International Photography Hall of Fame Cuba Photographic Trip with Stewart Halperin and Jeff Hirsch November 10th - 17th, 2018 1
Cuba: An Island in Transition A visual feast for photographers at every street and every turn. The International Photography Hall of Fame, in cooperation with Cuba Educational Travel, is offering a unique photographic journey to this magical island with two of St. Louis most experienced photo tour leaders. Half an hour from Miami and half a world away For over 45 years Stewart has traveled the world with his cameras, covering over 95 countries spanning five decades. He is a popular photography workshop leader and has led trips around the world for over 20 years. Both Stewart s insights into street shooting and his modeling of interactions with people met along the way will move you to make the best of the photo opportunities you encounter and inspire you to achieve a higher photographic level. Joining Stewart will be St. Louis based photographer and Adobe Certified Expert Jeff Hirsch. Jeff has the rare combination of being an incredible shooter as well as one the finest digital workflow experts in the country. His passion for the art of photography is expansive. Best of all, he has the rare ability to translate geek - to-english, helping photographers make the most of their complex technology as well as providing hands-on instruction to participants in their efforts to make more compelling travel images. Both Stewart and Jeff have led numerous trips to Cuba and are proud to partner with CET, considered to be among the very best agencies offering trips from the USA to Cuba. The IPHF is pleased to be offering this very special and intense photographic experience in Cuba. The trip starts and ends in Florida (departing from either Miami or Fort Lauderdale) and will run from November 10-17, 2018. For more details, contact IPHF at (314) 535-1999 or email info@iphf.org. Trip price (per person) is $5200 for a double-occupancy room. Single-occupancy rooms are available for $5800 per person. An additional $300.00 will be paid separately to cover the roundtrip flights from Florida to Cuba and back. Deadline for a $1000 deposit is July 13, 2018. Full Payment is due August 12, 2018. Participants will be responsible for their own travel to the departure city in Florida. Join St. Louis based photographers Stewart D Halperin and Jeff Hirsch for this very special journey to capture the rich visual tapestry that is Cuba. 2 3
Full trip itinerary: (details subject to change) Saturday, November 10 TBD Arrival to Havana. (pending flight information) TBD Check in at local accommodations. Upon arrival, meet your CET guide at lodging to do an orientation talk: overview of the agenda, discussion about local transportation, nearby markets, internet access and other logistics, safety, cultural norms and current events in Cuba. 8:00PM Welcome dinner overlooking the Straits of Florida at the Hotel Nacional. Tasty Cuban food served family style with a great view of the Havana sea wall and the old Spanish fortress. The setting brings many back to the 1950s, when the mafia held its annual meetings at this historic hotel. Sunday, November 11 8:30AM Walking tour of Old Havana and its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. Wander through the main plazas and side streets. Visit to Fototeca, the leading photographic guild in Cuba and the most prestigious venue for showcasing work from leading Cuban photographers. 12:30PM Lunch at Doña Eutimia paladar. Famous for its ropa vieja and frozen mojitos, this cozy paladar made Newsweek Magazine s top 100 restaurants in the world in 2012. The restaurant s location in the beautiful cathedral square is unbeatable. 2:00PM Discussion with urban planner Miguel Coyula, whose presentation will touch on housing, infrastructure, investment, and restoration programs in the city. It s bound to leave you with a better understanding of why Havana looks the way it does today and possibilities moving forward. 3:30PM Explore Havana in classic cars from the 1950s, being recognized all around the world, they have become cultural symbols of Cuba. Opportunity to photograph cars at various settings in the city (2-3 people per car). 7:30PM Visit to La Fabrica de Arte Cubano for a private tour and discussion with Enrique Rottenberg, one of Cuba s premiere photographers and resident artists. FAC, the brainchild of Afro-Cuban fusion musician X-Alfonso, is one Havana s finest new art projects, an intellectual nexus for live music, art expos and fashion shows that has turned into a meeting spot for a young, eclectic crowd of Cubans and foreigners. 8:00PM Dinner at Tierra, Havana s newest international dinning spot. Located inside a container in the Fábrica de Arte Cubano, the restaurant mirrors the eclectic crowd, serving dishes from around the world. 4 5
Monday, November 12 is impressive. Early Morning Sunrise photo walk in TBD Sunset photo walk along the Malecon Centro Habana. Capture the hustle and bustle of Prado Boulevard as students, workers and (seawall), one of the most spectacular and popular destinations in Havana. others make their way to the day s activities. 8:00PM Dinner at La Makina Gastro Bar, 10:00AM Visit a centuries-old mansion located near the Museum of the Revolution in Vedado neighborhood. Step inside this stately residence to discover what lies behind the crumbling facades of Havana s impressive mansions. Josie, who has lived in the house for over 60 years, will show us around and explain its rich history. and the Museum of Fine Arts in the heart of Old Havana, it is known for the exquisite cuisine dishes and a charming ambiance. Tuesday, November 13 Free morning 12:00PM Lunch at Paladar Atelier. This 7:30PM Private musical performance 12:30PM Enjoy lunch at Havana s 21 restaurant is equally known for its atmosphere by renowned singer and songwriter Frank paladar in Vedado. and exquisite cuisine. The lighting and textures Delgado at Café Madrigal. Café Madrigal, of the house, which was home to a pre-revolutionary senator, coupled with walls adorned in and art with a family of artists, at AltaMira is housed in a beautiful colonial mansion with 2:00PM Discussion about Cuban culture owned and run by film director Rafael Rosales, modern art, create a cozy, but modern setting. art loft. A few years ago, Edel Bordón and the walls lined with captivating artwork. Enjoy his family embarked on a journey to establish tasty tapas and cocktails while discussing 2:00PM Visit to local boxing gym, where an art collective in their apartment building. about the nueva trova movement in Cuba. we will photograph trainers and boxers in Spearheaded by his wife Yamilé Pardo, the session. 9:00PM Dinner Reservation at La Guarida family created the AltaMira art space, which paladar, famous not only for its delectable 4:00PM Visit to the Lizt Alfonso Academy, features an exhibition and workspace off of the dining, but also as the location for the film a women-led dance company and school for main lobby and collaborations with neighbors. Strawberry and Chocolate. It is housed on the local youth, specializing in various types of 4:00PM Enjoy a performance by Habana third floor of a large, old town house carrying dance. We will watch a private performance Compás Dance, which encompasses the rich the charming ambiance of the early 1900s. by the adolescent dance group and sit with the rhythm and flow of the island, performing Concordia e Gervasio y Lealtad, no. 418 altos, dancers afterward to discuss how they came to traditional and modern dances born from their Centro Habana (not included to be paid on join the school and the impact it has had on Spanish, Cuban and Afro - Cuban heritage. the ground) 6 them. The talent and work ethic at this school 7
relationships, gender relations and race. They will share info about their interesting musical journey and insight into the challenges and opportunities young Cubans face. Lunch and early afternoon free 6:00PM Enjoy a discussion and private performance by Banda Ancha, a jazz band led by Yissy Garcia, an amazingly talented young percussionist. Banda Ancha calls its style high-speed Cuban jazz, a mixture of different rhythms like funk, reggae and samba, with Afro-Cuban influences. 7:30PM Dinner at Paladar San Cristobal. Located in the heart of Central Havana, this paladar has a reputation of excellence in both atmosphere and local cuisine. Enjoy great food while the local takes you back to the 1940s and 50s. Spanish architecture. Housed on one of the country s largest bays, the city offers beautiful ocean front landscapes, and is deeply rich in culture. Photo walk of Cienfuegos: Walk along the Malecon and Prado Boulevard. Visit to Parque Marti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and national monument. Tour of Tomas Terry Theater, one of the finest eclectic buildings of the city. 12:00PM Lunch at Finca del Mar, a modern paladar overlooking the calm waters of the Cienfuegos Bay. 1:30PM Music and discussion with the local chapter of UNEAC, the National Union of Artists and Writers of Cuba, featuring an opportunity to meet local photographers, musicians and other locals. Thursday, November 15 2:30PM Visit to the beautiful Palacio Del Valle in the Punta Gorda neighborhood. This Wednesday, November 14 8:00AM Check-out and depart for Trinidad, a UNESCO world heritage site, known Heritage Memorial in Cienfuegos, a place of palace is an architectural jewel and a National 9:00AM Bicycle city tour of Old Havana for its cobble stoned streets, pastel colored cultural events, restaurant, bar and museum. and Centro Habana with stops for photos. homes and small-town feel. 3:30PM Continue onto Trinidad. 11:00AM Visit with La Reyna y Real, a 11:00AM On the way, visit Cienfuegos, female hip hop/jazz duo. The group s music referred to as the Pearl of the South, is one 5:00PM Arrival to Trinidad. Check-in at focuses on breaking down stereotypes in of Cuba s only cities to display French and boutique bed and breakfast Hostal Lola. Cuban society, including machismo, healthy 8 9
Friday, November 16 8:30AM Breakfast discussion with Nancy Benitez, a local architect, historian and restoration specialist. Ms. Benitez will provide an overview of the city s history from an architectural, economic and infrastructural point of view. 10:00AM Walking tour and photo shoot of Trinidad s historic center, known for its cobble stoned streets, pastel colored homes and small-town feel. Visit the main square Playa Mayor, surrounded by some of the most outstanding buildings of the city from the 18th and 19th centuries, including the Church of the Holy Trinity. 12:30PM Enjoy lunch at Los Conspiradores paladar, located at the foot of the main plaza and the lively Casa de la Música. 3:00PM Visit the local Afro-Cuban village Manaca Iznaga, that still demonstrates cultural traits of the first groups of freed slaves. This will be a unique opportunity for photo shooting and learning about the Afro-Cuban religion and History. Coast of Trinidad. TBD Sunset photo shoot. 8:00PM Farewell dinner at Casa Lola. Enjoy a Cuban Traditional meal prepared by your hosts. Saturday, November 17 TBD Check-out and depart for Santa Clara s airport (pending flight information). TERMS AND CONDITIONS PAYMENT: A deposit of $1,000 per person is due by 120 days prior to departure. ( July 13, 2018) A signed copy of the Memorandum of Understanding must be turned in with the deposit. Full payment will be due 90 days prior to departure. (August 12, 2018) Please inquire if you are interested in purchasing trip insurance from a certified, third party. Payment can be made with a check, cashier s check, or money order. Credit cards are not accepted. Checks should be made out to Cuba Educational Travel and mailed to: Cuba Educational Travel Attn. Int l Photo Hall of Fame 72 Highland Ave. West Islip, NY 11795 CANCELLATION and REPLACEMENT POLI- CIES: The sale is final. Cancellations made before 120 days prior to the trip are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made 119-91 days prior to trip departure are eligible for a 50 percent refund. Cancellations made within 90 days of trip departure are not eligible for a refund. In some instances, time permitting, a different traveler can take the place of a scheduled participant for a processing fee of $350. Cuba, a full refund will be granted. This will ONLY be the case if there is no legal avenue for travel to Cuba that would allow for the trip to move forward. UNUSED SERVICES & REFUNDS: No refund or adjustment can be made for any portion of the services not used such as voluntary non- usage of hotel accommodations, scheduled meals or any planned activity described in your itinerary. not be allowed to enter. Passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months after departure date. You may obtain a visa from CET or the airline and CET will advise on the process. IMPORTANT: Your trip is designed and implanted to comply with U.S. regulations on travel to Cuba as well as local laws in Cuba. Cuba Educational Travel is not responsible for violations as a result of travelers ignoring advice, altering programs on the ground or breaking Cuban law. On the way, stop at the viewpoint of the Valle 9:30PM We will enjoy a private performance by a local musical group. (not includ- PASSPORT AND VISA: de los Ingenios (Sugar Mill Valley) for breathtaking photos of the valley and the South ed - to be paid in cash on the ground) If U.S. policy is altered to make it so that the trip All travelers are required to carry a valid passport and a is not compliant with U.S. law regarding travel to Cuban visa. Those without a valid passport and visa will 10 11
12 Photographs by Stewart Halperin and Jeff Hirsch