Blogs from Cuba, Central America Caribbean - page 19

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Central America Caribbean » Cuba December 7th 2016

On monday, Dec 5, we had our busiest day yet. Still in Matanzas. In the morning, we went to the Casa de Cultura to see a Bata drum ceremony with Orisha dancers, Elegua, Yemaya, and Oshun. We were so excited because it was familiar and we were even able to sing along to some of the music due to our concert. They then taught us to dance the Cuban rumba and Joe Knight won an award for best dancer. Several other people in the choir also won awards. We felt a great connection with these folks. Kent then did a workshop with some upper elementary school children, and taught them two songs and they seemed to really enjoy it. Some people went to an optional event at an artists studio regarding censorship of art. There were ... read more
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Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste » La Habana December 6th 2016

We went to the museum of the revolution and museum of Cuban art today. Fabulous guide! Some people came back to the hotel to cool off in the pool. Then we had a secret rehearsal in Martha Cohen's room. Still in the mourning period so we had to be very quiet. 43 people in a hotel room, imagine! But it went well. We'll be in Matanzas on sunday and need to get ready to sing! Afterwards we had a Charla from Dr. Mario Arrastia Avila, a professor here in Havana who spoke to us about environmental issues and sustainability from a Cuban perspective. Several of us continued the conversation over dinner. ... read more
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Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste » Pinar del Rio December 2nd 2016

Today, friday, we took a long bus ride to the valley of Viñales. We still can't sing due to the period of mourning for Castro, so all our plans have changed. On our way to Viñales, we stopped in a village called Puerta de Golpe to.visit an interesting community project and make a donation of art supplies. Mario Peregrin founded this art program for young people in his village about a decade ago when a hurricane blew down the local theater along with other facilities for the youth. He provides a workshop for them to learn various types of folk art including painting and ceramics. We had a nice tour, met some of the artists, and other peiple who worked there. We were served a delicious lunch in the garden, surrounded by beautiful plants and interesting ... read more
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Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste December 1st 2016

After a good night's sleep, we saw one another at a luxurious buffet at our hotel. The hotel Presidente is an iconic Cuban landmark, very grand, in a beautiful setting near the malecon. Several in our group had visited a grocery store the night before in which the shelves were relatively bare. This formed a stark contrast with the buffet that greeted us at the hotel which was elaborate, varied, and beautifully presented. It gives me pause to realize that this kind of plenty is not the experience of most Cubans. We will stay here two nights then move to another hotel in Habana before beginning our choir activities and staying in Casas particulares. Our schedule has been up-ended by the period of mourning for Castro, during which all festivities and concerts are cancelled. I spoke ... read more
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Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste » La Habana December 1st 2016

This morning at the hotel, we had a very interesting lecture from Dr. Jorge Mario Sánchez, a professor of political science and economics at the university of Havana. He used political cartoons as a vehicle to explain his perspective on the history of US / Cuban relations. He explained rhat much of the new opening with Cuba, fostered by Obama, took place under executive authority and creative interpretation of various statutes. Of course much of this could be reversed by the new administration, although American companies have begun to invest in Cuba and there may be pressure from business not to turn back. He talked about how important it is, from the Cuban vantage point, to take these changes slowly and protect their society from commercialization. He notes that even with the new opening of travel, ... read more

Central America Caribbean » Cuba November 1st 2016

Geo: 21.9023, -78.7939... read more

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Sancti Spiritus » Trinidad September 14th 2016

Video Check out the video of our Cuba trip.. Cuba in 27 seconds Click here for the video. Password is warta Hurricane In a previous blog I asked how intelligent it is to come to Cuba in the middle of the Hurricane season. Turns out it has less to do with intelligence and more with luck. Right now there is the biggest Hurricane in the last 10 years ripping through the southern part of Cuba. The same place we just left a week ago... With a slightly different schedule we could be in the midst of it. Luckily we left for Panama which is not affected. Trinidad Onwards to what is be the best preserved town from 1800 that I ever encountered. Time stood still in Trinidad since 1850. You expect a pirate screaming "argh me ... read more
Che is everywhere
Dillon ordering a drink
All modes of transportation

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste » Viñales September 7th 2016

Vinales After the big city we left the smoke and pollution behind us and went to the countryside to a place called Vinales. It is one of the many UNESCO protected sites in Cuba and is famous for its limestone mountains that have been formed due to some geological abnormality in this area. This time we didn't have accommodation pre booked and did it the good old backpacker way of getting off the bus and getting harassed by casa owners where everyone has the best place. Turned out well though as we found a nice place including rooftop terrace with view of the mountains. Vinales is a small rural town where a lot of cowboys still ride horses in the streets or drive horse carts. These are as much part of the street scene as trucks ... read more
Dillon working hard for his drink
no words needed
soon we reach China

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste » La Habana September 3rd 2016

Happy 101 travel blogs!!! Yes unbelievable but true this is travel blog 101. Is there anybody out there who read them all???? Ping me if you did. You deserve a medal or a drink.. Intelligence The question if it's intelligent to go to Cuba and central America in the middle of the hot, wet, hurricane season was on my mind for a while. So far it has proven to be a good decision. The heat and the occasional downpour are the worst we experienced so far. Hope it stays that way. Fidel's country Cuba is quite a contrast after Germany. One day you drive 180km per hour over an autobahn, can buy whatever you wish and the next you are in a socialist country where time stood still since 1959 and the supermarkets still have the ... read more
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Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste » La Habana August 17th 2016

I had always wanted to go to Cuba so flew into Havana's José Marti airport full of enthusiasm and excitement-which ebbed away with every pain staking minute spent there. Firstly, the immigration queue and wait for baggage moved at an interminable pace which resulted in a 2 hour wait in the airport. Once finally fully furnished I proceeded to the exit where my promised airport transfer was nowhere to be found, instead I tried to obtain a taxi but found myself in the bizarre situation of trying to persuade a taxi to take me. I was refused by several who didn't know where it was or couldn't be bothered going that far, eventually one agreed to take me-who I later discovered had overcharged me for the privilege. Once at my hotel there was no record of ... read more
Havana-old american cars now taxis
Cuban inner city football pitch
Cuban sidestreet life-Trinidad




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