Cuba People-to-People Culture, History, Cars, Food

Transcription

1 Cuba People-to-People Culture, History, Cars, Food April 21-29, 2018 Who hasn't dreamed about traveling to Cuba? Well now is the time. All but closed to US citizens for five decades, recent changes in US/Cuba relations have made it easier to visit the island. Some restrictions still apply and JB Journeys is excited to offer small group, legal people-to-people travel experiences. Havana is 'frozen in time'. Havana Vieja, the old city, founded in 1519 by Spanish explorers, today is a sprawling metropolis of 2 million. Havana Vieja retains an interesting mix of Baroque and neoclassical buildings, and private houses with wrought-iron balconies and courtyards, many now serving as lodging, restaurants and bars, and is the heart of a vibrant nightlife. The 'newer' parts of Havana are a mix of midcentury modern high-rise hotels such as the Nacional, Capri, Habana Libre, and Parque Central, (built by the mafia who controlled Cuba in the 40s and 50s) and Soviet style government buildings. The architectural mix has something for everyone. Our tour will focus on Havana, the central part of the island, and Trinidad, a 500-year old colonial city on the southern coast. Founded in the early 16th century, Trinidad was the center of the sugar trade, and its 18th- and 19th-century buildings are beautifully preserved. This is an area of Afro-Cuban culture, workers in the sugar mills, with its own music and culture. Havana and Trinidad are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. JB Journeys offers an opportunity to interact with the Cuban people in the arts, architecture, gastronomy, history, nature, and more. Please join us in Cuba during this time of historic change. April 21 - Saturday (D) Book your flight to Havana, and on arrival, our ground crew will meet you at the airport and drive you to central Havana to our hotel. This evening we will dine at one of the local paladares. Paladares, which are family-run restaurants in people s homes, first appeared during the post-soviet economic crisis of the 1990s, when the government, briefly and grudgingly, allowed some private businesses to take root. Many, however, either failed to thrive or were pushed out of business by officious inspectors. When the Cuban government opened the door to private enterprise again in 2010 to help invigorate the struggling economy, hundreds of Cubans leapt at the chance to set up a paladar, this time with more faith that the government would let them thrive. Today, there are now over 2,000 paladares, and they have taken on the ambiance of a small, boutique restaurant, some still in private homes. April 22 Sunday (B, L) After breakfast, we will meet in the lobby and head to Old Havana for a walking tour of the plazas which tell the history of the city, followed by lunch at a paladar. Laid out in 1559, Plaza Vieja is Havana's most architecturally eclectic square, where Cuban baroque nestles seamlessly next to Gaudí-inspired art nouveau. Originally called Plaza Nueva (New Square),

2 it was initially used for military exercises and later served as an open-air marketplace. During the Batista regime, an ugly underground parking lot was constructed here, but this monstrosity was demolished in 1996 to make way for a massive renovation project. Sprinkled liberally with bars, restaurants and cafes, Plaza Vieja today has its own microbrewery, the Angela Landa primary school, a beautiful fenced-in fountain and, on its west side, some of Havana's finest vitrales (stained-glass windows). Several new bars and cafes give it a sociable buzz in the evenings. Havana's oldest square was laid out in the early 1520s, soon after the city's foundation, and was originally known as Plaza de Iglesia after a church the Parroquial Mayor that once stood on the site of the present-day Palacio de los Capitanes Generales. The name Plaza de Armas (Square of Arms) wasn't adopted until the late 16th century, when the colonial governor, then housed in the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, used the site to conduct military exercises. Today's plaza, along with most of the buildings around it, dates from the late 1700's. In the center of the square, which is lined with royal palms and hosts a daily (except Sundays) secondhand book market, is a marble statue of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, the man who set Cuba on the road to independence in The statue replaced one of unpopular Spanish king Ferdinand VII in Also of note, on the square's eastern aspect is the late-18th-century Palacio de los Condes de Santovenia, today the five-star Hotel Santa Isabel. Facing Havana harbor, the breezy Plaza de San Francisco de Asís first grew up in the 16th century when Spanish galleons stopped by at the quayside on their passage through the Indies to Spain. A market took root in the 1500s, followed by a church in 1608, though when the pious monks complained of too much noise, the market was moved a few blocks south to Plaza Vieja. The plaza underwent a full restoration in the late 1990s and is most notable for its uneven cobblestones and the white marble Fuente de los Leones (Fountain of Lions), carved by the Italian sculptor Giuseppe Gaggini in A more modern statue outside the square's famous church depicts El Caballero de París, a well-known street person who roamed Havana during the 1950s, engaging passersby with his philosophies on life, religion, politics and current events. The square's newest sculpture (added in 2012) is La Conversación by French artist Etienne, a modernist bronze rendition of two seated people talking. Then in the afternoon, we make a visit to El Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana, the Fine Arts Museum, and El Museo de la Revolucion, the Museum of the Revolution. The Bellas Artes is dedicated exclusively to housing Cuba art collections from the colonial times up to contemporary generations. It has rooms devoted to landscape, religious subjects and the Costumbrismo narrative scenes of Cuban life. A gallery devoted to the 1970s is marked by a preponderance of Hyperrealism and the latest generation of Cuban artists whose works all reflect the strong symbolic imagery that has been prevalent in recent decades. The most notable works are those of René Portocarrero and Wifredo Lam. A modernist sculpture by noted Cuban artist Rita Lonja stands outside the main entrance. Museo de la Revolucion was originally designed as a government building for the city of Havana, but it was finished in 1920 to be the Presidential Palace. It was the headquarters of the Cuban government for 40 years. It witnessed how the politicians of the time maneuvered the destiny of a nation, trapped in contradictions between the national interests and the official politics committed to the United States. On March 13, 1957 a group of university students stormed the Palace with orders to execute dictator Fulgencio Batista, but the assault failed and many of the students were killed. This was one of the cornerstones of the revolution.

3 Today it is the Museum of the Revolution, with a rich exhibit that covers the rise of the Cuban revolution. The Granma Memorial can be found outside the museum, an enormous glass display case that houses the boat used by Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and more than eighty other who returned to Cuba from the exile in Mexico. Dinner on your own April 23 Monday (B, L) We will start the day with a visit to a tobacco factory, where you can see production of Cuba s most famous export. Cuban cigar makers, unlike their counterparts in the rest of the world, make the entire cigar themselves. Next, we head to the village of Cojimar in Habana del Este, where Hemingway kept his boats, and for lunch at Café AJiaco. We start with a visit to the organic gardens where the café gets the freshest ingredients for their traditional dishes, and with herbs in hand, we head back to the café for a hands-on cooking class. They are known for Ajiaco, their signature dish and a Cuban staple, a stew usually made with chicken, potatoes, corn, squash, and lots of herbs. We will return to Havana late afternoon. Evening free April 24 Tuesday (B, L) After breakfast, hop in a classic car to tour around modern Havana, or should we say, mid-century modern? We ll cruise along the Malecon, Havana s picturesque seawall, Qunita Avenida (5th Ave), Revolution Square, and the Hotel Nacional. The Nacional was based on the Flagler hotels in Florida, like the elegant Breakers of West Palm Beach, and was the place to be seen. In Godfather II, there is a meeting of Mafia bosses based on a real meeting that took place here. It evokes the 50 s. Next we head to Fusterlandia, a once impoverished neighborhood turned outdoor folk art wonderland. Artist José Fuster began this project about 20 years ago by decorating his own home with murals and tiles. So far, he has done more than 80 houses! He s known as the Picasso of the Caribbean and you can see the influence, as well as that of Guadi of Barcelona. Lunch is included today. If Fuster is available, he ll join us. Dinner on your own April 25 Wednesday (B, L,D) After breakfast, pack up and head to central Cuba. On the way, we will stop by Playa Largo and visit the Museo de Bahia de Cochinos, the Bay of Pigs Museum, a fascinating look at an important era in US/Havana relations. We ll have lunch at a local paladar and our final destination today is Trinidad, a 500-year old colonial city with a great music scene. Dinner is included at Hostal Lola, where we ll stay for two nights. We suggest you find some live music in downtown Trinidad, like Casa de la Trova, where local music can be heard nightly. jbjourneys@yahoo.com /

4 April 26 Thursday (B, L, D) After breakfast at the Hostal, you have two choices today, hiking in the mountains or catching some beach time. Lunch is included with either option. Topes de Collantes is a nature reserve park in the Escambray Mountains. The Sierra del Escambray is Cuba's second-largest mountain range, with beautiful crenellated hills rich in flora and surprisingly isolated. With the best network of hiking trails in Cuba, these jungle-clad forests harbor vines, ferns, and eye-catching epiphytes. In late 1958, Che Guevara camped here on his way to Santa Clara for the decisive battle of the revolution. Almost three years later, CIA-sponsored counterrevolutionary groups operated a cat-and-mouse guerrilla campaign from the same vantage point. You ll hike with a local guide and enjoy a picnic lunch. The other option is a beach day. Just 20 minutes from downtown Trinidad are several beaches, great for relaxing or snorkeling. Lunch is included at a beach restaurant. Dinner and overnight at Hostal Lola. April 27 Friday (B, L) Breakfast included at the Hostal. Late morning we ll depart for Havana with a stop for lunch in Santa Clara and a visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum. On Dec 31, 1958, Santa Clara was the site of the final battle of the Cuban Revolution, when dictator Fulgencio Batista went into exile. Che needs no introduction. The memorial was dedicated in 1988, and his remains were brought here in 1997, after they were found in Bolivia, along with six comrades who died with him there, and were buried with full military honors. We should arrive early evening back in Havana and will stay at Hotel Capri, one of the mafia-built hotels which went into disrepair and finally reopened about 4 years ago. You may recognize the beautiful rooftop swimming pool which has been featured in movies back in the 50s and more recently. April 28 - Saturday (B, D) Breakfast included at the hotel. This day is free. A final dinner tonight is at La Guarida, at a well known paladar, which helped promote the new Cuban food scene. Looks are deceiving but after you enter this old building, you ll see what the fuss is. The restaurant is housed on the second floor of an old apartment building that has been used in many photo shoots and movies, especially well known is Fresa y Chocolate, (Strawberry and Chocolate), a film made in the 1990 s special period that was nominated for a foreign film Oscar. We want your last memory of Cuba to be the music of Buena Vista Social Club. The name is synonymous with Cuba and the music will stay with you. In the late 1990s, American musican Ry Cooter traveled to Cuba on a world music project. His original plans didn t work out due to visa problems, but he was there and made the best he could. A local orchestra leader gathered some of the old performers, known for son music from the 40s and 50s, to record an album, and the rest is music history, the resultant album winning a Grammy and a Billboard Music Award. A documentary film was made by Wim Wenders, reaching an even wider audience. Since that time, the Buena Vista Social Club has recorded dozens of albums and toured worldwide. Although some of the original members have left us, there are a number still around who perform a show at the Nacional. Whenever you hear these tunes, it will take you back to your stay in Cuba.

5 April 29 - Sunday (B) Breakfast included at the hotel. We'll depart for the airport about 3.5 hours before flight. Note: The order and sites visited may vary due to weather, road conditions and other factors beyond our control. # # # # # Cuba - Culture, History, People -- April 21-29, 2018 Limited to 12 people. Escorted by Jean Warneke and or Barbara Baggett of JB Journeys. Cost: $2365 per person in double occupancy, based on 12. (with 10: $2450; with 8: $2525; with 6: $2650) Single supplement $450 (very limited) To confirm your spot, please send us an message. You have 7 days to compete the reservation form and send to JB Journeys with your deposit of $500 per person. Or go on our website and click on REQUEST A RESERVATION (bottom of page), noting 'CUBA April 2018' as the tour name. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. If you prefer to pay by check, please send to JB Journeys, attn Barbara, PO Box 1052, Utopia, TX Deposits for Cuba tours are NON-REFUNDABLE unless the tour does not operate. Final payment due April 5, (please mark your calendar) Included: Not Included: Transportation as listed by A/C van or bus Eight nights hotel with taxes Visits on excursions as listed with entry fees 16 meals (including daily breakfast) Basic gratuities for included meals at restaurants and for driver English speaking guide throughout Airfare Meals not listed Drinks during meals Gratuities to guide (suggested $7-10 per day) Misc tips** Personal Insurance Cuban Travel Visa* *Visas (also called Tourist Cards) are available from your airline and can be purchased when you make flight reservations, to be picked up on the day of travel. If you wish to get a visa in advance, JB Journeys can obtain one for you at a cost of $100. This is our cost which we pass on to you. Tourist Cards may be less expensive from the airlines. ** Tipping is always discretionary, however in Cuba is it more than a suggestion. Those working in the tourism sector have the ability to supplement their paltry government salary. And there are so many people you could tip. Here is a short list and our suggestions: Hotel maids-$1-2 per room per night; breakfast staff-$1-2 per person; restaurants: 10% of the bill; taxis-$1-2 per person; tour bus drivers-$3 per person per day, guides:$7-10 per person per day; musicians-$1-2 per person or purchase a CD, staff outside public restrooms-25 cents. Tips can be paid in US $$ or CUCs. Don't be surprised with the attitude that a tip is expected rather than suggested.