Urban planning, public health, administration, service, architecture study trip Cuba

New York University

International Public Service Association
Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
New York University

Urban Planning, Public Health and Administration in Cuba
March 15-22, 2003

The basic academic program was organized in collaboration with the Cuban University dedicated to architecture and Urban Planning.

EduToursToCuba.com also looked after the full study trip including the return flight from New York to Havana. The group travelled to Cuba legally with an OFAC license.

Day 1. Saturday, March 15

Flight DL9898, departure from New York March 15 at noon, arrives Havana at 15h40.
Reception at airport by Havanatur guide and representative as well as a representative from the CUJAE University.
Private transfer to Hotel Colina, two-star hotel in Havana. Hotel Check-in.
Information meeting at the hotel with Cuban bilingual Havanatur guide, Isabel Rigol and Arnold August of EduToursToCuba.com
Walking tour of the area surrounding the hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2. Sunday, March 16

8:30 A.M. Accompanying lecturer: Professor Sergio Ferro.
Coach transfer to neighbouring province of Pinar del Rio. All-day visit to Las Terrazas community located in the Biological Reserve Sierra del Rosario, with specialized local guide service An example of planning in the rural areas to preserve the environment.
Panoramic tour:
Visit to the ruins of old coffee plantations.
Project of sustainable community
Ecological Hotel "Moka"
Lunch
Visit and swim in the San Juan river

17h00 Return to Hotel

Day 3, Monday, March 17

Session # 1 (from 09:00 to 12 noon)
2 conferences on the following issues
Representative images of Havana and Havana's Master plan:
Professor Angela Rojas (or Professor Eliana Cardenas and a translator)
Architectural and urban heritage:
Professor Isabel Rigol

Lunch at El Ajibe with Cuba specialists

Session #2 (from 14h30 to 17h00)
Visit to the Model of Havana (1 hour) including first a general explanation about the town and it's surroundings and the demonstration on the model.
Architect Miguel Coyula

Return to hotel

Day 4, Tuesday, March 18

Session #3 (from 09h00 to 12:00)
Professor Isabel Rigol.
Two walking tours: first to the San Isidro neighbourhood and second to Jesus Maria area. The historic information about the capital and urban segregation will be completed.

Lunch at La Mina restaurant with Cuban specialists

Session # 4 (14h30 - 17h00)
Walk through the Colon neighborhood and the Malecon of Havana. Theme: People's participation as an element of urban design in Cuba.
Professor Gina Rey and translator

Day 5. Wednesday, March 19

Session #5 (from 09h00 to 12h00)
Professor Lourdes Ortega and a translator or Professor Ada Portero and a translator

Coach transport and walking tour of the municipalities of El Cerro and Plaza de la Revolucion. Another example of historic development and people's participation will be exposed. The issue about transformation of the Plaza will be explained as well.

Lunch in Restaurant 1830 with Cuban specialists.

Session # 6 (14h00 to 17h00)
Professor Isabel Rigol.

Walk through the El Vedado and the Miramar districts showing the advanced ideas of the urban pattern when the neighbourhood was founded, and the new business center under construction focusing on the development of the town.

Return to the Hotel

Day 6, Thursday, March 20

Session #7 (from 09h00 to 12h00)
Visit to the Frank Pais Hospital

Lunch with Cuban specialists

Session # 8 14h00 - 16h30)
Talk on Public Administration and Health Planning

Day 7, Friday March 21

Session #9 (from 09h00 to 12h00)

Visit to the Psychiatric Hospital of Havana. Walking and coach tour of the hospital.

Lunch at Restaurant La Giraldilla with Cuba hosts: Exchange on the one-week experience

Day 8. Saturday, March 22

Transport to airport for flight TA9570, departure from Havana March 23 at 03h20, arrival at New York at 06h50

A Testimonial from the student group leader

"I'm doing just fine along with the rest of the group. We have adjusted to our hectic lives back in New York. I'm sorry I haven't written earlier to your request for feedback. But here it is.

For the most part, the trip was fantastic. We had an absolutely wonderful time and got to see and learn so much. Cuba is an amazing place, unlike any I've seen in the world. And you guys did a great job with setting it up for us.

Havanatur was great and our guide Jose Luis and our driver both were fantastic. A few times they went out of their ways to help us with forgotten camera or adding an extra tour site on the itinerary, etc. They were just very terrific.

All our lunch meals were out of this world with delicious food with great views and live music. I even had a swim in the pool after lunch at one restaurant! The breakfasts and dinners at the hotel were not as great in comparison, with meat in practically every item and no regard for the vegetarians.

As for the lectures, for the most part, we enjoyed the lectures thoroughly. They were education, informative and thought provoking. Many students asked plenty of questions after the lectures to learn more about the sites. However, sometimes the lectures got too focused on urban planning and thus the non-urban planning students, which were the majority, drifted off to another world. Also, many students were frustrated at being in a dark room with a slide show instead of being outside and seeing the real Cuba. Students found the walking tours to be interesting as they could look at the buildings and sites while learning about them from the professors…One professor who gave spoke about the model of Havana city was everyone's favourite. He was fun and joking while giving us important information about the history of Havana. And he even had a portable microphone so we could all hear him. He was well prepared and we all liked him a lot.

I think overall the trip was a huge success. We were all very sad to leave Cuba at the end. Some lessons for the future groups…organize only urban planning or public health group trips... or once they are there, have separate daily itineraries. Also, avoid non-English speaking professors. Translators complicate everything.

I know that IPSA is thinking about organizing the trip again next year. I certainly will be passing this info to the next board. Also, I met the organizer of another student group from Rhode Island that travelled on the same flight with us and I will be referring them to you for a possible trip in October/November 2003.

That's all for now..…Thank you again for your help and hopefully we'll have a chance to work again in the future.

Best regards,
Ismail
NYU

PS. My pictures will be ready and on the Internet in a week or two. I'll let you know when they are ready for your viewing."

EduToursTocuba.com will be taking into consideration the suggestions and other comments by the student group leader in working out the next request from the International Public Service Association (IPSA), NYU

Photo Gallery, March 2003

EduToursToCuba.com can organize for any University a similar or the same study trip as the one we do for New York University. Both the lectures and the field trips can be adapted according to the subject matter, interests and length of stay. We can also offer other hotels as accommodations. The price of the study trip varies as to the length of stay, hotel, field trips, conferences and the city from which the university group will be flying.

For a similar education tour and more information:

Customized: Universities

New York University

International Public Service Association Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service New York University

Urban Planning, Public Health and Administration in Cuba March 15-22, 2003

A Testimonial from the student group leader

Customized: Universities

International Public Service Association
Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
New York University

Urban Planning, Public Health and Administration in Cuba
March 15-22, 2003