Culture, art, architecture and history of Cuba

Community College of Baltimore County
Catonsville Campus
Maryland

Fall 2001 Cuba Trip
November 16 thru November 24 (Friday thru Saturday)

Organized by EduToursToCuba.com in collaboration with the Community College of Baltimore County/Catonsville Campus, Maryland and the Instituto Superior de Arte(ISA), Havana, Cuba

Purpose: This trip is planned for students, faculty, and staff to travel to Havana and other parts of Cuba to document the rich culture and heritage of the Cuban people through their art, architecture, and history. The resulting information, photographs, and film will be used to educate students, faculty, and staff of CCBC and may also be used in future writings, exhibitions, and research by the parties involved. An all day meeting is scheduled at al Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), including lunch with faculty, to discuss an exchange of faculty and/or students between ISA and CCBC. A working proposal has already been exchanged between our institutions and will be finalized while in Cuba.

Arrangements: Travel arrangements have been made through EduToursToCuba.com, web site of Voyage Culture Cuba (VCC). VCC has been in the business of providing excursions to Cuba for years and has arranged for thousands of American citizens to visit Cuba. We will be traveling on a General License issued to Bill Zwingelberg by the US Department of the Treasury for travel to Cuba for the purpose of cultural and educational exchanges.

Itinerary (Nov 16, Friday…..Nov 24, Saturday):

Day One: Fly Air Canada from BWI to Toronto, Canada and fly Air Cubana to Havana, Cuba. Met at airport by guide/interpreter with transportation to the Hotel Vedado. NOTE: Arrival in Havana theoretically is 10pm, customs is generally slow, so arrival at the Hotel Vedado will be after midnite.

Day Two: Recuperate at Vedado. Then tour La Habana Vieja (Old Havana). Bus will depart Hotel Vedado at 2pm and return at 9pm (cabs easily accessible or just walk). Eat lunch on the street or at a local cabana and finish with dinner at the Sevilla or other fine old hotel.

Day Three: Follow the life of Ernest Hemmingway with a visit to the Museo Hemingway and the village of Cojimar with LUNCH at “La Terrazza de Cojimar” restaurant, Hemingway's favorite. On return visit El Moro fortress, Fortaleza de San Carlo de la Cabana, DINNER at “El Restaurante Doce Apostles” and end the evening watching the firing of the canonazo at 9pm.

Day Four: Visit to de Instituto Superior de Artes (ISA). Meet with Professors and Administrators for tour of campus. Deliberations concerning the exchange program will be the main agenda.. LUNCH served by the Instituto. Dinner at a local paladares.

Day Five: Travel by bus to Pinar del Rio Province initiating with the area of Valle de Vinales, stop for view from the Jasmines Hotel, walk on the rural trail thru the traditional tabacco plantations, transfer back to the village famous for its colonial architecture, LUNCH at the peasant house where Fidel Castro signed the Agrarian Reform at the Ancon Valley, free time to enjoy the natural environment and swim in the Palmarito River, transfer to Hotel “Villa Aguas Claras” for DINNER and overnite lodging.

Day Six: After breakfast, we will travel to “Reserva de la Biosfera de las Terrazas” which includes a guided tour of the reforestation project and community involved, tour of rural trails with wildlife, visit the ecology station, and visit the ruins of the coffee plantation founded by the French.. LUNCH at the “Casa del Cafetel Buena Vista”. Visit the local community where many of the inhabitants are involved in environmental protection projects.Bring your bathing suit for a wilderness swim in the Rio San Juan river. Return to Havana and evening dinner on your own.

Day Seven: Take your pick of traveling to a las Playas del Estes to spend a day at the beach or travel to Regla, a village famous for its African-Cuban culture and Santeria religion. Or decide to have a free day in Havana to revisit old Havana, walk around Vedado, or just chill out at the hotel.

Day Eight: Transport to the Havana Airport for return trip to Toronto, Canada. Room for the night at a Toronto hotel.

Day Nine: Visit to Toronto on our own with return flight to BWI by late evening.

For a similar education tour and more information:

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