Discovering Cuba with Docomomo Hawaii October 24 - November 1, 2016 Led by Rosa Lowinger Join us for this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich local culture and rhythms of daily life in Cuba as we meet with local residents, artists, and professionals to see the island through their eyes while exploring local landmarks that are significant to Cuba s heritage. Cuba is a tropical island nation unlike any other in the Caribbean; as rich in contrasts as it is rich in art, architecture and warm, welcoming people. Our thoughtfully planned and professionally guided tour will be of great interest to those whose curious minds are ready to see for themselves and understand the story of Cuba, as told by Cubans themselves. There will be particular excitement in the air as President Obama s announcement to normalize relations has brought much hope to the people of Cuba, and there simply could not be a more exciting time to visit this time-capsule nation before its landscape changes forever. We encourage you to join us and make your reservation today!
Day-by-Day Itinerary October 24, Monday: Havana L,D Depart Miami to Havana. Upon arrival, stop for a drink at the Hotel Nacional s Hall of Fame before enjoying lunch on the beautiful grounds of the hotel. Enjoy an afternoon visit to the 7 y 60 studio. After checking in to the Parque Central Hotel, enjoy a lecture by Dr. Miguel Coyula on Art, Architecture and Development in Havana, followed by a private cocktail reception and dinner on the hotel s rooftop. October 25, Tuesday: Havana This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Old Havana, the finest example of a Spanish colonial city in the Americas. Accompanied by an architectural historian, enjoy the city s many squares, its cathedral, and a scale-model of Old Havana before ending the morning at the Plaza Vieja, a stunningly beautiful old square surrounded by colonial mansions. End the morning at the Wilfredo Lam Center, the organizers of Havana s Biennial followed by lunch at La Moneda Cubana. This afternoon, continue exploring Old Havana including the Escuela Taller of the Historian of Havana s office. This evening enjoy dinner at Cafe Laurent. October 26, Wednesday: Havana Enjoy a morning visit to the studios of Los Carpinteros in Nuevo Vedad, a prime example of late 50s modern architecture. Continue on to visit Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, led by a contemporary art curator. After lunch at El Ajibe, visit the home of curator, author, and art critic, Cristina Vives. Their apartment was the first solo apartment project designed by Mario Romanach, an important Cuban modernist. Enjoy an evening performance by the Camerata Romeu which will take place in the chapel of Centro Felix Varela located in the former San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary. Dinner this evening will be at the home of artist Sandra Ramos whose works focus on the recovery of an individual memory linked to the difficulties of the daily life in Cuba. October 27, Thursday: Havana Accompanied by Cuban architect, Universo Garcia Lorenzo, explore the neighborhood of Santo Suarez where Dr. Garcia s work on the new home of the Ballet Espanol de Cuba has transformed the neighborhood and enjoy a rehearsal of the company. Continue on to meet with Cuban chef Odlavin Garcia to learn more about traditional Cuban cuisine and take part in a private class and then enjoy the fruits of your labor. After lunch, visit the residence of the Swiss Ambassador to Cuba whose home, known as the Alfred de Schulthess House, was designed by architect Richard Neutra and noted Brazilian landscape architect, Roberto Burle Marx. The magnificent house received the 1958 National College of Architects Gold Metal. Continue on to visit Habana Libre, a marvelous example of late fifties modernist design whose lead architect was Los Angeles based Welton Becket and Associates. End the day at the Bacardi building built in the 1930 s and remains today as one of the city s finest Art Deco buildings. Enjoy an early evening reception at the Ludwig Foundation, an organization commited to the promotion of art in Cuba followed by dinner at L Atelier. October 28, Friday: Havana Accompanied by an architectural historian, continue on a city orientation tour. Explore the City Garden of El Vadado which introduced green in the city for the first time. Drive along La Rampa to the Parque Copelia to visit a remarkable design icon, an ice-cream parlor designed in 1966 and serves a remarkable 30,000 customers a day.
October 30, Sunday: Trinidad Depart for Cienfuegos, which has a superb architectural ensemble reflecting the new ideas of moderniity, hygiene, and order in urban planning in the early 1800 s. Upon arrival, enjoy a walking tour of the historic area led by architect Iran Millan, head of the conservation office in Cienfuegos. Explore the area around Parque Marti and admire the lavish Cathedral, town theater, and Tomas Terry theater. End the morning at the National Theater to watch a rehearsal of the extraordinary dance group, Danza Contemporanea. Lunch will be hosted at the home and studio of internationally renowned artist Jose Fuster who has turned his entire neighborhood into a piece of mosaic art. Continue on to the Istituto Superior de Arte (ISA). Originally the Havana Country Club converted by President Castro into an arts complex in 1961. The school was designed by three young rebel architects: Italians Roberto Gottardi and Vittorio Garatti, and Cuban Ricardo Porro. Porro s art school was a deliberate evocation of the female form and the project was halted as it was thought too sensual for Communist tastes, though the school did open. End the day with a visit to the 331 Gallery to view the work of three young and emerging artists - Adrian Fernandez, Frank Mujica, and Alex Hernandez. Enjoy dinner at La Guarida which served as the setting for the oscar nominated film, fresa y chocolat followed by an evening at La Fabrica de Arte Cubano, an old oil factory that s now a thriving arts space. October 29, Saturday: Havana Morning drive to Parque Lenin where there are many modernist buildings. Continue on a breath-taking drive along Cuba s north-east coast through the Yumuri Valley, a 9666-hectare nature reserve. Cross over the Bacunayagua Bridge, the highest in Cuba and view a geomorphologic feature and stunning view over the Rio Yumuri canyon. Stop at the old sugar-mill town of Hershey which houses the old Hershey Sugar Mill. Enjoy lunch in Cojimar before returning to Havana to enjoy the balance of the day and dinner at leisure. B,L After lunch, visit the Taller Grafico cooperative of young artists. Continue on to Trinidad to check into the Iberostar Trinidad Hotel followed by dinner at Sol Ananda. October 31, Monday: Trinidad Spend the day exploring Trinidad, considered the crown jewel of Cuba s colonial cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accompanied by an architect and former head of the Oficina del Conservador, enjoy a walking tour of Trinidad. Visit the Museo Romantico, the Museo Arqueologia, the cathedral Iglesia Parroquial de la Santisima. Continue on to the Museo de Arquitectura which is the former mansion of the Iznaga family, now a museum which tells the history of Trinidad s development. Explore Palacio Cantero which houses a collection of glass, painting, and ornate furniture which belonged to the Conde de Brunet family dating from 1830. End the morning meeting with artist Yami Martinez whose work focuses on Cuban women and their invisible labor. After lunch, visit a number of important art galleries in Trinidad including the Art Trinidad Gallery. Enjoy a farewell dinner at Casa de Los Conspiradores owned by artist Yami Martinez. This house was the meeting place of the Trinitarians members of a notorious conspirancy against the Spanish government in 1848 and remains one of the oldest and architecturally significant houses of the XVIII century in Trinidad. November 1, Tuesday: Return Return flight from Cienfuegos to Miami. B
Tour Leader Rosa Lowinger is a Cuban- American art conservator and writer with a specialty in contemporary art, architecture, and Cuban culture. The author of Tropicana Nights: the Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Nightclub, (Harcourt, 2005) a memoir and history of 1950s Havana, Rosa has worked frequently with Cuban artists in the fabrication of their works and serves as consulting conservator for a dozen of the top figures in the Cuban art world. She has designed and led Cuba travel programs for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Museum of Arts and Design, the Menil Museum, the Bronx Museum, Art in General, the Association for Preservation Technology, the Santa Monica Museum, and the American Institute for Conservation. She is a Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation and writes frequently on Cuba, modern art and preservation for such publications as Sculpture, Preservation Magazines, ArtNews, Truthdig.com, and the website of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. she is the guest curator for the Wolfsonian museum s 2016 exhibit promising paradise: Cuban allure American seduction. Program Costs and Inclusions Trip price: Based on 20-24 paying travelers: $5,100 per person Based on 25-29 paying travelers: $4,960 per person Based on 30-34 paying travelers: $4,870 per person Single room supplement: $810 (Limited Availability) To register for the program, Enclose the application, along with a copy of your passport and a check for $1000 (per traveler) made payable to Distant Horizons and mail to: Distant Horizons 350 Elm Avenue Long Beach, CA 90802 For additional information, please contact Melissa Costa at 800-333-1240 or via email at MelissaC@Distant-Horizons.com. Please note that participants must be in good physical condition and be able to walk for long distances over uneven cobblestones and up and down stairs without problems. Distant Horizons, Docomomo Hawaii s tour operator, is a California Seller of Travel (CST #2046776-40) and a participant in the California Travel Restitution Fund. Information regarding the rights of California residents to make a claim may be found at tcrcinfo.org. California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. This business has a trust account.
Application WHEN YOU RETURN THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE INCLUDE A LEGIBLE PHOTOCOPY OF THE PHOTO & SIGNATURE PAGES OF YOUR PASSPORT. Docomomo Hawaii: Discovering Cuba with Rosa Lowinger Trip Dates: October 24 - November 1, 2016 Name Mr. / Ms. / Mrs. Exactly as listed in your passport (First) (Middle) (Last) Preferred first name: Mailing Address: Mother s maiden name (required for charter flight booking): Occupation (required for visa application): Home Phone: Business Phone: Cell Phone: E-mail Address: Describe your health Do you have any allergies or physical limitations Do you have any diet restrictions Are you presently under a doctor s care or taking any medications? If yes, please elaborate. Emergency contact person, phone number, and relationship: ACCOMMODATIONS Distant Horizons will do everything possible to satisfy requests to share a room for single tour members. On occasions when it is not possible, the single supplement will apply. I want a single room (limited availability) I will share a room with: BED TYPE (not guaranteed): One large bed Two twins I have read the terms and conditions and agree to abide by them. Signature Date
Terms and Conditions Payments: Registration requires a $1000 per person deposit. Final payment is due by July 24, 2016 and must be paid by check. Tour Price Includes: Educational Program of lectures and discussions, roundtrip airfare on charter flights between Miami and Cuba, accommodations in hotels as outlined in the itinerary based on double occupancy, all meals listed, one drink with lunch and one with dinner, bottled water kept on the bus, sightseeing and excursions as listed, transportation in a deluxe, air conditioned motor coach, the services of a local Cuban guide, a Cuban visa, Cuban departure tax, gratuities, and mandatory health insurance and evacuation required by the Cuban Government which provides $25,000 worth of medical coverage and $7,000 worth of medical transportation. Tour cost is based on rates of currency exchange at time of printing (February 2016) and is subject to change with or without previous notice. If there is a price increase prior to the day of departure in the basic costs, such increases may be passed on to the participant. Tour Price Does Not Include: Domestic airfare to and from Miami, any required overnights in Miami, passport fees, visa fees for Cuban born citizens, luggage fees, meals not listed, additional drinks at meals, airport transfers if not arriving or departing with the group, trip cancellation, lost baggage, and medical insurance (above the mandatory amount required by the Cuban government), items of a purely personal nature and any items not listed. Any increases in the in-tour airfare (included as part of the program cost), security, or fuel surcharges imposed after the initial pricing of this program are not included. Airfare is subject to change without notice by the charter company. Deviations: Please note that it is not possible to spend additional time in Cuba unaccompanied by the group, per the license regulations. Cancellations: Distant Horizons and the Docomomo Hawaii reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason, including insufficient number of participants, and to decline to accept or retain any person as a participant at any time. Should this happen, refunds will be made without obligation, although we cannot be held responsible for any additional costs already incurred by participants. The tour price is based on a number of people traveling together. If bookings fall below the minimum required, passengers will be advised of additional costs for that departure date. If a participant cancels, the following refunds will be available upon written notice of cancellation to Distant Horizons: Notice more than 90 days prior to departure: a refund less a $500 cancellation charge. Notice between 90 and 60 days prior to departure: a refund less a $1000 cancellation charge. Notice between 59 days and 30 days prior to departure: a refund less 50% of trip price. No refund shall be issued if cancellation is received less than 30 days prior to departure date. No refunds shall be issued after the tour has commenced. No refunds shall be issued for occasional missed meals, sightseeing tours or any unused services. Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. An application for travel insurance will be mailed upon the receipt of the application and deposit. Distant Horizons does not accept liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable airline ticket or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the tour. QUESTIONS: Please contact Melissa Costa at Distant Horizons at 800-333-1240 or via email at MelissaC@Distant-Horizons.com. Responsibility: Distant Horizons and Docomomo Hawaii act only in the capacity of agents for the hotels, airlines, bus companies, railroads, ship lines or owners or contractors providing accommodations, transportation or other services. As a result, all coupons, receipts or tickets are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by the supplier. By acceptance of tour membership, the participant agrees that neither Distant Horizons nor Docomomo Hawaii nor any of their subsidiaries shall become liable or responsible for personal injury, damage to persons or property, loss, delay or irregularity caused by persons not controlled by it, such as (without limitation) airlines, bus and shipping companies, suppliers of accommodations or other services, or resulting from any acts of God, defects in vehicles, strikes, wars, whether declared or otherwise, civil disturbances, medical or customs regulations, acts of terrorism, epidemics or government restrictions. Distant Horizons and Docomomo Hawaii cannot be held responsible for unfavorable weather or closure of access routes due to bad weather conditions. Distant Horizons and Docomomo Hawaii cannot be held responsible if the tour lecturer or leader cancels, and passengers will be advised of a comparable replacement should time permit. Distant Horizons and Docomomo Hawaii are not responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the participant as a result of the above mentioned causes.