T - 10 days

The countdown is on! Here in New York our school year is coming to a close. We are preparing for our awaited professional development experience in Cuba which was awarded to us by Funds for Teachers! Everything has been booked for weeks and our travel company, Insight Cuba, has been sending us necessary information including our self decorated luggage and name tags. I hope to post a picture of them in use soon. If you're interested, please see our itinerary below and check back soon for updates. I will try to post daily throughout our trip if access to wifi is available.

 
Sunday, June 28 - Miami

Welcome reception in Miami

Monday, June 29 - Havana
 
Flight to Havana
 
Meet with residents at the colorful mural-based José Fuster Community Art Project

Orientation & Welcome dinner at a paladar

Tuesday, June 30 - Havana
 
Interact with the students and professors of Old Havana’s restoration school, La Escuela Taller Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos

Meet with the director of a local primary school

Wednesday, July 1 - Havana
 
Participate in a discussion about the dynamics of political and economic change in Cuba with Carlos Alzugaray, former ambassador and faculty member of Raúl Roa García Institute for Advanced International Studies

Visit a local food co-op
 
Meet with musicians at a community project in La Timba

Participate in a discussion about life in Cuba with local students and young professionals

Thursday, July 2 - Santa Clara

 Depart for Santa Clara

Discussion with specialist at the community children’s project "Compañía a la Sombra de un Ala" at the Provincial Art Gallery

　
Educational exchange with Piquete Melodías Antilanas, a band that plays 19th century Cuban music on 200-year-old instruments. They will be accompanied by Danzon dancers "Alegrias de Vivir," who will teach their national dance. Visit the Che Guevara memorial and museum

Friday, July 3 - Camagüey

Depart for Camagüey

Visit the restored square Plaza de Carmen

Meet with local artists in their studios before visiting a local art school

Explore the mazelike colonial center of Camagüey with a local resident by bicitaxi
 
Saturday, July 4 - Camagüey

Meet with the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC)

Visit the Andariega children’s community project

Meet the dancers of a local ballet company

Sunday, July 5 - Santiago de Cuba

Depart for Santiago via Bayamo

Participate in an educational exchange with the members of the Choir of Bayamo

Continue on to Santiago, stopping along the way at Cuba’s most important church, La Caridad del Cobre

Monday, July 6 - Santiago de Cuba

Meet with the students of a local art school

Meet with musicians to learn local rhythms

Take a short boat ride to Cayo Granma for lunch

Visit a local polyclinic

Tuesday, July 7 - Baracoa

Participate in a discussion on Afro-Cuban culture and traditions with university professor Marta Cordies

El Morro, an impressive colonial fort guarding the Bay of Santiago

Depart for Baracoa, driving the coastal and mountainous route, one of Cuba’s most scenic highways

Wednesday, July 8 - Baracoa

Discuss the history and traditions of Baracoa

　
Visit with a local coconut farmer and learn about the regional delicacy, cucurucho

Visit a neighborhood peña, a street activity, sponsored by the City of Culture

A night of live music and dance at Casa de la Trova

Thursday, July 9 - Santiago de Cuba

Meet with local residents in their homes and learn about new private enterprises in Cuba

Take a tour of Baracoa, stopping at the Cathedral and the local pharmacy, the oldest of the 19th century 
Visit an artist’s studio to meet with young local artists

Interact with the members of Grupo Nengón Kiribá, the traditional Baracoa music-and-dance ensemble, followed by a traditional lunch

Depart for Santiago de Cuba

Friday, July 10 - Miami 

Depart for La Mella, a community of talented painters focusing on naif art

Depart for Miami