A Visit to Central Provinces for Universities and
Others Interested in a Changing Cuba
June 10-20/22, 2013
Organized by the
Fund for Reconciliation and Development.
Led by executive
director John McAuliff
(Revised 5/30; Sequence and events subject to change)
(Sequence and events subject to change)
Our people to people license covers anyone with a serious desire to participate, including spouses, trustees and third party providers.
Participation can begin on June 10 in Cienfuegos, or on June 14 in Cienfuegos.
1) Monday June 10
Fly from Miami to Cienfuegos (Check in by
1:30 p.m.)
5.30 PM Estimated flight arrival with CTS
6.30 PM Check In at the Hotel Jagua
7.00 PM Departure for Canticus Movus Choral group
8.30 PM Dinner* at Yacht Club
2) Tuesday June 11
9.30 AM University of Cienfuegos
"Carlos Rafael Rodríguez"
12.30 PM Lunch* at Palacio Valle with professors and staff
2.00 PM Visit city center and theater with the director of
the conservation and restoration office
3.00 PM Studio Gallery of the Graphic Society
6.00 PM Dinner* at private restaurant Finca Los
Colorados
3) Wednesday June 12
8.00 AM Depart to Trinidad, a UNESCO World
Heritage City
10.30 AM Meet with historian’s office and Santander family of pottery makers
12.30 PM Lunch*at Plaza Mayor
Exploration of Trinidad
4.00 PM Check in at Hotel Las Cuevas
Dinner at Hotel
Preview musical performances and other potential student
activities, including a disco in a cave (Las Cuevas)
4) Thursday June 13
8.00 AM Drive to Sancti Spiritus
10.30 AM Fundacion Nunez Jimenez (service learning for
international students, permaculture organic farm training and research
project)
12.30 PM Lunch* at Meson de la Plaza with representative of
Fundacion
2.00 PM Centro Universitario de Sancti Spiritus (“Martí
Péres”)
4.00 Check in at Hostal El Rijo
8.00 PM Dinner* at the Hotel with university professors and
staff.
5) Friday June 14
8.00 AM Drive to Santa
Clara
Lunch* at La Concha restaurant
2.00 PM Central University of Las Villas (“Marta Abreu”)
4.00 Check In at Hotel Los Caneyes
8.00 PM Dinner* with professors and staff at Santa Rosalia
Restaurant
6) Saturday June 15
9.30 AM Che Guevara memorial
10.30 AM Drive to Cardenas
1.00 PM Lunch at and meet with Christian Center
for Reflection and Dialogue
Continue to Varadero
4.00 PM Check in Hotel Meliá Varadero All Inclusive
7) Sunday June 16
Reflection on program to date
Lunch at the Hotel
2.00 PM Fortress and slavery museum
Return to Varadero
8) Monday June 17
10.00 AM University of Matanzas
"Camilo Cienfuegos”
12.30 PM Lunch* at Hotel Velasco with professors and staff
Ediciones Vigía (handmade books)
If time permits, stop at Cojimar, view Hemingway memorial
4:30 PM Visit Organoponico Vivero Alamar (service learning
opportunity)
Dinner*
8.30 PM Witness the Cannon Firing Ceremony at San Carlos de
la Cabaña Castle
Check in Melia Cohiba Hotel
9) Tuesday June 18
9.30 AM [Ministry of
Higher Education, University
of Havana ]
12 noon Lunch at fast food restaurant (La Pachanga?)--pay on own
Walking tour of La Rampa, Copelia Ice Cream Palace, Hotel
2.00 PM Regla AfroCuban church; presentation on syncretism
with Santaria by curator Raisa Forguera at the municipal museum
Performance of music and dance of AfroCuban religions by
Nsila cheche
Ferry across Havana
Bay
Artisans market
7:30 PM Dinner discussion of bilateral relations and changes in Cuba with Jose Viera,
former First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and retired lawyer, at paladar Atelier
10) Wednesday June 19
8.00 AM Discussion of social change and markets with Rafael
Hernandez, editor of Temas
[Specialized
university meetings]
12.30 PM Lunch with Mark Frank, correspondent for Reuters and the Financial
Times; author of Cuban Revelations: Behind the Scenes in Havana
2.30 PM Visit the scale model of Habana
Vieja
Walking tour of Habana Vieja
[Additional specialized university meetings may be substituted for the Habana Vieja program]
8.00 PM Dinner* with educational and cultural exchange staff
of US Interests Section (invited) at Federation of
Culinary Associations teaching restaurant Arte Chef, including mojito making lesson
Optional Habana Café cabaret show at Melia Cohiba Hotel ($5
CUC) or Jazz Café ($10)
11) Thursday 6/20
Morning departure for Miami, arrive 12:30 pm (allow 3 hours before next flight)
* meals included in program
We strongly recommend registration and payment of tax deductible donation to FfRD of $300 as soon as possible to confirm air tickets. Absolute deadline for registration and donation is noon June 3. Balance of payment will be in cash on arrival in Cuba .
For the full program, 6/10-20, the cost on arrival is $2915 (single supplement $325). For abbreviated program beginning in Santa Clara on June 14, the cost on arrival is $1815 (single supplement $225). Participants will pay directly for flights from origin point to Cuba . For further information and registration form, contact John McAuliff, director@ffrd.org, 917-859-9025.
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Supplemental program under development, costs shared
Visit ICAIC (Instituto
Cubano del Arte y la Industria Cinematográficos)
Finca Vijia, home of Ernest Hemingway
12) Friday 6/21
Oficina Santiago
Alvarez
Fuster Gallery and Community Project
Dinner at Teatro El Cabildo with musicologist Tony Pinelli
and Lourdes Diaz
Opera de la Calle at Teatro El Cabildo, meet with creator
Ulises Aquino
13) Saturday 6/22
Depart Havana (check
in 10:00 am, arrive Miami 1:30 pm)
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On request, an effort will be made to arrange alternative appointments at specialized universities in theHavana area (list below) on Wednesday June 19.
Personal payment of taxi fares may be required.
Universities in Havana area under Ministry of Higher Education
____ Universidad de Habana
____ Universidad de Ciencias Informaticas
____ Polytechnic Institute "Jose A. Echeverria" (CUJAE)
____ Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agricolas (INCA)
____ Universidad Agraria de la Habana
____ Instituto Superior de Diseno
Other Universities and Educational Organizations in Havana area
____ Universidad de Ciencias Pedagogicas Enrique Jose Varona
____ Universidad de las Artes (ISA)
____ La Escuela de la Medicina Veterinaria
____ Universidad de Ciencias de la Cultura Fisica y el Deporte "Manuel Fajardo"
____ Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de la Habana
____ Escuela Latinamericana de Medicina
____ Centro de Ingenieria Genetica y Biotecnologia
____ Centro Nacional de Rehabilitacion "Julio Diaz"
____ Acuario Nacional Cuba
On request, an effort will be made to arrange alternative appointments at specialized universities in the
Universities in Havana area under Ministry of Higher Education
____ Universidad de Habana
____ Universidad de Ciencias Informaticas
____ Polytechnic Institute "Jose A. Echeverria" (CUJAE)
____ Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agricolas (INCA)
____ Universidad Agraria de la Habana
____ Instituto Superior de Diseno
Other Universities and Educational Organizations in Havana area
____ Universidad de Ciencias Pedagogicas Enrique Jose Varona
____ Universidad de las Artes (ISA)
____ La Escuela de la Medicina Veterinaria
____ Universidad de Ciencias de la Cultura Fisica y el Deporte "Manuel Fajardo"
____ Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de la Habana
____ Escuela Latinamericana de Medicina
____ Centro de Ingenieria Genetica y Biotecnologia
____ Centro Nacional de Rehabilitacion "Julio Diaz"
____ Acuario Nacional Cuba