Opening Doors, March 3-10

Fund for Reconciliation and Development

145 Palisade Street, Suite 401, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

914-231-6270    director@ffrd.org     www.cubapeople2people.org

in association with the World Pension Forum

Travel Service Provider:  Holbrook Travel

Cuba: Opening Doors

March 3-10, 2013

Itinerary*

Mar 2/Sat

Gather in Miami (optional, enjoy Acqualina Resort in Sunny Isles at a special WPF rate)

Mar 3/Sun Havana Melia Cohiba/Royal Service Floor (D)

Optional morning meeting with pro-engagement leaders of the Cuban American community. Check-in at noon on a non stop ABC Charter American Airlines flight from Miami to Havana, Cuba. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to Melia Cohiba Hotel Royal Service floor rooms. This evening there will be a welcoming dinner with introductions at paladar Atelier. Personal guests are the family of Jose Viera, formerly First Deputy Foreign Minister (fall 2012 lecturer at Universities of Richmond, Mary Washington, North Carolina and Wingate, CUNY Graduate Center, Social Science Research Council, and Brookings Institution)

Mar 4/Mon Havana Melia Cohiba/Royal Service Floor (BLD)

This morning after breakfast personally arranged briefing on "Changing Cuba" at the hotel by Dr. Rafael Hernandez, editor of Temas magazine (visiting professor at Harvard and Columbia Universities, fall 2011). Afterwards visit local markets in Havana and then have lunch with members of the international business community at the home and art studio of ceramist and painter Jose Fuster. See the community that provides his workforce and a medium for his creations. After lunch explore Old Havana, or "Habana Vieja," on foot with Miguel or Mario Coyula, encountering artisans and the self employed. This evening dinner and show at Hotel Nacional Café Parisien.

Mar 5/Tues Havana Melia Cohiba/Royal Service Floor (BLD)

This morning after breakfast there will be a personally arranged briefing at the hotel on the challenges facing Cuba's development. Dr. Jorge Mario Sanchez, Center for the Study of the Cuban Economy will delve into market focused and self employment reforms (visiting scholar at Columbia University, fall 2011). Following the talk, go to the headquarters of the National Association of Cuban Economists (ANEC) to learn about their programs for new entrepreneurs.

This afternoon lunch with guests from the international press will be at Yoruba Association with a visit to the Santaria exhibit. Meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs followed by dinner at the home of contemporary artist Damian Alquiles and his wife Pamela Ruiz from New York with personally arranged guests from the diplomatic community.

Mar 6/Wed Havana Melia Cohiba/Royal Service Floor (BD)

This morning after breakfast there will be a personally arranged briefing on US Cuba Relations at our hotel by Dr. Carlos Alzugaray of the Center for the Study of the Western Hemisphere and the U.S and former ambassador to the European Union (visiting professor in fall 2011 at the City University of New York). Continue with a discussion of reforms and the role of the church at a personally arrange meeting with the office of Cardinal Jaime Ortega. (requested) Lunch on own.

After lunch there will be a briefing at office of the UN Development Program. (requested) Return to the hotel for a personally arranged briefing on the tourism sector by Antonio Diaz of the University of Havana. Dinner at paladar.

Mar 7/Thur Varadero Melia Las Americas (BLD)

This morning after breakfast check out of the hotel and depart for Matanzas Province; view Canadian and Chinese oil drilling sites along the highway. Stop in Cojimar, site of Old Man and the Sea, to see the Hemingway memorial.

After check-in, lunch at Hotel Melia Las Americas. After lunch, visit the Christian Center for Reflection and Dialog in Cardenas to observe its organic farm, biogas generator, computer education, and community service projects. Personal time to explore Cardenas. Dinner with food grown by CCRD

Mar 8/Fri Havana Melia Cohiba/Royal Service Floor or boutique hotel (BL)

This morning after breakfast meet for discussion of Varadero , Matanzas and Cardenas as center for tourism investment and employment with experts from the university of Matanzas and provincial government; visit yacht basin project; lunch at Xanadu, former Dupont mansion now club house of Veradero golf course; Continue to Matanzas City to see slavery museum and fortress where Irish American independence supporter was executed; visit La Vigia handmade book printing house founded during the “special period”. Continue back to Havana and check in at the Melia Cohiba Hotel or a boutique hotel in Habana Vieja. This evening have dinner on own, then watch a performance of Opera de la Calle at the Habana Libre Hotel.

Mar 9/Sat Havana Melia Cohiba/Royal Service Floor or boutique hotel (BD)

This morning after breakfast visit Finca Vijia, home of Ernest Hemingway. Return to the hotel for a personally arranged briefing on NGO work by representative of Oxfam.

This afternoon, lunch on own, time to explore the city and individualize people to people contact. Sites of interest include the Art Museum and the Museum of the Revolution. Performance of celtic music by Banda de Gaitas of Asturian society at Danza Teatro Retazos. Farewell dinner at Atelier.

Mar 10/Sun. Departure (B)

This afternoon transfer to Havana airport for nonstop flight to Miami arriving 6:10 p.m. (Allow 3 hours for connecting flights.)                                                       

                                                                                                                     * subject to modification           

for further information, contact director@ffrd.org