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An exploration of culture, design and architecture
Thursday 24 November to Friday 02 December 2005
9 days and 8 nights in historic Havana Cuba! |
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Your faculty tour leaders are Ms. Sooz Klinkhamer and Ms. Brenda Snaith. You'll also be traveling with a full-time expert bilingual Cuba Education Tours guide, a professional driver, and chaperone from the Cuban Movement for Peace in a luxury air-conditioned tour coach. Your hotel, located in the heart of the Havana's cultural district, has many amenities. Blue links in the itinerary offer expanded details and pictures. |
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To learn more about your trip's educational goals see tour overview. |
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Your flight departs on the evening of Wednesday 23 November for an afternoon arrival in Havana on Thursday 24 November. Airline meals are served each way. |
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B=breakfast L=lunch D=dinner indicates meals included. Your guide is available to suggest eateries for every taste and budget. All itinerary items are included in costs unless noted as optional. |
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Go to Day | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
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| DAY 1 |
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THURSDAY – HAVANA |
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Welcome to Cuba!
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Breakfast is served on the flight from Vancouver and lunch served on flight from Toronto to Havana.
2:20PM arrival at Havana's José Martí International Airport to a welcome by your Cuba Education Tours guide and bus driver. Transfer to Hotel Saint Johns for a private group check in.
Evening is free to rest up or check out the area around your hotel with your classmates and teachers.
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| DAY 2 |
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FRIDAY – HAVANA |
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El Museo de la Revolución (former presidential palace) and interior detail below.
Looking up at El Museo's dome. More surprises wait. |
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Gathering with your island host the Cuban Movement for Peace (MOVPAZ) for a presentation and discussion on the current social, political, economic and cultural situation in Cuba today.
Guided walking tour of the four main squares of Old Havana, which together comprise an UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll tour Cathedral Square, Square of Arms, San Francisco Square and Plaza Vieja. In each we'll witness their historic buildings and landmarks.
Tour of the Museum of the Revolution, former Presidential Palace, displaying the history of the Cuban Revolution.
Afternoon is free to explore Old Havana's famous open air-market and wander colonial-era streets surrounding your hotel.
This evening we have a Cuban band playing for us: Grupo Dulce María. You'll learn to perform and dance to Salsa, Son, Rumba and Mambo from band members – a great way to get into the swing of Cuban culture! |
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| DAY 3 |
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SATURDAY – HAVANA
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Regla community in foreground.
Regla's church celebrates a Black Mary.
Master artist Antonio Canet. |
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Morning ferryboat ride across Havana harbor to the municipality of Regla. This community has a long, rich and still active tradition of African-inspired religions.
We'll visit its church dedicated to the Black "Virgen de Regla" known as Yemayá – the African goddess of the sea in the Yoruba religion and the patron saint of sailors.
Meet a babalao (highest priest in the Santería religion) in his home. AfroCuban contributions greatly influence culture, art and human relations. President Fidel Castro proudly describes the island population as a unique African-Latin people.
Tour Regla's Municipal Museum to learn about the origins of this unique community and its religions.
Visit the studio of Antonio Canet and talk with this master designer and printmaker.
Evening – enjoy the best live Cuban jazz at La Zorra y El Cuervo Club (optional). |
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| DAY 4 |
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SUNDAY – HAVANA |
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Former Bank of Nova Scotia in Havana.
Cannon balls used to block autos.
World tallest indoor bronze statue within El Capitolio.
Beneath the statue lies a 28-carat diamond from which all distances on the island are measured.
Ancient defense turret shielded soldiers from attacks by pirates and the English.
Granite angel watches over the dead at Cemeterio Colón. |
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| Miguel Coyula |
Meeting with Miguel Coyula, a leading member of the Group for the Integral Development of Havana, at its headquarters that also houses Scale Model of the City of Havana. Mr. Coyula has been a leading figure in urban design urban policy and community development for over 45 years, garnering design accolades, awards and public leadership roles. An internationally renowned architect, planner, and frequent lecturer abroad, he is on the faculty of architecture at ISPJAE (Instituto Superior Jose Antonia Echeverria).
Panoramic air conditioned coach tour of the most important historical sites in the Modern Havana neighborhoods of Vedado, Centro and Miramar including the Plaza de La Revolución, University of Havana, Habana Libre Hotel, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of U.S. Interests Section), Monument to the Battleship Maine, Hotel Nacional, Malecón seawall, Prado promenade, Central Park, Gran Teatro de La Habana and the Capitol building.
We'll inspect examples of Art Deco architecture such as the Lopez Serrano Building, the House of Catalina Laza and the America Theatre.
Free afternoon to visit Havana's design wonders on your own (optional). We recommend you focus on Parque Central and its surrounding buildings such as:
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El Capitolio – designed by Cuban architects and built by the American construction company Purdy and Henderson. This monumental building is one of Cuba's most outstanding architectural patrimonies packed with works from Cuban and foreign artists. |
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Centro Asturiano – inaugurated in 1927 and designed by Spanish architect Manuel del Busto, its heavy façades comprised of Capellania stones exhibit influences from the Spanish Renaissance. It contains the most majestic staircase in Cuba and houses the Museum of Fine Arts (inaugurated in 2001). |
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Centro Gallego – designed and built in 1915 by Belgian architect Paul Belau. Its façades feature amazingly detailed decoration derived from baroque and renaissance styles. Today this edifice houses the Gran Teatro de La Habana and the Alicia Alonzo's National Ballet. |
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Tonight we witness a most dramatic ceremony: the Firing of the 9PM Cannon at the Fortress of San Carlos de La Cabaña. |
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| DAY 5 |
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MONDAY – HAVANA |
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Caribbean colors dictate design palettes.
Fantasy studio of acclaimed artist José Fuster.
Neoclassical statuary graces Havana's Grand Theatre.
Bronze lions protect entrance to the Prado promenade near your hotel. |
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| Wild curvilinear angles define ISA structures. |
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Morning visit with faculty and students of the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) – a center for advanced studies in the fields of theatre, dance, music, visual arts and communication art. ISA's campus and buildings were designed after the Revolution by Cuban Ricardo Porro and Italians Roberto Gottardi and Vittorio Garatti. Planned to take the form of five beautiful parkland pavilions, only three were completed. In 1965 the project was put on hold due to the urgent need for housing. Its buildings, described as "magic-realist architecture and landscape," were listed by the World Monument Fund as one of the world's 100 most endangered structures. In December 1999, with renewed funding, the original architects have reunited to complete the most important architectural project of the Revolution.
Lunch hosted by José Fuster, one of Cuba's most important ceramists and painters at his whimsical studio in Jaimanitas, just outside of Havana.
Afternoon visit to the studios of artists for an exchange about their work. A unique opportunity to purchase art directly!
Evening is free to explore the city with your classmates, faculty and new Cuban friends. |
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| DAY 6 |
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TUESDAY – HAVANA |
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Rainy day fun on Havana streets.
AfroCuban folk art at Callejón de Hamel.
Knocker to die for. |
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Morning tour of Callejón de Hamel, an alley where all the buildings display mural inspired by AfroCuban religions. We'll meet and talk with alley artist and project founder Salvador Gonzales.
Later we'll visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes Cuban Collection where you'll see the evolution of Cuba's visual arts over the last 300 years. The collection accounts for the richness of the island's Spanish, French, Chinese, African cultural roots (optional).
Evening – join the Peña del Chan Chan at Casa de La Amistad and hear a traditional septeto band (optional). |
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| DAY 7 |
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WEDNESDAY – HAVANA |
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Cubans are utlra-friendly. Kids are respected as young humans, not as consumer units.
Havana's famed Tropicana show. |
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Morning meeting and exchange with students and professors at Faculty of Architecture of the University of Havana.
Afternoon is free for you to explore the city.
Evening highlight! We attend a festivity at a local Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR). CDRs are responsible for the well-being, education, sanitation and safety of people in their neighborhoods. CDR visits are climax of any Cuba tour. |
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| DAY 8 |
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THURSDAY – HAVANA |
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Merchant farmer promotes organic produce.
The result is a traditional Cuban meal. Island cuisine has many ingredients. It is a admixture of aboriginal, African, Arab, Asian and Spanish recipes. |
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Morning and afternoon is yours to explore the city on your own or with your classmates and faculty leaders. See 64 Things to Do in Havana. Can't decide? Your guide is available to suggest activities and provide directions.
Farewell dinner at La Mina Restaurant where you'll enjoy traditional island dishes and live Cuban music. |
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| DAY 9 |
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FRIDAY – HAVANA – CANADA |
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Morning is free for a walk around Parque Central or a brief goodbye visit with your new Cuban friends.
Noon departure to Havana's José Martí International Airport for your return flight to Toronto (3:30PM). Lunch and dinner served on your flights. |
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| Travel tips Keep in touch with your new Cuban friends: print calling cards with your postal and email addresses. Take pictures and keep a journal. Upon your return, we'll feature them on this website for all to see and enjoy. |
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