Congregation B nai Shalom January 8-16, 2017 La Habana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad de Cuba Join Rabbi Gurevitz, your fellow members, family, and friends on this insightful trip of cultural discovery and humanitarian effort. We will have experiences offered to few travelers to this tropical island nation. You will make a difference in the lives of our Cuban brothers and sisters. And you will experience Cuba Cuban culture's vibrancy and vitality is alive. Cuba is old, some of it is destroyed, and it feels as though time has stopped. But it is full of life from the aroma of cooking food, to the warmth of the people, to the rhythm in the way people move, to the sound of music in the air. Mission package includes: 9 days, 8 nights 8 days, 7 nights in Cuba One night in Miami Cuba is changing Rapidly; Now is the Time! See Cuba the Right Way! 1
Experienced driver; modern A/C bus with W.C. Professional English speaking Cuban guide specialized in Jewish Heritage missions Transfers from/to airport in Cuba and departure day in USA Tips to wait staff at included meals Cuban Medical insurance Meetings with leaders and members of the Cuban Jewish Community Guided tour of largest Jewish Cemetery in Cuba Presentation, Power Point and Q&A with noted Cuban historian on the Jews of Cuba Guided visit to the Bellas Artes museum by museum curator and member of the Jewish Community of Havana Guided tour of the Museum of the Revolution Private choral performance Introduction to Afro-Cuban religion through lecture and dance Entrance fees to museums and sites of interest as per itinerary Bottled water on the bus Tips to porters. USA and Cuba Cuban Tourist Visa US Religious License for Travel to Cuba Round trip Air Miami/Havana/Miami MEALS: 17 meals Breakfast: 8 Lunch: 4 Dinner: 5 At all meals there will a choice of at least 2 main courses. At least two beverages included, dessert, and coffee Not kosher but no pork or shellfish will be served A fish or pasta dish will be available upon request at each meal Erev Shabbat dinner will be with the Community 2
Accommodations at (subject to availability) Crowne Plaza Hotel near Miami International airport one night Hotel Presidente 4 star 5 nights Frommer s Review - This is an elegant Vedado hotel. The impeccable Victorian-style lobby features black-and-white marble floors, pink marble wainscoting, and real antiques. Some of the standard rooms are a bit compact, while others are quite spacious. About half (generally the even-numbered rooms) have good ocean views. On the 10th floor, you'll find two large suites with wonderfully inviting ocean view terraces. There's a refreshing outdoor pool on the ground level, and a poolside bar and grill. While the hotel is just 2 blocks from the Malecón, it's not very close to much else. Hotel Jagua boutique hotel on the bay in Cienfuegos 2 nights Frommer s Review - The seven-story hotel is located out on the end of Punta Gorda, just across from the Palacio del Valle. The modern rooms are spacious, comfortable, cool, and bright, with a large sliding-glass door to let in light, white tile floors, and plenty of amenities. Those on the higher floors of the main building offer wonderful views over the city and harbor from private balconies. There's a large rectangular pool at the center of this complex, and a popular bar located on a small floating dock in the bay. NOT Included in mission package: Domestic Air round-trip to Miami Gratuity to your Guide and Driver Cancellation insurance Airline baggage charges USA/CUBA 3
Tzedakah To participate in this mission: Each participant is requested to bring at least 5 pounds of donations for the Jewish Communities - an updated donation list will be provided. A voluntary donation of between $70 - $120 per participant is requested which will be to be distributed to the synagogues and Jewish Communities in Cuba. Price per person from Miami Double occupancy: $ 3,999 Single occupancy: $4,629 DEADLINES: Deposit/ Registration: September 7, 2016 Deposit is $450 per person - no refund of your deposit after that date Balance Payment: November 29, 2016 no refund of your balance payment after that date Please note that if a written notice of cancellation is received by Congregation B nai Shalom by the end of the day on the above dates you will receive a refund of the appropriate payment World Passage Ltd is our mission coordinator. The company has been involved in travel to Cuba for 16 years and is the oldest tour operator of Jewish missions to Cuba worldpassage@comcast.net IMPORTANT PASSPORT INFORMATION to participate in the mission your passport must be valid for at least six months after the mission s arrival to Cuba on January 9, 2017. IMPORTANT: you must travel with the valid passport that you submitted for registration or your Cuban visa will be void QUESTIONS: Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz 508-366-7191 rabbi@cbnaishalom.org A GREAT MITZVAH A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE A FUN TRIP 4
Mission Itinerary Subject to Change Meals: B = breakfast; L= lunch; D= dinner Sunday Crowne Plaza Hotel you may arrive at a time of your choosing Day 1 Monday - MIA-HAV (Included meals: B, D) Group transfer to Miami International Airport Flight to Havana Visit to the Sephardic Center Holocaust Display Senior Center Transfer to Nacional Hotel the favorite of the famous and infamous Presentation, Power Point and Q&A with noted Cuban historian on the Jews of Cuba Casual Dinner La Baracca on the patio of the hotel overlooking all of Havana (included meal) Day 2 Tuesday (B, L) Havana Guided walking tour of Old Havana. Lunch at El Templete (included meal) Continue tour of old Havana Visit Patronato and its President largest synagogue in Dinner at your leisure to enjoy Havana s many private restaurants and the night life. Your guide and trip literature provided will make recommendations and your guide will assist you in making reservations and transportation Day 3 Wednesday (B, L, D) Havana Cienfuegos. Departure for town of Cienfuegos in Central Cuba the Pearl of the South. Founded the early 1800 s by French planters from the Louisiana who did not wish to live under the newly established American rule Light Lunch at Green Café (included meal) Visit Cienfuegos visit including the very unique Thomas theatre which hosted Caruso and Sarah Bernhardt Meet with small Jewish community We will visit the small art gallery started by the son of the leader of the Jewish Community of Cienfuegos and other local artists 5
Private choral performance Cienfuegos is known for its choral groups Dinner at Palacio del Valle (included meal) a mini Alhambra the home of an 19 th century sugar baron in honor of his beloved Andalusia Day 4 Thursday Cienfuegos Trinidad Cienfuegos (B, D) On to Trinidad a UNESCO World Heritage Site Trinidad is quite simply one of the finest colonial towns in all the Americas. It was founded in 1514 as the fourth of the seven original villas (towns) founded by Diego Velazquez. It prospered as a sugar town until the international sugar market collapsed in the 1860s and the town drifted into obscurity Walking tour and orientation by guide. Visit to Palacio Cantero an example of the wealth of the sugar barons Visit to state run at-risk pregnancy clinic Lunch at your leisure with free time to explore this colonial city and its very extensive craft market. The town is famous for its table linens Optional non included activity: sunset cruise open bar Dinner at the hotel (included meal) Day 5 Friday (B, L, D) Cienfuegos - Havana On to Havana Guanabacoa, a suburb of Havana, tour of the Jewish cemetery. Visit the first Holocaust Memorial in Western hemisphere Visit to Hemingway s home in Cuba La Finca Vigia just as he left it. He said of it the best place to work in the world Lunch at La Divina Pastora (included meal) overlooking Habana and its bay To Patronato for Erev Shabbat Services After services we will have Erev Shabbat dinner with the Community (included meal). Mission price includes the meal for several members of the Community 6
Day 6 Saturday (B) Guided tour of Bellas Artes Museum Cuba collection the history of Cuba through its art led by a museum curator and a member of the Jewish Community of Cuba Visit to the craft market Remainder of the day at leisure Optional Late Afternoon Non Included Activities: For the serious art collector visit to private galleries limit 10 per group Salsa lesson ( fee) Rum Tasting with cigars (fee) Scuba diving available for those with certification ( fee) Evening at your leisure to enjoy the many private restaurants (Paladares) and night life of Havana. Your guide will assist you with your selection Optional Non Included Activity: 8:00 pm Performance at the National Theatre we should know upon arrival the nature of the performance your guide will reserve orchestra seats approximately: $40 Day 7 Sunday (B, L, D) A discussion of Afro Cuban religions and Santeria by local expert accompanied by authentic Santeria dancers and musical group Visit to the artist Fuster the Gaudi of the Caribbean his home and his neighborhood have been transformed by his artistry Lunch at La Ferminia ( included meal) Guided visit to the Museum of the Revolution, to understand Cuba is to understand its revolution Visit to a farmer s market where Cubans buy our guide will try to explain the Cuban economy Farewell Dinner Café Oriente (included meal) 7
Evening Optional Non Included Activity: an evening at the Tropicana approximately $100 10:30 pm 12:30 am The bus will take people from the hotel to the Tropicana and return to the hotel after the show. Day 8 Monday (B) HAVANA MIAMI A few surprises Return flight to Miami 8