Join The Trip To Cuba Planned In 2018

ALAMEDA, CA — Have you been dreaming of a visit to Cuba since the US restored relations? Here's an opportunity for a week-long educational exchange that includes everything from Old Havana to a cigar factory, the Castle of San Severino and the Las Terrazas biosphere reserve. A mixture of old and new, fabulous food, great scenery and a chance to mingle with the locals.

The trip will take place May 26 - June 2, 2018, so you have time to renew your passport. Sponsored by Peralta College in Alameda, you'll even get college credit for the trip. You don't have to be a current student, but as the trip will be made with a general education license with College of Alameda, legally you must register and pay school tuition to the college to be considered a legal participant of this program.

The total cost of the program per person: $2,875.00

Here's a look at the itinerary from the college:

Day 1. Our adventure begins as we board our flight and head to Havana, Cuba. If it is early enough lunch downtown and a short tour to get to know the downtown, rest, then orienation and arrival dinner.
Day 2. Our first full day in Havana starts with a walking city tour to get a feel for the city and capture the rhythm of Old Havana. We will have an opportunity first hand to see many small businesses that have opened up in the last several years. After lunch, we will continue on with a motor coach tour of New Havana, Revolution Square and Miramar.
Day 3. The day begins with a visit to Arte Corte. This is a social haven that has many projects going on. We will have a discussion with the businessmen about what they are doing. We will return later in the day for a brainstorming session with their businesses. Lunch will be at Arte Corte restaurant. Later we will meet with entrepeneurs to discuss low hanging fruit opportunities with their businesses.
Day 4. Today we will visit a different region known for arts and business. We will head east of Havana to visit Matanzas which has been described as the Athens of Cuba. We will visit several places of cultural and historic interest in the province. Start with the Castle of San Severino which now houses the Museum of the Slave Route. Step into the Triolet French drugstore, a world-wide unique pharmaceutical museum. Admire the wonderful view over the Yumuri Valley. Wander around the recently refurbished Ermita de Monserrate and El Morrillo Memorial, Later, continue on to Canimar to see a sample of indigenous history, one of the major archeological treasures of the island. Depending on time, we may not cover all sites. On the way back from Matanzas, we will stop for lunch at the beach of Santa Maria.

Day 5. Today we will visit a Cuban cigar factory to see how they roll with the finest tobacco leaves. Next we will visit a female Cuban clothes designer who is an businesswoman. We will stop for lunch in Havana. Finally, we will visit an agromercado where farmers sell their produce in a market setting

Day 6. After Breakfast we will depart for Las Terrazas. Las Terrazas is a biosphere reserve that was once a French coffee plantation. The original idea between Fidel and Che was a selfsustaining community. Upon arrival we will visit the arrival center and have an orientation tour of Las Terrazas. We will also have the person in charge of the various bio-diversity programs lecture on what currently is taking place at Las Terazzas. We will visit the remains of a French coffee plantation,a clinic, general store, disco and pharmacy. Farmers produce a variety of fruits and vegetables and honey is a main crop as well. After lunch we will visit some of the local artists and visit a small farm or "finca," and gain a firsthand experience with colorful farmers of what farming is like in the countryside of Cuba, and perhaps take a swim in the river if the climate is agreeable. Dinner will be in Havana in the evening after we return.
Day 7. We will visit Muraleando- this is a neighborhood project that started with a clean up project in the neighborhood and turned into a mural art project. They converted the water tower to a mixed use art studio/ amphitheater and artists sell their art for profit and also they give a portion back to the community project. Then we will have lunch. After lunch we will stop at Ernest Hemingway's finca. Then we will have a farewell dinner.
Day 8. Depart for home.

To find out more information or to enroll, contact Tracey Coleman at (510) 224-3511 or tcoleman@peralta.edu

-AP Photo/Desmond Boylan

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