Legacies and Landscapes of Cuba - Virginia Tech Alumni Association

Legacies and Landscapes of Cuba
A People to People Experience
with Dr. Joseph L. Scarpaci,
Director of The Center for the Study of Cuban Culture and Economy
January 4 — January 15, 2013
OVERVIEW
Cuba, with its defiant history, is a resplendent tropical island unlike any other in the Caribbean. Accompanied by
Professor Emeritus Dr. Joseph Scarpaci, explore this island of contrasts, still largely unfamiliar to many travelers.
This special program has been designed to unravel the richness of Cuban culture and allow you to meet Cubans
from all walks of contemporary Cuban life. Begin the trip in Santiago, the cradle of Afro-Cuban culture and legendary for its music. Enjoy a spectacular drive to Baracoa, a charming town enveloped by rich tropical vegetation where
Christopher Columbus is said to have first landed. Experience a short boat ride on the Duaba River where you will
cruise through lush landscapes and forests. Fly by chartered plane to Trinidad, Cuba’s oldest colonial city, surrounded by a verdant ring of mountains. Drive west and spend five days exploring Havana including a specially designed
walking tour of Old Havana which harbors the greatest wealth of Spanish colonial architecture in the western hemisphere, a treasure trove of churches, palaces, citadels and mansions wedged along narrow streets or looming over
palm-fringed plazas. Enjoy a farewell dinner at one of the city’s new private restaurants, La Guarida, made famous
in the film Fresas y Chocolate.
Space is limited and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
ITINERARY
Friday, January 4
SANTIAGO
Arrive in Santiago and begin exploring the second largest
city in Cuba. For many years, this city and the surrounding
region were a clearinghouse for many different nationalities.
The rich racial mixture has produced some of the most
exciting music, art, and architecture in the Caribbean.
Stop at the important Cementario Santa Ifigenia, which has
been in use since 1868. Among the many notable figures
buried here are Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Emilio Bacardi,
and Cuba’s national hero, Jose Marti. Nearby is the original
Bacardi Factory which now produces rum sold as “Havana
Club.”
Drive past the Moncada Barracks where on July 26, 1953,
Fidel Castro and 79 soldiers dressed in Cuban Army
uniforms stormed the barracks. We’ll also drive by the
Plaza de la Revolucion which is dominated by a massive
monument to Antonio Maceo, the hero-general of the War
of Independence.
Lunch at the Zun Zun Restaurant.
Meet with private artisans and talk about tourist demand
and supply inputs.
Afternoon check-in to the Casa Granda Hotel.
quaint colonial buildings. After lunch, stroll to the Jesuit
Dolores College where Fidel Castro was educated as a
youth.
Stop at the Museo de Arte Colonial, said to be the oldest
house in Cuba. It was built in 1516 as the home of Cuba’s
conqueror, Diego Velazquez.
Enjoy a tour through the Carnival Museum which displays
old costumes, photographs, huge papier-mâché masks, and
hand-painted and embroidered capes. Santiago’s Carnival is
the most famous in Cuba. Get to know how the
neighborhood and civic groups join in the procession.
Depart mid-afternoon to
drive to the Morro Castle
which was originally built in
1640 to ward off pirate
attacks. From the
battlements of the Castle,
there is a spectacular view of
the harbor. The interior of
the castle houses the Museo
de la Pirateria, an exhibition
of pirates during the colonial
and modern eras.
Enjoy drinks and dinner at the hotel followed by a stroll
around the Parque Cespedes, which is ringed with gas
lamps, metal grills, and tall shade trees. B,L,D
Enjoy an early welcome dinner at El Morro which is set
atop the cliffs with fabulous views along the coast. B,L,D
This afternoon, meet with museum staff member, Daniel
Salomon for a specially guided tour of the Fort Museum.
The exhibitions here trace the history of the region since pre
-Columbian days.
Saturday, January 5
SANTIAGO
Morning drive to the Basilica del Cobre. The church,
Cuba’s only basilica, is known for its offerings and as the
shrine of La Virgen de la Caridad (Virgin of Charity), patron
saint of Cuba, to whom miraculous powers are ascribed.
Return to Santiago and enjoy lunch at Plaza Dolores,
perhaps Santiago’s most charming square, surrounded by
Sunday, January 6
BARACOA
Drive by Guantanamo as you enjoy a spectacular drive from
Santiago to Baracoa.
Upon arrival in Baracoa, transfer to the Hotel Castillo,
formerly one of Baracoa’s three forts. Baracoa is an
attractive town surrounded by rich, tropical vegetation.
Meet with private entrepreneurs to discuss supply-chain
challenges.
Dinner at a private restaurant this evening known as a
paladar. B,L,D.
Monday, January 7
BARACOA
Enjoy a morning walk to the town’s cathedral, dating from
1805 and built on the site of an earlier church which was
destroyed by pirates in 1652. For many years the cathedral
housed the cross known as the “Cruz de la Parra” which
was said to have been brought here by Columbus, but
historians now believe this is unlikely.
Stroll through Plaza Marti which is surrounded by colonial
houses and a small tobacco factory and meet with residents
and business owners.
Drive a few miles outside of town to the Duaba River
where a short boat ride has been arranged. Cruise through
lush landscapes and forests where the air is filled with the
chirps of more than a hundred different bird species. Hear
private boaters and guides describe their budding
profession.
Wednesday, January 9
TRINIDAD
Spend the day exploring Trinidad, considered the crown
jewel and one of Cuba’s oldest colonial cities. This entire
city with its fine palaces, cobbled streets and tiled roofs is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Begin the day at the Plaza Mayor which is in the center of
town. Around the plaza are the Museo Romantico, the
Museo Arqueologia and the cathedral, Iglesia Parroquial de
la Santisima Trinidad. Explore the cathedral which is the
largest church in Cuba and is renowned for its acoustics.
After a short walk, explore the Palacio Cantero which is
housed in a mansion that belonged to the Borrell family
from 1827 to 1830. Later the building passed to a German
planter named Catero who acquired vast sugar estates and
his wealth is well displayed in the stylish neoclassical
decoration of the rooms. The view of Trinidad from the
top of the tower is wonderful and not to be missed.
At lunch meet with a local entrepreneur who recently
opened a wonderful private restaurant.
After lunch, visit Trinidad’s Library and meet with the head
librarian to learn about the important role of libraries in
Cuba and how books are selected and what censorship
occurs. B,L,D.
Thursday, January 10
HAVANA
Depart Trinidad this morning and drive to Havana.
Enjoy lunch at the Finca Duaba beneath the shade of palms
and plantains. The final stop for the afternoon will be at the
village of Guirito where local farmers will perform
adaptations of Cuban Son, a dance known as el nengen and
el kiriba.
This evening after dinner at the hotel, attend a magnificent
performance of Afro-Cuban dancers in the local Casa de la
Cultural. B,L,D.
Tuesday, January 8
TRINIDAD
Depart Baracoa on a private charter flight for Trinidad.
Upon arrival in Trinidad, check into a local hotel which is
located a drive of about 40 minutes from Trinidad.
After lunch, drive a short distance to explore Valle de Los
Ingenios. This is a living museum of the sugar industry,
featuring 75 ruined sugar mills, summer mansions, barracks,
the famous Manaca-Iznaga Tower, and other facilities
related to the field.
Enjoy dinner this evening at the hotel. B,L,D.
En route, stop at Cienfuegos and enjoy a walking tour of
the area around the Parque Marti, the central square.
Lunch will be at the fabulous Palacio del Valle.
Continue on to the Bay of Pigs when, in 1962, about 1,300
heavily armed CIA-trained Cuban exiles came ashore fully
equipped to provoke a counterrevolution to topple the
Castro regime.
After the lecture, walk to the Presidential Palace, now a
museum, which illustrates the history of the Cuban political
development. A few minutes away by foot is the Granma
Memorial which preserves the vessel that brought Fidel
Castro, Che Guevara and other revolutionaries from Mexico
to Cuba in 1956. The Granma, a surprisingly large launch,
embodies the powerful, unstoppable spirit of the
revolutionary movement.
After lunch at a local restaurant in Old Havana, meet with a
local entrepreneur who has set up a home-based business
freezing fruits and then selling them later in the year to local
residents.
Enjoy dinner at leisure this evening. B,L.
Arrive in Havana mid-afternoon and transfer to the
Saratoga Hotel. B,L,D.
Friday, January 11
HAVANA
This morning, begin exploring Havana by foot. Havana has
the reputation of being the most splendid and finest
example of a Spanish colonial city in the Americas. Begin
with a private viewing of the newly created model of Old
Havana, which serves as an excellent introduction to the
layout of the city. Close by is the Plaza de Armas, built in
1584 for military exercises. Havana’s town hall is located on
the square, now the city museum which gives an overview
of its history. Admire the Cathedral of Saint Christoper
located on the cobbled Plaza de la Catedral. The cathedral
has been described by one Cuban writer as “music set in
stone.” End the morning at the Plaza Vieja, a stunningly
beautiful old square surrounded by mansions.
Enjoy lunch in a superb restaurant with local music.
This afternoon, enjoy a city orientation tour by bus which
will be led by Dr. Scarpaci. The tour will include an inside
visit to the wonderful Riviera Hotel, which when it opened
in 1958, was considered a marvel of modern design. Drive
along La Rampa to the Parque Copelia, a large, lush park
that is an entire block. In the middle of the park, visit a
remarkable design icon, an ice cream parlor designed in
1966 which serves an estimated 30,000 customers a day.
Follow Calle L south and arrive at the wide steps which lead
to the porticoed, columned façade beyond which lies the
University of Havana. Before returning to the hotel, walk
through the Colón Cemetery, stopping at the Callejón de
Hamel, the site of a huge multi-dimensional Afro-Cuban
mural that was done by private painters and local residents.
Enjoy dinner this evening at a paladar. B,L,D
Saturday, January 12
HAVANA
After breakfast this morning, enjoy a lecture by Raul
Rodríguez on “U.S./Cuban Relations.”
Sunday, January 13
HAVANA
Morning visit to the new Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes:
Arte Cubano (Cuban Collection). The tour this morning
will be accompanied by a contemporary art curator, Lucila
Fernandez.
Visit the home of Cristina Vives, a well-known Cuban art
critic and dealer. Cristina will talk about contemporary
Cuban art and will show the pieces she has in her home and
in a small gallery a short walk from her home. Cristina’s
husband, the noted Cuban photographer Figueroa, will also
meet the group.
After lunch at El Ajibe, visit the studio of the Merger, a
collaborative group made up of artists Mario Miguel
Gonzalez (Mayito), Niels Moleiro Luís, and Alain Pino. .
Enjoy dinner at one of Havana’s finest paladars this
evening. B,L,D.
Monday, January 14
HAVANA
After breakfast, enjoy a briefing at the U.S. Interest Section
to learn more about the US/Cuban relations and the role of
the US Interest Section.
After the briefing, meet with staff and farmers as you enjoy
a visit to an “organopónico.” Cuba’s urban agriculture
movement has been a stunning and surprising success that
materialized out of the Special Period, an economic crisis
from 1990-94 when the former Soviet Union ended its food
subsidies, plunging Cuba into a severe food shortage.
Meet with a small B&B owner to hear her challenges and
opportunities in the changing economy.
Continue on to visit Ernest Hemingway’s home, which has
been lovingly preserved by the Cuban government.
Enjoy a farewell dinner at La Guarida. This well-known
restaurant served as the setting for the main apartment in
the film Fresa y Chocolate. B,L,D.
Tuesday, January 15
HAVANA
Return flight from Havana to Miami this morning. B.
Trip Price: $5,840
Single room supplement: $860 (Limited Availability)
Group size is limited to 25 travelers
Trip price includes roundtrip airfare on charter flights from Miami to Santiago, returning from Havana, accommodations in
hotels as outlined in the itinerary based on double occupancy, all meals listed, one drink with lunch and one with dinner,
bottled water supplied on the bus, sightseeing and excursions as listed, transportation in a deluxe, air conditioned motor
coach, the services of a Distant Horizons escort and of a local Cuban guide, a Cuban visa, all gratuities, and mandatory health
insurance and evacuation required by the Cuban Government which provides $25,000 worth of medical coverage and $7,000
worth of medical transportation.
Trip price does not include domestic airfare to and from Miami, any overnights in Miami, departure tax of 25 CUCs in
Cuba, and excess luggage charges.
Please note that participants must be in good physical condition and be able to walk for long distances over uneven
cobblestones and up and down stairs without problems. This is a rigorous, fast-paced program.
To sign up for this trip, please send your completed application form along with a deposit in the amount of
$500.00 per person made payable to Distant Horizons.
Send to Distant Horizons at 350 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802
For additional information, please contact
Melissa Costa at Distant Horizons at
1-800-333-1240
For Virginia Tech Alumni Association related questions, please contact
540/231-6285 or [email protected].
Tour Leader
J
oseph L. Scarpaci (Ph.D., Florida) is a broadly trained international marketer and eco-
nomic geographer, with a regional focus in Cuba and the Southern Cone (the southern portion of South America). He specializes in international marketing, branding, Latin American studies, urban affairs and planning. He is currently (2012) Chair of the Department of
Marketing + Management at the Gary E. West College of Business at West Liberty University in West Virginia. He came to that position as Professor Emeritus of Geography and
Urban Planning at Virginia Tech. He is the Executive Director of the Center for the Study
of Cuban Culture and Economy that holds a valid people-to-people license for travel to
Cuba.
Call or email us to request a detailed bio on Dr. Joseph Scarpaci.
Application Form
Please note that a signed application for each person is required as well as a $500 per person deposit. As a result of OFAC
regulations, we do not accept credit card payments for this trip
Send your completed application, deposit, and passport photocopy to:
DISTANT HORIZONS, INC, 350 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802
1-800-333-1240 or 1-562-983-8828
Trip Name: Virginia Tech: Legacies and Landscapes of Cuba
Start Date: January 4, 2013 from Miami
Name: Dr. / Mr. / Ms. / Mrs.____________________________________________________________________________
Exactly as listed in your passport
(First)
(Middle)
(Last)
Preferred first name:_______________________________
Birth date:______________________________ Birth place:____________________ Citizenship:____________ Gender:________
Passport Number:________________ Issue Date:____________ Expiration:__________ Authority:_________________________
Mother’s maiden name (required for the charter flight reservation):____________________________________________________
Mailing Address:___________________________________________________________________________________
(Please note that the charter flight reservation form requires a home address, but if you would prefer to have your mail sent to a PO
Box address, please give us both and we will only use the home address for the purpose of your flight reservation.)
Home Phone:_________________________ Business Phone:_________________________ Fax:__________________________
Cell Phone:__________________________ E-mail Address:________________________________________________________
Describe your health:________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you have any allergies or physical limitations:_________________________________________________________________
Do you have any diet restrictions:______________________________________________________________________________
Are you presently under a doctor’s care or taking any medications? If yes, please elaborate: _____________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Emergency contact person, phone number, and relationship:_________________________________________________________
ACCOMMODATIONS
Distant Horizons will do everything possible to satisfy requests to share a room for single tour members. On occasions when it is not
possible, the single supplement will apply.
I want a single room
I will share a room with: _______________________________________________
I have read the terms and conditions and agree to abide by them.
Signature
Date
Terms and Conditions
Reservations and Payments:
Reservations for a customized tour require a deposit of $500 per person and an application form signed by the participant. Full balance of the trip cost is due upon receipt
of invoice no later than 60 days prior to departure.
This program to Cuba, led by Dr. Joseph Scarpaci, will operate under license number CT-17389 issued to Dr. Joseph Scarpaci at The Center for the Study of Cuban
Culture and the Economy.
We will inform you if you are waitlisted for a trip. To be on a waitlist, we must receive a deposit and application form. All terms and conditions, including cancellation
penalties, will apply to wait-listed travelers when they are offered a space on their chosen trip. If we are unable to confirm a space on the chosen trip, the $500 deposit will
be refunded in full.
Tour Price Includes:
Charter Airfare: Roundtrip airfare on charter flights from Miami to Santiago, returning from Havana to Miami.
Hotel Accommodations: We use five-star hotels when they are available. When there are no five-star hotels in a specific location then we use the best available hotels.
Prices listed are based on two persons sharing a twin room. Distant Horizons reserves the right to substitute hotels for those named in the brochure when necessary.
Distant Horizons will do all possible for single participants to satisfy requests to share rooms. On occasions when it is not possible, the single room supplement will
apply. If Distant Horizons assigns you a roommate and your roommate cancels or changes their mind about sharing a room, you will be liable for the single room
supplement.
Meals: American breakfast (B), lunches (L) and dinners (D) are included as specified in the itinerary.
All Air Transportation: On chartered roundtrip air service from Miami to Havana.
All Land Travel Listed: Including airport transfers to and from hotels if arriving with the group, entrance fees to monuments, local guides and special activities as quoted
in the itinerary. Gratuities and taxes included are those to restaurants and hotel waiters, chambermaids and porters. Gratuities to your local guides, bus drivers and
tour leader are not included.
Please Note: If not arriving/departing on group international flights, participants’ airport transfers upon arrival/departure are not included.
Baggage: One average size suitcase, not exceeding 40 lbs. is allowed. In addition, one carry-on bag is allowed. Flights from Miami to Cuba strictly enforce this policy!
Visas: Distant Horizons will issue the necessary Cuban visa for tour participants. Distant Horizons cannot be held responsible in any way for any cost incurred
if they are denied entry into the country upon arrival even with a valid visa. It is the travelers responsibility to verify that all details of their visa are correct.
Tour cost is based on rates of currency exchange at time of printing (October 2011) and is subject to change with or without previous notice. If there is a price
increase prior to the day of departure in the basic costs, such increases may be passed on to the participant.
Tour Price Does Not Include:
Charges for passport fees, visa service fees, meals not listed, beverages with meals, tips to local guides, drivers and Distant Horizons escorts, departure taxes,
excess luggage charges, insurance of any kind, laundry charges, individual tour transfers for individual arrival and departure at transfer points, and items
of a purely personal nature. If you have chosen not to use our group air and you make your own air arrangements to and from our arrival and departure cities,
Distant Horizons CANNOT be held responsible for any charges incurred as a result of Distant Horizons being forced to change the trip dates as a result of
airline schedule changes.
If you do not use our group air but request that Distant Horizons make your air reservations, Distant Horizons will charge a $100 service fee.
Cancellations:
Distant Horizons reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason, including insufficient number of participants, and to decline to accept or
retain any person as a participant at any time. Should this happen, refunds will be made without obligation, although we cannot be held responsible for any
additional costs already incurred by participants.
The tour price is based on a number of people traveling together. If bookings fall below the minimum required, passengers will be advised of additional costs
for that departure date.
If a participant cancels, the following refunds will be available upon written notice of cancellation to Distant Horizons.
Notice more than 90 days prior to departure: a refund less a $250 cancellation charge.
Notice between 90 days and 60 days prior to departure: a refund less 50% of trip price.
Notice between 60 days and 30 days prior to departure: a refund less 75% of trip price.
No refund shall be issued if cancellation is received less than 30 days prior to departure date.
No refunds shall be issued after the tour has commenced. No refunds shall be issued for occasional missed meals, sightseeing tours or any unused services.
Air Carriers Contract:
The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time tour members are on board their planes or conveyances. The
passage contract in use by the airline concerned when the ticket is issued shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the purchaser of these tickets
and/or the passenger.
Responsibility:
Distant Horizons, The Center for the Study of Cuban Culture and the Economy, and Virginia Tech Alumni Association act only in the capacity of agents for the
hotels, airlines, bus companies, railroads, ship lines or owners or contractors providing accommodations, transportation or other services. As a result, all coupons,
receipts or tickets are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by the supplier. By acceptance of tour membership, the participant agrees that neither
Distant Horizons nor The Center for the Study of Cuban Culture and the Economy nor Virginia Tech Alumni Association nor any of its subsidiaries shall become
liable or responsible for personal injury, damage to persons or property, loss, delay or irregularity caused by persons not controlled by it, such as (without limitation)
airlines, bus and shipping companies, suppliers of accommodations or other services, or resulting from any acts of God, defects in vehicles, strikes, wars, whether
declared or otherwise, civil disturbances, medical or customs regulations, acts of terrorism, epidemics or government restrictions. Distant Horizons, The Center for
the Study of Cuban Culture and the Economy, and Virginia Tech Alumni Association cannot be held responsible for unfavorable weather or closure of access routes
due to bad weather conditions. Distant Horizons, The Center for the Study of Cuban Culture and the Economy, and Virginia Tech Alumni Association are not
responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the participant as a result of the above mentioned causes.
Tour participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of these terms and conditions and signifies acceptance of, and consents to, all of the terms
and conditions set forth herein, on behalf of any participants they may act for and for themselves when registering for, or making
payments on, this tour.
Travel Insurance is available through the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.
Please go to www.alumni.vt.edu/travel for more information