Cuba/United States (FL)
Cuban Connections: A Journey From Miami to Havana
Program No. 25161RJ
Delve into the relationships between Cuba and the U.S. on this adventure through two cities — Miami and Havana — and through decades of shared history and differing cultures.
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8 days
7 nights
15 meals
7B 3L 5D
1
In Transit, Arrive Miami, Check-in, Welcome Dinner
Depart for Miami
4
Travel to Havana, Cuba Orientation, Revolution Square
Depart Havana
At a Glance
Miami and Havana — two cities that lie a little less than 230 miles apart, both linked and separated by a complex history and shared culture. Get a firsthand look at these inspiring cities and deepen your understanding of the relationships between these regions and the Cuban people living there. Examine differing political beliefs during lectures at the Cuban-American Scholar Guillermo Grenier of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University and Camilo García Lopez Trigo of the University of Havana. Embark on a field trip to the Freedom Tower and the Miami History Museum to hear the stories of Cuban immigrants and refugees, then fly to Havana to delve into Cuban history at sites like the José Martí memorial and Revolution Square. Throughout your travels, you’ll gain a better understanding of the opinions and culture of Cubans in Miami and Havana, and the role the U.S. has played in shaping them.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles a day on paved and cobblestone streets. Getting on and off of a motorcoach. Navigating high curbs, uneven steps and stairs without railings. Travel in a tropical climate.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Explore the Camilo Cienfuegos village built by Milton Hershey in Cuba and the Barcardi buildings in both countries to learn about the role of the U.S. in Cuban history.
- Visit outside of the Hemingway House in Cuba, where Ernest Hemingway wrote “The Old Man and the Sea.”
- Delight in Calle Ocho and the legendary Cafe Versailles in Miami, gems of Cuban American culture.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Cuban Connections: A Journey From Miami to Havana
Program Number: 25161
Havana, History and Architecture of a Romantic City
This magnificent history of Havana, featuring 480 color illustrations, shows the city and its growth from its founding as a Spanish colony to independence.
Cuba and Its Music, From the First Drums to the Mambo
A thorough and entertaining history of Cuba and its music by the popular radio producer, music historian and cofounder of Cuban record label QbaDisc.
The Old Man and the Sea
Hemingway's brief story of a fisherman who, after 84 days with no luck, finally makes a big catch. It’s an affectionate portrait of life in Cuba and winner of the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
The Spaces Between, Contemporary Art in Havana
This study of shared, communal spaces for Havana artists examines the context of contemporary Cuban art. Including major contemporary figures, the work discusses artists’ techniques, their major themes and the environments in which they create.
Cuba, This Moment, Exactly So
This deluxe coffee-table book organizes 250 black-and-white photographs around micro-stories that immerse readers in the heat and culture of the "Pearl of the Antilles." Includes a foreword by great travel writer Pico Iyer.
The Pride of Havana
Professor Gonzalez Echevarria expertly traces the arc of baseball in Cuba, intertwining its heroes and their stories with the politics, music, dance, and literature of the Cuban people.
Moon Cuba
A practical guide in the Moon series, packed not only with travel necessities (hotels, restaurants, sights), but also with a good overview of history and destinations throughout Cuba.
Cuba
With full-page photographs, introductory essays on history, architecture, music, food and more, this oversized, illustrated paperback by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Francois Missen and photographer Pierre Hausherr captures the spirit of Cuba, its people, nature and culture.
Cuba Journeys
Fields presents Cuba in his newest collection, featuring 120 color and 30 black-and-white photographs that illustrate the island's diverse landscapes. He captures the Matanzas coastlands, Vinales Valley tobacco fields and Havana metropolis, which serves as a backdrop to a series highlighting classic American cars. Includes cultural and historical commentary written in English and Spanish.
The Distant Marvels
A life-affirming tale of love set during a hurricane in 1960s, post-revolutionary Cuba. To keep hope alive amongst the evacuees, Maria Sirena tells the incredible story of her childhood during Cuba's Third War of Independence.
New Art of Cuba
A survey of Cuban art since 1981, all by young artists who have come-of-age since the revolution, and revised to reflect more recent developments. Twenty-four new color plates augment the 200 black and white illustrations.
Cuba, A History in Art
This slim, yet comprehensive survey of Cuban art between 1725 and 1959 explains the development of artists’ styles and how developments in Cuba (and especially Havana) changed their work.
Trading with the Enemy
Miller captures the openness, sensuality and pride of Cuba and the Cubans in this eloquent account of entertaining travels in Fidel's Cuba.
A Simple Habana Melody, From When the World Was Good
An unlikely love story and lyrical tribute to Latin music by the author of Mambo Kings.
Cuba, What Everyone Needs to Know
Director for Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, Julia Sweig traces the geography, history and identity of Cuba in this admirably succinct portrait of the island nation and its role in world affairs.
Passage to Cuba
An wonderful coffee-table book that takes readers through the crumbling, baroque splendor of Havana. Subtitled "An Up-Close Look at the World's Most Colorful Culture."
Culture Smart! Cuba
A concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture.
Our Man in Havana
The classic story of a British vacuum cleaner salesman who gets accidentally drawn into Cold War espionage with disastrous results.
Havana & Cuba West Map
A full-color map to the city center of Havana, at a scale of 1:10,000. Plus, on the reverse, a regional map of Cuba at a scale of 1:600,000.
Havana, A Cultural and Literary Companion
An illuminating guide to the city, its history and geography, as the inspiration for writers, artists, musicians and intellectuals.
