Havana Culture & History December 8-15, 2018
Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends: Though just 90 miles from the United States, Cuba remains a mystery to most Americans. Now you can experience this enigmatic island through the eyes of its people. During specially arranged people-to-people meetings, learn about Cuba s history and culture. Enjoy access to the country s arts community, and exchange ideas with curators and directors from the Ludwig Foundation for the Arts, National Museum of Fine Arts, and other institutions. In Havana, visit a classic car workshop and a local cigar factory, and tour the Museum of the Revolution. Watch an informal rehearsal of the Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba. Savor Cuban cuisine at lively paladares (privately owned restaurants). During a special visit to the Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficos, learn about the country s film industry (pending confirmation). Accommodations are at the elegant Hotel Saratoga, overlooking Havana s iconic Capitolio. Get a glimpse of life outside of the capital during full-day excursions to the Pinar del Río province and the city of Matanzas. You will also see Finca Vigía, the house where Ernest Hemingway lived for 20 years, and the village of Cojímar, the setting for The Old Man and the Sea. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS STAY at the elegant Hotel Saratoga, in Havana s UNESCO-recognized Old City Reserve your place on this Cuban adventure today! Sincerely, SEE Hemingway s house Finca Vigía and visit the village of Cojímar, the setting for The Old Man and the Sea ATTEND an informal morning rehearsal of the Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba VISITa cigar factory and a classic car workshop in Havana Erica Weyhe Assistant Director, Alumni Travel Visit the UChicago Alumni Travel program online at www.alumni.uchicago.edu/travel, or contact us at 773.702.2157 or alumnitravel@uchicago. edu. For additional details about this trip or to register, please contact Arrangements Abroad at 212.514.8921 or trips@arrangementsabroad.com EXPLORE the lush Pinar del Río province LEARN about the Cuban film industry at the Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficos
Havana Culture & History December 8-15, 2018 Viñales Valley in the Pinar del Rio province SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8: U.S. DEPARTURE Arrive independently in Havana, where you will be met at the José Martí Airport and transferred to the Saratoga Hotel. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel overlooks the steps of the Capitolio and the Paseo del Prado. Following an introductory lecture, enjoy a welcome dinner at the celebrated paladar La Guarida. D SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9: HAVANA Following a lecture by an architectural historian, set out on a walking tour of Old Havana, focusing on the four main squares: the Plaza de Armas, Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza de la Catedral. Lunch is at a paladar near the cathedral. Visit the Museum of the Revolution, which vividly describes Cuba s history. In the early evening attend a discussion on Cuba s current reality by a former Cuban ambassador and deputy minister for foreign affairs, followed by dinner. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11: HAVANA Attend a morning lecture by a Cuban filmmaker. Then travel by ferry boat across Havana s harbor to Regla, one of Havana s 15 municipalities. This Afro-Cuban community has a long, rich, and still-active tradition of African-inspired religions. Visit the 17th- century church of Nuestra Señora de Regla before returning to Havana on the ferry. Following lunch, tour the National Museum of Fine Arts, where we trace Cuba s history through the works of her greatest artists. As part of a special evening at the Ludwig Foundation for the Arts, the Foundation President will host a cocktail reception and buffet dinner on the penthouse terrace. Invited guests include Cuban artists. Following dinner, optional entertainment is available at a number of Havana s music venues, including the famous Tropicana. B, L, R, D WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12: HAVANA Early this morning take a guided tour of a local cigar factory. Drive outside of the capital to the hilltop village of San Francisco de Paula for a visit to Finca Vigía, the house where Ernest Hemingway lived for 20 years. View the rooms through open windows from the surrounding terraces; see Hemingway s famous fishing boat Pilar; and climb the tower to his study. Your excursion concludes with a brief visit to the village of Cojímar, the setting for The Old Man and the Sea. After lunch stop by the University of Havana. Then learn about the local film industry with a visit to the Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficos (ICAIC) (pending confirmation). Dinner this evening is at a paladar. Finca Vigía MONDAY, DECEMBER 10: HAVANA/PINAR DEL RIO /HAVANA Today spend a day in western Cuba and the Pinar del Río province, pass land used to grow crops including sugar cane and tobacco. Your westernmost destination will be Soroa, to tour an impressive orchid farm run by the University of Pinar del Río. Later, visit Las Terrazas, a village within the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve, and meet community members involved in the arts, organic farming, and sustainable practices. Return to Havana in the late afternoon. B, L
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13: HAVANA/MATANZAS/ HAVANA Depart for a full-day in Matanzas, stopping en route at the Bacunayagua Bridge, the highest in Cuba. Upon arrival in Matanzas see Finca la Angelita, a farming collective and ecological project. Continue to Ediciones Vigía, where handmade books are created, followed by a visit to the studio of a sculptor. After lunch, a private concert is arranged at the Ermita de Monserrate hilltop chapel, with an opportunity to talk with the performers. Return to Havana in the late afternoon. B, L, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14: HAVANA Watch an informal morning rehearsal of the Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba. Then visit the Colón Cemetery, whose many monuments commemorate Cuban heroes, statesmen, and novelists. After lunch at Paladar Vistamar, with magnificent ocean views, classic car aficionados will delight in a tour of Nostalgicar, where some of the city s finest vintage cars are repaired and refurbished. At the historic Hotel Nacional, enjoy their famous mojitos on a terrace overlooking Havana s harbor. Celebrate your week in Cuba at a farewell dinner at one of the best paladares in the city, Otramanera. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15: HAVANA/U.S. RETURN Depart the hotel this morning for flights home. DISCLAIMER: This itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of Arrangements Abroad and University of Chicago. For complete details, please carefully read the terms and conditions at www.arrangementsabroad.com/terms. B PROGRAM RATE $5,999 per person, double occupancy $1,849 single supplement RATE INCLUDES n Seven nights accommodations at the Hotel Saratoga. Meals as per itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, R=Reception, D = Dinner). Bottled water and coffee/tea with all meals, house wine/beer at dinners n Escorted sightseeing, transportation and entrance fees for all included visits n Enrichment program of lectures and special events n Gratuities to local guides and drivers n Taxes, service charges, and porterage n Pre-departure materials and reading list NOT INCLUDED IN RATE International airfare; Cuban visa; Cuban departure tax; limited Cuban health insurance policy (required for all foreign travelers to Cuba under age 80); passport fees; alcoholic beverages other than as noted; personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, etc.; travel insurance; any other items not specifically mentioned as included. ACCOMMODATIONS Located near Old Havana, the Hotel Saratoga is a historic property that reopened in 2005 following an extensive refurbishment that preserved the original façade. Renowned in the 1930s for the international artists and socialites who stayed here, today s Saratoga caters to discerning travelers with interests in history and culture as well as Havana s famous nightlife. From its prime location on the Paseo del Prado opposite the iconic Capitolio building, the Saratoga features a rooftop pool, restaurant, and bar with views of the city, as well as a lobby restaurant, mezzanine bar, business center, spa, and fitness center. All rooms have air conditioning, a shower and separate bathtub, hairdryer, safe, minibar, telephone, satellite TV, and DVD player. Hotel Saratoga Mezzanine bar, Hotel Saratoga
Havana waterfront UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CUBA: CULTURE & HISTORY n DECEMBER 8 15, 2018 RESERVATION FORM To reserve a place, please contact Arrangements Abroad at phone: 212-514-8921 or 800-221-1944, or fax: 212-344-7493; or complete and return this form with your deposit of $1,000 per person (of which $500 is non-refundable for administrative fees) payable to Arrangements Abroad. Mail to: Arrangements Abroad, 1040 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd floor, New York, NY 10018-3721. Name(s) in full as on passport(s). Please print. Address City State Zip Telephone (home) (business) Fax E-mail ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel room preference p One bed p Two beds p Single I wish to share a room with FORM OF PAYMENT q Enclosed is my check (payable to Arrangements Abroad) q Debit card q Credit card Name on debit/credit card Debit/credit card number 3- or 4-digit security code Expiration date I/We confirm that I/we have carefully read and agree to the Terms & Conditions of this Program (see www.arrangementsabroad.com/terms to review or call for a copy). I/We agree to full payment 120 days prior to departure. Each participant must sign below. Signature (required) Date Signature (required) Date _ On the front cover: Havana B_18LNDHAV1208_UOC