Semiahmoo Secondary School

Transcription

1 CANADA-CUBA SPORTS & CULTURAL FESTIVALS Semiahmoo Secondary School ARTS IN CUBA: March 03 11, 2018 CULTURAL EXCHANGE and PERFORMANCE PROGRAM IN CUBA ITINERARY MAR 03/04: Flight to Cuba. 11:45am Meet at Semiahmoo Secondary Wearing the Red Cuba T Shirt 1. Check in with your chaperone near the school office 2. Make sure you have already labeled all your baggage with travel tags and coloured ribbon 3. Luggage must go to assigned bus color sections in the hall 4. Go to the large band room and stay out of the way (Students responsible for school equipment, must take care of this ASAP) 5. Wait for instructions from the directors 1:20pm Load everything onto assigned buses You must have your own luggage, and instrument on the bus that you are assigned to. Green Bus: Check the Green Bus for YVR Transfer list to check what bus you are assigned to. Bus service provided by: Universal Coach Line. Phone: :30 pm All buses depart for YVR 2:15 pm Arrive at YVR Bus crew to unload buses, once unloaded, students take their luggage and proceed into the airport to an open area with their bus group. Chaperones will hand out passports o Students must take a picture of their passport Airport Check In: You will be instructed as to how to get your ticket and check your baggage. Once you get your ticket: Put your ticket in your passport for safe keeping. Keep track of both of these items at all times procede in groups of three to security. Proceeding through Security and going to your gate: Stay in your groups of 3 all the way through the airport. Pay attention to the direction signs to observe what gate you are to go to Your ticket will inform you what gate you are assigned to Chaperones will be interspersed amongst students should assistance be needed. STUDENTS MUST HEAD DIRECTLY TO THEIR ASSIGNED GATE AFTER GETTING THROUGH SECURITY. (NO STOPPING FOR FOOD OR SHOPPING) Hand Your Passport in to the chaperones at the gate and wait to be released Students will not be released until we know that every student is accounted for.

2 Once released: Go to get food for lunch and buy something that you can have for dinner on the plane. 4:40pm: Check in and prepare to board the plane Flight Information; Sunwing flight # 676 departs Vancouver at 5:30 p.m. and arrives in Varadero at 2:25 a.m. (next day). Land in Cuba: Once off the plane: Follow director s instructions You will meet with your chaperone and give them exactly $120 Canadian in an envelope with your name on it. Your chaperone will go to exchange your money. On arrival in Cuba we will be met by our hosts at the airport and transferred to our hotel in Havana (approximately 140 kms) for check-in. Hotel Atlantico, Avenida Las Terrazas, Santa Maria del Mar, La Habana, Havana, Cuba, Tel: Arrival at Hotel: Receive Instructions from Bus Leaders Bus Crew to unload entire bus Students get luggage and 1 student per room goes to meet Mr. Lowe to get Room Keys Students head directly to their rooms and get ready for bed (Curfew in effect-meaning you may not leave your rooms until after wake-up time) Chaperones will do a quick check-in and let you know what time wake-up call will be Set your clocks for wake-up call and get to sleep (Remember Sleep is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that you will have a good tour experience) The remainder of this Itinerary will most likely have some changes as we receive information from our guides. Students are to follow the information below unless otherwise informed. March 04 Day Wake up at designated time (You are responsible for this) Chaperone will check in with you and give you further instructions Remember expectations for taking care of yourself (Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and bug spray if needed) You will be held accountable to taking care of yourself The morning will be free to rest or to enjoy the beach and pool at the hotel. Students must have permission from chaperones to go to the beach Rules for Swimming: A chaperone must be supervising while students are swimming Students may only swim if they are in groups of 3 or more 12:45 pm Lunch at the hotel. 1:50 pm Meet (location TBA at hotel) to go on tour Wearing appropriate footwear (flip flops not acceptable). This afternoon we will take an orientation tour by bus, followed by a walking tour to Old Town Havana, Spain's gateway to the conquest of Latin America. Havana, founded in 1519 became the capital of Cuba in 1553 and in 1982 UNESCO declared Old Havana a World Heritage Site, where 144 buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries are preserved. Our guide will lead a walking tour of the Old City. We then travel by air-conditioned coach to the harbour entrance to visit the Parque Historico del Morro (entrance to park included) and see fortifications built in the 17th century to guard the city from attack by pirates. This evening you will perform for international and Cuban guests at the hotel.

3 Performing Ensembles will likely be: SWE Jazz Band 11 10:30 pm Curfew Students are in their own rooms, Chaperones to check in with rooms 11:00 pm Lights Out MAR 05: 7:15 am Wake up 7:45 am Breakfast 8:45 am Meet (location TBA at hotel) to go on tour 9:00 am Departure. This morning we will attend an interactive Percussion and Latin Rhythms workshop. A performance by Novel Voz, an excellent a cappella vocal jazz ensemble will follow. 12:30 pm Lunch at a local restaurant together with members of Novel Voz.. This afternoon we will attend a private concert by the famous Giraldo Piloto and Grupo Klimax and enjoy some of the best Salsa and popular Cuban music. This evening dance to popular Cuban music at the hotel and receive informal Salsa dance classes. 11:00 pm Curfew Students are in their own rooms, Chaperones to check in with rooms 11:30 pm Lights Out MAR 06: 7:15 am Wake up 7:45 am Breakfast 8:45 am Meet (location TBA at hotel) Jazz Band 12 Have all equipment ready to go and load onto bus SWE Have all equipment read to go and load onto bus 9:00 am Departure This morning all students will attend an Arts High School. We will learn about the school and Canadian and Cuban students will perform for each other. Grade 12 Jazz Band to perform 12:30 pm Lunch at the hotel After lunch we will visit shopping areas in the city including the artisans market. 4:00 pm Departure This afternoon Canadian students perform a joint program with other Cuban performing artists at a venue arranged with the Ministry of Culture. SWE to perform 8:20 pm Jazz Band 11 and assigned people (See List) to meet to go to the jazz club. Instruments, equipment, music stands Students must have $10 Cuban currency to get into the jazz club Students not attending the evening concert will stay at the hotel to relax, dance, and visit 8:30 pm Departure. This evening we will visit the famous Jazz Café and enjoy performances by top Cuban musicians ($10 entrance fee not included). Grade 11 jazz band will be the opening act tonight. Curfew Time TBA

4 MAR 07: 9:20 am Meet (location TBA at hotel) Load Equipment Jazz Band 10 Have all equipment ready to go and load onto bus 9:30 am Departure This morning we have been invited to attend a presentation by an Afro-Cuban musical/dance group. Members of the group will endeavour to share Afro-Cuban song and dance with the students. 12:00 pm Lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we will visit the Provincial Junior Arts High School. We will attend a performance presented by music and dance students at the school. A performance by the Canadian students will follow. Jazz Band 10 to perform 8:20 pm Jazz Band 12 and assigned people (See List) to meet to go to the jazz club. Instruments, equipment, music stands Students must have $10 Cuban currency to get into the jazz club Students not attending the evening concert will stay at the hotel to relax, dance, and visit 8:30 pm Departure This evening we will visit the famous Jazz Café and enjoy performances by top Cuban musicians ($10 entrance fee not included). Your grade 12 jazz band will be the opening act tonight. Curfew TBA MAR 08: The morning will be spent at Santa Maria beach to enjoy the sun, white sand and turquoise Caribbean Sea. 12:30 pm Lunch at the hotel. This afternoon you have the option of visiting a local community centre that provides assistance to low income families and do some humanitarian work, and if you wish, your group can present a donation to the community centre kids (goods, not money). Attend evening show at the hotel. 11:00 pm Curfew Students are in their own rooms, Chaperones to check in with rooms 11:30 pm Lights Out MAR 09: Havana/Pinar del Rio/Havana. 6:30 am Wake up 7:00 am Breakfast 7:50 am Meet (location TBA at hotel) Closed toed walking shoes must be worn for this excursion 8:00 am Departure On our bus trip through Western Cuba we will explore the climate, topography, plant and animal life of tropical rainforests and mountain terrain. This morning we visit the nearby Viñales Valley. Your guide will explain the significance of the formations here called "mogotes", odd hillocks considered mineral fossils because they were created during the Upper Jurassic period. Beneath the valley floor are subterranean rivers and one of the most extensive cave systems in the Americas. Later, in small groups we will explore one of the most accessible of these subterranean rivers by boat (admission fee included). Lunch (boxed).

5 In the afternoon, we will continue hiking along a mountain river to a look-out point (380 meters above sea level). There will be an optional modest charge ($3) for the descent to the waterfall and natural pool safe for wading. Portions of this hike are rigorous and we suggest closed walking or sports shoes. Return to Havana. Attend evening performance(s) by Cuban musicians at the hotel. MAR 10/11: Cuba to Canada. Morning to pack. 12:00 pm Check-out and lunch at the hotel. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the beach and pool at the hotel (we will request some courtesy rooms for showering/changing). 7:00 pm Farewell dinner and dance party with our Cuban friends. 11:30 pm Departure for Varadero airport to check-in for your return flight home at 1:30 a.m. Exchange leftover Cuban Currency at airport Follow airport procedures as we did at YVR 3:50am: Check in and prepare to board the plane Flight Information Sunwing flight # 677 departs Varadero at 4:35 a.m. and arrives in Vancouver at 8:30 a.m. 10:30am-12:00pm Estimated time to arrive back at Semiahmoo Parents to pick up student Students are expected to attend class on Monday, March 12 Program Includes: Round trip airfare from selected departure city to Cuba, 7 nights hotel accommodation based on double occupancy in air-conditioned rooms with private bathroom, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, coordination and entrance/participation fees for visits - performances - workshops - tours, translator/guide services, local facilitators, ground transportation via modern air-conditioned bus as per itinerary, Cuban visa, and the Cuban airport tax. Not Included: Optional activities, personal expenses, and tips. Please Note: Hotels, restaurant and recreational facilities are quite expensive by local standards. You may choose to invite Cuban students and teachers to participate in social activities with your group. This is always warmly received, however, you as host, are expected to assume the cost of the invitation as it is beyond the means of most Cubans. We recommend you check with your guide for suggestions before extending any invitations. Semiahmoo.itn.doc