Group 1: Coral reef monitoring Ocean Doctor, with the Center of Marine Research of University of Havana aims to plan the baseline data collection necessary to monitor coral reefs, fish abundance and macro invertebrates base on GCRMN methodology described for the Caribbean. Students will work together with scientists on data collection, GCRMN Caribbean methodology, while learning through lectures about coral reef health and monitoring programs. Group 2: Manatee and Mangrooves Monitoring Using observational transects and sonar surveys, the students will conduct manatees surveys in the mangroves lagoons. Environmental data and position where the manatees are seen will be logged in order to study the effect of upwellings and vegetation communities in the distribution of manatees. Students will also work closely with CIM scientist to monitore mangrooves sediments and roots ecosystems. Bus Transfer to Hotel Colony Lecture: Coastal Communities: Socio Economic Surveys 4

6 Day 8: Monday, August 15 th (Isle of Youth) Early departure: Tour to Cocodrilo Environmental and Educational activity with community, Snorkeling and Lunch at 5 Cocodrilo * Cocodrilo, a coastal village located withing the protected area in the souther part of the Isle of Youth, is a 300 people fishermen community founded by Scottish and English descent more than a century ago. The group will have the opportunity to participate in an environmental activity with the community. Lunch in the community with local students and environmental leaders. Lecture: (1) Feedback from Cocodrilo community visit (2) Reefs at Risk (Overview of WRI study) Main threats to coral reefs today Day 9: Tuesday, August 16 th (Isle of Youth) Coral reef monitorying Lecture: (1) Data analysis and survey feedback (2) Main threats to coral reefs today Day 10: Wednesday, August 17 th (Isle of Youth) 5

7 Coral reef monitorying Lecture: (1) Presentation of Students projects Day 11: Thursday, August 18 th (Isle of Youth) 6 Coral reef monitorying * Lecture: (2) Presentation of Students projects Day 12: Friday, August 19 th (Isle of Youth Havana) Breakfast at Hotel Early departure to Nuevo Gerona (~1 hour) Boat ride Nueva Gerona Batabano (~3 to 4 hours) Bus Transfer from Batabano to Havana (1 hour and 15 minutes) Check In Presidente Hotel Presidente Flexible activities afternoon 6

8 Option (1) Visit Old Havana, the Havana Craft Market and Art galleries Visit local art galleries and interact with local young artists Option (2) Malecon Option (3) Hang out in the Hotel Dinner at Hotel Day 13: Saturday, August 20 th (Havana Miami) Breakfast at hotel Hotel Check out Transfer to Jose Martí Havana Airport Check in for your U.S. bound flight Departure