Seattle Peace Choir CUBA 2016 Havana Matanzas Santa Clara - Trinidad - Cienfuegos - Havana
DAY ONE: Wednesday 30/11/2016 Morning Arrive into Havana airport, clear customs and collect your baggage. Meet your tour guide and manager, load the coach and head into Havana Lunch in Old Havana. After lunch we visit Papito's community project Papito was one of the first people in Cuba allowed to start a private business. He has invested his profits into the community, providing aged care facilities, artists co ops and a hairdressing school for at risk youth and another for training deaf people in hairdressing. Performance at Papito's. Dinner on own and time to catch some much needed rest. DAY TWO: Thursday 1st December- HAVANA (B,D) Morning Breakfast as a group at the hotel. Rehearsal and workshop with Digna Guerra and the National Choir of Cuba. Lunch in Old Havana. Visit the Romeo and Juliet Cigar factory and the Amadeo Roldan School of Music. This is Havana's oldest music school, you will be able to see the students in action as well as speak to the teachers. Could also be a good time for an impromptu performance. Welcome dinner with live music and dancing and with members of the National Choir of Cuba
DAY THREE: Friday 2nd December - Havana (B) Morning Breakfast as a group at the hotel. After breakfast enjoy a walking tour of World Heritage listed Old Havana. Performance in the Plaza De Almas Old Havana. Lunch in Old Havana After lunch you have time to do some exploring on your worn. You may want to take a classic car ride or wander the amazing streets of this fascinating city. Dinner on own. People may elect to go to one of the jazz clubs, the ballet or the Tropicana. Elective conference with Lisbett Meniss, a PHD student from Havana University to discuss education in modern Cuba. DAY FOUR: Saturday 3rd of December - Havana (B) Morning Breakfast as a group at the hotel. After breakfast we will visit the museum of the revolution, the national art gallery and have time to wander down Prado. Prado is one of Havana's most famous avenues and is a popular meeting place on weekends and also a place where artists sell their paintings. Lunch on own and free time al afternoon Dinner on own and elective conference with Vicky Montesa form the UN. She will discuss the UN's role in Cuba. People may elect to go to one of the jazz clubs, the ballet or the Tropicana.
DAY FIVE:Sunday 4th of December Havana - Matanzas (B) Morning Breakfast as a group at the hotel. After breakfast we pack the bus and head to Matanzas. Matanzas is one of the most culturally significant cities in Cuba. It is the home of Rumba and has one of the most highly regarded choirs in Cuba.. Lunch in Matanzas. After lunch enjoy a rehearsal and workshop with the Matanzas choir. After the rehearsal enjoy a short walking tour of Matanzas, then book into your Casa Particular. The casas are all very central and easy walking distance to the theatre. Dinner in Matanzas. After dinner a performance at the Jose White theatre with the Matanzas choir. DAY SIX: Monday 5th of Decmeber Matanzas (B) Morning Breakfast in casa. Visit to community project that teaches traditional rumba and Santeria dances. Lunch on own free to explore Matanzas Dinner on own. After dinner enjoy an evening of Cuban music and dance with Cuba's oldest band Sonora. In their 92 years they have only had and the 78 year old current director is the son of the first!
DAY SEVEN: Tuesday 6th of December (B,L) Morning Breakfast in casas. After breakfast pack the bus and travel to Santa Clara Lunch at local restaurant. visit to to the CheGuevara Mausoleum and the Monumento Tren Blinbabdo where Che blew up Batistas arms train, changing the course of the revolution Dinner on own After dinner possible evening cultural performance, Elective conference with Carlos and his family. Carlos has two daughters at the local music school and has run a casa particular for many years. DAY EIGHT: Wednesday 7th of December Santa Clara (B) Morning Breakfast in casas. After breakfast we visit one of the dance schools in Santa Clara. Lunch on own Rehearsal and sound check at the Gay Community Club Mejunje. Enjoy a conference with the leaders of the gay community. Dinner on own. After dinner the choir will perform at the gay club.
DAY NINE:Thursday 8th of December Santa Clara - Trinidad Morning Breakfast in casa. Pack the bus and drive to Trinidad. Walking tour of Trinidad. It s easy to see why Trinidad is referred to as the museum city". There hasn't been a new building added since the beginning of the 19th century, and the first road to Trinidad was opened in 1972. This meticulously preserved town offers a window into the past, from its sprawling colonial palaces and plazas to the remnants of sugar mills and slave barracks from another era. Free time Free time Dinner on own. Live Cuban music and dancing at the Cas De La Trova. DAY TEN:Friday 9th of Decmber Cienfuegos (B,L) Morning Breakfast at casas. Load bus and travel to Cienfuegos. Enjoy a walking tour of the city centre. The unique culture in Cienfuegos is attributed its ancestry as a French enclave. This is the only French city in Cuba, with many French colonists moving here after the slave uprising in Haiti in 1791 with many more coming directly from Louisiana. The French influence is reflected in the wide streets and typical 19th century French colonial architecture. Lunch in Cienfuegos. Rehearsal and workshop with Haney Moriera and the Cantores De Cienfuegos. Visit to a community project in a fishing village on Cienfuegos bay. Performance at the fishing village. This village has set up it's own theatre and arts centre to try and encourage young people to be involved in the arts. Dinner at the hotel. Possible evening cultural activity at the Tomas Terry Theatre.
DAY ELEVEN: 10th of December Cienfuegos (B) Morning Breakfast in casas. Morning free to explore Cienfuegos. Lunch on own. Sound check and rehearsal for the evening concert with Cantores de Ceinfuegos. Dinner on own. After dinner performance with Cantores De Cienfuegos. After dinner love music and dancing with the Cienfuegos choristers DAY TWELVE: 11th of December Cienfuegos - Havana (B,D) Morning Breakfast in Casas. Pack bus and return to Havana Lunch on own. After lunch visit to the artisan markets where you can buy some last minute gifts or souvenirs. Farewell dinner in Havana with live music and dancing
DAY THIRTEEN:12th of Decembe. - Havana (B) Morning Breakfast as a group at the hotel.transfer to Jose Marti international Airport.