Want to go to Cuba as part of a group of Louisvillians in a People-to-People exchange program?
Dr. John Gilderbloom of the University of Louisville is organizing a unique one-week trip to Cuba. Only groups with permission from the U.S. State Department can legally travel there, and this is the first U of L group to go.
And you get to travel with Gilderbloom, who has made dozens of trips there and has written extensively about the island.
And then there are just a few spots left. The trip begins June 12. If you’d like to join in, follow the link below:
Here are some details, also available here.
University of Louisville sponsored people to people program
Program emphasis on historic preservation, planning, community development, architecture, transportation and housing.
10 rooms confirmed at the Hotel Sevilla. It is rated a four star Hotel in the heart of Havana. Upon confirmation of the arrangements, I will immediately send you application forms which each participant must complete.
Costs are divided into three parts:
AIR $479 via American Airlines roundtrip from Miam to Havana VISA $75
LAND ARRANGEMENTS $2,495
AIR
$479 per person roundtrip Miami/Havana/Miami
Costs include U.S. Departure taxes and Cuban medical insurance
Costs also now include Cuban departure taxes previously paid in Havana upon departure. Costs do not include $20 charge per checked bag plus overweight charges
Schedule:
AA 9450 MIA/HAV 12:50 PM-1:50 PM / Check-in by 9:50 am – Concourse. D, 2nd fl AA 9451 HAV/MIA 2:50 PM-3:50 PMí
VISA
$75 per person
(This visa is not applicable for any participant born in Cuba)
AND
LAND ARRANGEMENTS
University of Louisville. June 12-19 at the Hotel Sevilla. The price is $2,495 includes Hotels, transfers, breakfast, lectures, bus, English speaking
presentations by Cubans and Americans involved in Planning. Single room is $300.
IMPORTANT:
DEPOSIT OF $200 PER PARTICIPANT IS DUE NO LATER THAN April 25 made out to John Gilderbloom, and sent to John Gilderbloom, 1405 Morton Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204
FINAL PAYMENT VIA BANK TRANSFER IS DUE NO LATER THAN MAY 17.
INDIVIDUAL FEDEX DELIVERY OF TRAVEL PACKETS (WITH VISA, TICKETS, AND OTHER INFORAMTION) WILL BE CHARGED $25 PER PACKET.
June 12-19 at the Hotel Sevilla
Organized by
John I. Gilderbloom Ph.D., 2013 Presidential Medal Award Distinguished Faculty Award for Research and Creative Activity
Urban and Public Affairs, University of Louisville, Kentucky http://sun.louisville.edu
email: jgilde02@sprynet.com phone: 502-608-7567
Program emphasis emphasis on historic preservation, planning, community development, transportation and housing.
Friday, June 12
Depart hotel lobby and transfer to Miami Airport via private motor coach
12:50pm 1:50pm
Afternoon
Charter departs Miami for Havana Arrive Havana
After clearing customs, we will proceed by private motor coach to the Sevilla Hotel, our accommodation Upon arrival, we will enjoy a welcome cocktail reception at the hotel.
Walking tour of Habana Vieja (Old Havana)/Obisbo Street.
This afternoon, we will become acquainted with Havana, one of the most architecturally alluring cities in the Western Hemisphere. View examples of colonial architecture around Havana’s handsome main squares.
Reception: from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. mansion of the U.S. Embassy
Dinner at the roof top restaurant of the historic Hotel Sevilla Departures: Hotel Lobby
With its old world charm and architectural splendor, this 1908 colonial hotel will transport you back to another time. The spectacular Roof Garden restaurant features a stunning Venetian- style painted ceiling and panoramic views of the city and the sea. The Hotel Sevilla is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Program Session: Havana’s Historic Preservation
Walking Tour of the Capitolo Area (new city)
Departures: Hotel Lobby
The program will be held in the Convent of Santa Clara, which is a striking example of how this historically important building has been restored with attention to bothhistoricpreservationandpresent-dayneeds. Anais Nin once lived and wrote here.
Speaker: Isabella Rigol
Evening
Saturday June 13
9:00 am – 12:00 nn and
12:00 nn – 2:30 pm own or
2:30 pm – 4: 00 pm
Formerly Director of Restoration and Preservation for Old Havana
Professor of Planning, University of Havana
Prof. Rigol was in charge of unprecedented historic preservation effort in historic Old Havana.
Lunch/Free Time to explore Havana either on your join one of ULI’s Cuban tour guides
4:30 – 6:00 pm
Preservation,
sing and Transportation Ideas by U.S. Citizens
Hou
Evening
Sunday,June 14
9:00 am – 10:15 am
Program Session: Model City of Havana
Departures: Hotel Lobby
We will meet back at the hotel and proceed to the “Maqueta de la Havana.” The Model City shows every building, street, and tree in Havana and is a wonderful planning guide. Here, the group will take part in a workshop with Miguel Coyulla and exchange ideas on planning issues in Havana concerning buildings, transportation, commercial development, tourist development, and recreational uses.
Speaker: Miguel Coyulla
Development expert, Urban Planner
Presentation of Planning, Architecture, Dinner at the Hotel Naçional
Departures: Hotel Lobby
Program Session: Globalization of Cuba
Location: Sevilla Hotel
Speakers:
Nicola Cecchi
Presidente
Cristobal Investment & Financial Services And
Eduardo Luis Rodriguez
Architect & Planner
10:30 am – 12:00 nn with
Afternoon
Evening
Monday, June 15
9:00 am – 10:30 am Havana
Sr. Cecchi is considered a leading “player” in commercial development and, as a lawyer, puts together many international commercial investment deals.
Sr. Rodriguez is the author of Havana Guide: Modern Architecture 1925 to 1965 which has won wide acclaim as the best book on building design in Cuba. He is considered the leading architecture critic in Cuba and edits a Cuban journal on architecture. He has lectured at Harvard and other leading schools.
A walking/bus tour of commercial developments Sr. Cecchi and Sr. Rodriguez.
Free Afternoon – Time to explore on Own
Suggestions:
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Departures: at 5:30 p.m. Hotel Lobby
Historic Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro (El Morro) Sunset Cannon Ceremony
Program Session: Hotel and Office Development in
Location: Sevilla
Speaker: José Choy
Architect
Sr. Choy has been called Cuba’s greatest living commercial architect, and is considered to be the “Frank Gehry” of Cuba. He has created some of Cuba’s most highly acclaimed hotels, office buildings and homes in the past 15 years. After he speaks, he will take us on a personal visit to a shopping mall he designed as well as his bank building on Avenida 5 in Miramar.
Santería Museum & the artist Salvador
Plaza de Armas Art Fair
Cigar Factory Tour
Santa Maria Beach (departures at 12:00nn)
Dinner at local Paladar
10:30 am – 12:30 pm by Sr. Choy
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 pm
Early Afternoon
3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Evening
Tuesday June 16
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Evening
We will visit his studio and outdoor sculpture garden. He is the subject of a PBS documentary
Tour of shopping mall and office building designed
Lunch at La Ferminia (Miramar)
This is an outdoor luncheon with a beautiful garden and musicians.
Miramar
We will spend the afternoon in the Havana suburb of Miramar. Before the revolution, wealthy Habaneros used to live in the grand houses that characterize Miramar. It is still an exclusive district, but many of the mansions have been converted into offices for foreign companies and embassies that line the main thoroughfare, Avenida 5.
Private non-profit development partnerships
Location: Visit Housing Sites
Speaker: Isabella Leone
Sra. Leone has helped build houses for poor people under the sponsorship of the Lutheran Church; previously she was a Professor of Planning at the University of Havana. We will also visit newer hotels in Miramar.
Dinner Paladar.
Las Terrazas including lunch
Alamar
We will return to Havana and meet with residents of Alamar.
Evening on Your Own
Wednesday June 17
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Demographic and Social Changes in Havana
Location: Sevilla Hotel
Speaker: Ruben Bancroft (and graduate students)
Dean of Engineering, Planning, Architecture and Urban Studies
University of Havana
Dean Bancroft has sponsored numerous international conferences on development in Havana. He will address the demographic, social and economic make-up of the Cuban people.
Visit to neighborhood school
Meeting and Reception at the U.S. Interests Section
Visit Jaimanitis and Jose Fuster enterprise Lunch at Fuster’s
Free afternoon
Dinner at El Aljibe followed by Tropicana Night Club
Bus departure from Sevilla Hotel to airport 2:50pm Depart Cuba for Miami
3:50pm Arrive Miami
