This morning we said goodbye to our host families and left for Havana. On the way, we stopped in a small town called Puerta Golpe. Unlike Cienfuegos, there was no house of culture (a center for arts) in town. Instead, local artist Mario Peligren uses his home as the community center for learning arts. we were given a tour of Peligren's Patio, which included art galleries, a farm, and a small library. We spent most of the morning at Peligren's and ate lunch while listening to artists of all ages perform. Our saxophone playters once again performed the repertoire they played last night. After lunch we got on the bus for the two hour ride to Havana. We cruised into Havana around 2:50pm as our tour huide pointed out many important landmarks and goverment buildings amd arrived at the hotel at 3:15. Everybody unpacked and had free time until 4:30 when we went to get ice cream and ovserve a local gathering of musicians. Once a month, the rap group called Obsession rounds up the rap and hip hop artists in the community and has a cultural gathering. We listened to the various performers sing and rap and even sent Malik and Steven up to freestyle rap battle with the locals. Then we enjoyed a family style dinner at the National Hotel, a famous building that has been a meeting place for the mafia and a film site for the movie Godfather in the past. Now, everyone is resting in the hotel and awaiting the arrival of Michael Ma! We look forward to exploring the rest of Havana this week.
Michael You '16
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Last Day in Vinales
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Today we drove to a serene beach about an hour away from Vinales. Aside from an intense sun, the beach was flawless with beautiful white sand and crystal clear water. Some of us tried to rent paddle boats to explore the coast while others swam and talked with the locals. We had a quick yet delicious bagged lunch with state-sponsored cola. After we left the beach, we returned to our individual casas particulares in Vinales. For dinner, we went to another tobacco and organic farm/paladar where we enjoyed a family style meal while a veritable menagerie clucked, barked, and meowed around us. There were early three times as many animals as people near our table. During dinner, a group of musicians played classic Cuban music. Once we finished eating, our saxophone players performed three songs, including Brittany Spears' "Toxic." After dinner, we were diven time to spend out last night with our host families. Packing for our journey to Havana did not toake too long and the rest of the night was spend in the town plaza dancing and talking to locals, or relaxing in our rooms. Tomorrow morning we say goodbye to our host families and travel to Havana.
Erik Nadeau '14
Today we drove to a serene beach about an hour away from Vinales. Aside from an intense sun, the beach was flawless with beautiful white sand and crystal clear water. Some of us tried to rent paddle boats to explore the coast while others swam and talked with the locals. We had a quick yet delicious bagged lunch with state-sponsored cola. After we left the beach, we returned to our individual casas particulares in Vinales. For dinner, we went to another tobacco and organic farm/paladar where we enjoyed a family style meal while a veritable menagerie clucked, barked, and meowed around us. There were early three times as many animals as people near our table. During dinner, a group of musicians played classic Cuban music. Once we finished eating, our saxophone players performed three songs, including Brittany Spears' "Toxic." After dinner, we were diven time to spend out last night with our host families. Packing for our journey to Havana did not toake too long and the rest of the night was spend in the town plaza dancing and talking to locals, or relaxing in our rooms. Tomorrow morning we say goodbye to our host families and travel to Havana.
Erik Nadeau '14
Day 1 in Vinales!
Friday, June 27, 2014
We started the day eating breakfast with our host family. The home-made Cuban breakfast consisting of tortillas, mango juice, and omelets was surely a unique experience. Though the food offered in the breakfast was different from a typical American breakfast, we all enjoyed the Cuban cuisine.
After breakfast, the group set out to go to a tobacco farm a few minutes away from the houses in which we were staying. We saw a variety of animals and plants on the farm as well as witnessed the intricate method of harvesting tobacco and making cigars.
Shortly after watching the complicated process of cigar-manufacturing, one of the cigar makers lef us on a hike through the mountains. We walked through the dense woods and up to the top, where there was a cave. We ended up on the other side of the mountain and walked on the trail where we began.
On this tobacco farm we were able to see the process , which most Americans never have the chance to witness, of making the infmaous Cuban cigars and we were able to see amazing views and sights of the mountains and plains of the peaceful countryside. Being able to see and learn this much in one little place was truly special.
At 3pm, we had an all saxophone rehearsal. Since we will be performing without a rhythm section, we needed to make some adjustements in our current music, learn a few new songs, including Toxix, a popular Brittany Spears song. The rehearsal was very focused, because we needed to learn a lot in a short period of time, but after a productive hour, we got to witness Kenji jam out with a local Cuban saxophonist.
The last event of the day was an amazing dinner at a farm with a gorgeous view of the mountains. After we had arrived, we first had a tour through the farm. We saw various kinds of plants and fruits as well as their harvests. Apart from the delicate food, the pleasant conversations and beautiful scenery also made the dinner especially enjoyable. The hue of the setting sun and the rainbow surrounding the mountains made the valley seem divine from a distance. The lightening and dark clouds covering the sky were truly impressive as well, provoking a melancholic feeling from time to time. The dinner certainly pleased everyone. After dinner, we had a brief and pleasurable Salsa lesson. This must be the best way to end a long yet exciting day.
By Peter Zhang '17 and Matt O'Donnell '17
We started the day eating breakfast with our host family. The home-made Cuban breakfast consisting of tortillas, mango juice, and omelets was surely a unique experience. Though the food offered in the breakfast was different from a typical American breakfast, we all enjoyed the Cuban cuisine.
After breakfast, the group set out to go to a tobacco farm a few minutes away from the houses in which we were staying. We saw a variety of animals and plants on the farm as well as witnessed the intricate method of harvesting tobacco and making cigars.
Shortly after watching the complicated process of cigar-manufacturing, one of the cigar makers lef us on a hike through the mountains. We walked through the dense woods and up to the top, where there was a cave. We ended up on the other side of the mountain and walked on the trail where we began.
On this tobacco farm we were able to see the process , which most Americans never have the chance to witness, of making the infmaous Cuban cigars and we were able to see amazing views and sights of the mountains and plains of the peaceful countryside. Being able to see and learn this much in one little place was truly special.
At 3pm, we had an all saxophone rehearsal. Since we will be performing without a rhythm section, we needed to make some adjustements in our current music, learn a few new songs, including Toxix, a popular Brittany Spears song. The rehearsal was very focused, because we needed to learn a lot in a short period of time, but after a productive hour, we got to witness Kenji jam out with a local Cuban saxophonist.
The last event of the day was an amazing dinner at a farm with a gorgeous view of the mountains. After we had arrived, we first had a tour through the farm. We saw various kinds of plants and fruits as well as their harvests. Apart from the delicate food, the pleasant conversations and beautiful scenery also made the dinner especially enjoyable. The hue of the setting sun and the rainbow surrounding the mountains made the valley seem divine from a distance. The lightening and dark clouds covering the sky were truly impressive as well, provoking a melancholic feeling from time to time. The dinner certainly pleased everyone. After dinner, we had a brief and pleasurable Salsa lesson. This must be the best way to end a long yet exciting day.
By Peter Zhang '17 and Matt O'Donnell '17
Welcome back, Internet!
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Today was our last day in Cienfuegos and also our last day of Internet for a while, but we enjoyed a nice breakfast and then were on our way to Vinales! Our bus ride from Cienfuegos to Vinales was our longest yet. It took a total of five hours to get there, but along the way we got a chance to see some of the nicest scenery you can find. The Bay was to our left and it had the purest blue water that I've seen. After about an hour into our road trip, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant and lagoon that sat along the Bay and attracted a large number of other tourists as well. Some of us got in to swim while others didn't have their swimming gear readily available. It was a perfect afternoon and as we waited for our lunch to arrive, they fortunately had the USA vs. Gernmany game on TV for us to enjoy. It. was all enjoyable until Germany scored the first goal and then came to realize that we were going to lose the game. We proceeded down the highway and our next stop was the museum dedicated to the attack of the mercenaries and the Bay of Pigs. The museum was certainly orated from a Cuban perspective, but it was still very interesting and educational to learn about the endts that took place, see their viewpoint, and see all of the artifacts associated with that part of Cuban history such as weapons, personal belongings, clothing, and the pictures on display.
We finally neared the end of our journey and just before reading Vinales, we were taken up a winding road to the highest point in the area and we were all blown away by the view of the valley and all of the greenery and mountains in view. What was supposed to be a 5-minute stop turned in 15-20 minutes. We also ran into a guy offering rides on his (tamed) bull, which got a lot of attention from us.
Finally we arrived! Vinales was very different than our stay in Cienfuegos since we were now getting a chance to really immerse ourselves into the Cuban culture. Instead of a hotel resort, we resided at homestays with Cuban families. It is very much like the American bed & breakfast. For many of the Cuban families, this is their primary source of income, so they open up one or two rooms in their homes for rental. They are very hospitable and the only bit of difficulty at times has been communication if your Spanish isn't up to par, but the message always seems to get across to one another. The home-cooked meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner has certainly been a welcome feature of these homstays! Tomorrow we hike the tobacco fields bright and early.
Today was our last day in Cienfuegos and also our last day of Internet for a while, but we enjoyed a nice breakfast and then were on our way to Vinales! Our bus ride from Cienfuegos to Vinales was our longest yet. It took a total of five hours to get there, but along the way we got a chance to see some of the nicest scenery you can find. The Bay was to our left and it had the purest blue water that I've seen. After about an hour into our road trip, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant and lagoon that sat along the Bay and attracted a large number of other tourists as well. Some of us got in to swim while others didn't have their swimming gear readily available. It was a perfect afternoon and as we waited for our lunch to arrive, they fortunately had the USA vs. Gernmany game on TV for us to enjoy. It. was all enjoyable until Germany scored the first goal and then came to realize that we were going to lose the game. We proceeded down the highway and our next stop was the museum dedicated to the attack of the mercenaries and the Bay of Pigs. The museum was certainly orated from a Cuban perspective, but it was still very interesting and educational to learn about the endts that took place, see their viewpoint, and see all of the artifacts associated with that part of Cuban history such as weapons, personal belongings, clothing, and the pictures on display.
We finally neared the end of our journey and just before reading Vinales, we were taken up a winding road to the highest point in the area and we were all blown away by the view of the valley and all of the greenery and mountains in view. What was supposed to be a 5-minute stop turned in 15-20 minutes. We also ran into a guy offering rides on his (tamed) bull, which got a lot of attention from us.
Finally we arrived! Vinales was very different than our stay in Cienfuegos since we were now getting a chance to really immerse ourselves into the Cuban culture. Instead of a hotel resort, we resided at homestays with Cuban families. It is very much like the American bed & breakfast. For many of the Cuban families, this is their primary source of income, so they open up one or two rooms in their homes for rental. They are very hospitable and the only bit of difficulty at times has been communication if your Spanish isn't up to par, but the message always seems to get across to one another. The home-cooked meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner has certainly been a welcome feature of these homstays! Tomorrow we hike the tobacco fields bright and early.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Different Perspectives
We all had an early start this morning. We departed the hotel at 8:30 am and rode into the Municipality of Cumanyagua. While there we had the chance to see a Cuban health clinic. In line with their socialist ideals, all healthcare in Cuba is free. As we arrived, though, I realized that "free" did not necessarily mean "better." I was disappointed by the condition of the clinic. The medical tools and instruments were outdated, and it was extremely crowded. There was no air-conditioning (with over 95-degree weather!), and the place didn't look all that sanitary, but despite all that, the nurses and doctors seemed very happy with their jobs and gave us a warm welcome. We learned about the Cuban health and education systems, and toured all the departments of the clinic. I found out that all education was free, too, from elementary to advanced graduate degrees. All medicine was through the government, so doctors were paid government wages. These paltry salaries amounted to no more than $350 a month. It was shocking to find that most doctors here rode to work on second-hand bicycles (and not by choice).
After our health clinic visit, we went to the Botanical Garden of Cienfuegos. It was actually created by a Harvard graduate sometime during the 20th century. It was a "natural" botanical garden and focused primarily on tropical trees. We saw trees from South America, Africa, North America, and Asia. A few other students and I even had the chance to swing from a Tarzan tree.
At noon we arrived back at our hotel. We had about six hours of free time. So I spent it by ocean paddle-boating and kayaking mixed in with some swimming in the outdoor pool and on the beach. After this, we had to perform. We went to downtown Cienfuegos and had a public concert. We all sounded amazing. Kenji, our instructor, even had a few rockin' solos. Following our concert was a Latin fusion band that we had met a few days earlier. They were in their twenties, and I had really fun time. The leader was wearing a Jimi Hendrix shirt, which was cool. At the end of the night we had a very good dinner, and I got to try rabbit (it tasted pretty good).
Now we're back at the hotel, preparing for a busy day tomorrow.
-Malik Jabati '15
After our health clinic visit, we went to the Botanical Garden of Cienfuegos. It was actually created by a Harvard graduate sometime during the 20th century. It was a "natural" botanical garden and focused primarily on tropical trees. We saw trees from South America, Africa, North America, and Asia. A few other students and I even had the chance to swing from a Tarzan tree.
At noon we arrived back at our hotel. We had about six hours of free time. So I spent it by ocean paddle-boating and kayaking mixed in with some swimming in the outdoor pool and on the beach. After this, we had to perform. We went to downtown Cienfuegos and had a public concert. We all sounded amazing. Kenji, our instructor, even had a few rockin' solos. Following our concert was a Latin fusion band that we had met a few days earlier. They were in their twenties, and I had really fun time. The leader was wearing a Jimi Hendrix shirt, which was cool. At the end of the night we had a very good dinner, and I got to try rabbit (it tasted pretty good).
Now we're back at the hotel, preparing for a busy day tomorrow.
-Malik Jabati '15
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Day Trip To Trinidad
Today we had some more time in the morning than usual, not having to depart until 1pm. There was time for activities such as going to the beach, experiencing what the hotel has to offer, and in our case, swimming with the dolphins at the "delfinario". With this being the first time for both of us, we were amazed. At 1pm we left for Trinidad, which is a bit over an hour away from our hotel in Cienfuegos. The city looks as though it is frozen in time, with cobblestone streets and an antique style. Once we arrived, we enjoyed possibly the best meal we've had yet on the trip at the San Jose Restaurant. Then we had a tour that was although humid and sun-filled, very interesting, during which we learned about Trinidad, which is the third founded city in Cuba, established in 1514.
After the tour, we had a bit of free time to explore the city to buy souvenirs or bargain with locals. We then met up and enjoyed a performance of Afro-Cuban music and dance. We were then taught how to play some rhythms on their percussion instruments, which was more difficult than expected.
To finish off our day trip at Trinidad, we enjoyed dinner outdoors, protected from the rain as the heat started to subside. We were entertained by the lightning on our way back on the bus, as well as the few cows that stayed on the road right ahead of us, only lazily crossing after having been honked at a few times.
-Christine '17 and Violet '14
After the tour, we had a bit of free time to explore the city to buy souvenirs or bargain with locals. We then met up and enjoyed a performance of Afro-Cuban music and dance. We were then taught how to play some rhythms on their percussion instruments, which was more difficult than expected.
To finish off our day trip at Trinidad, we enjoyed dinner outdoors, protected from the rain as the heat started to subside. We were entertained by the lightning on our way back on the bus, as well as the few cows that stayed on the road right ahead of us, only lazily crossing after having been honked at a few times.
-Christine '17 and Violet '14
Monday, June 23, 2014
Cienfuegos, Cuba!
We started yesterday with a bright and early start with the bus leaving from the hotel to the airport at 7:45. After ample time spent in lines and paperwork wrangling, we boarded the plane at 10:30. Once we got everyone and all of their instruments on the plane, we took off for Cuba. The flight was very short, only around an hour, so we had plenty of the day to experience our first time in Cuba. After arriving in Cienfuegos and going through customs, we got to hang around the beach and pool of the hotel to relax, many of us participating in a pool volleyball game. At 5:30, we left for the center of Cienfuegos and had a lengthy lesson on how to dance the salsa and various other Cuban dances. We worked up quite the sweat and showed off our newly learned dancing skills for over an hour. At 7:30, when we finished, we stopped in the center of town to watch the end of the USA vs. Portugal soccer game. We left with some disappointment, but it was interesting to experience the game in a foreign country. Love for America the Free is not ubiquitous.
We returned to the hotel, ate some dinner and got reading for the 10 o'clocl check-in, expecting to be entertained after dinner by a dance competition being held by the hotel. However, several of us were roped in by the resplendent entertainment staff; four Groton students participated, with varying degrees of willingness. Evan Long, Andrew Sudol, Drew Bassilakis, and Steven Anton were partnered with four women from the crowd to dance salsa, mamba, tango, rumba, and other dances. What we expected would be a short twenty minute competition ballooned to an hour and fifteen minutes, punctuated with interludes from cross-dressing entertainment staff "demonstrating" the dances to raucous applause. When the dust settled, Evan and his Cuban partner, a native of Cienfuegoes, were crowed the victors, their final act being a reenactment of the final scene of Dirty Dancing. 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th place all went to our Groton representatives; in short, we dominated.
Today was our first full day in Cuba! We met at 9:30am to hop on the bus and toured the city center of Cienfuegos. We were met by a tour guide who showed us much of the town's history, including an incredible theater that they have intentionally kept as original as possible. It was all wooden seating and staging, so the acoustics were phenomenal. We also had the pleasure of hearing one of their choirs sing in rehearsal on the second floor of the theater and they blew us all away to say the least! I would say that it sounded much like a recording. After our walking tour, our next stop was a restaurant that served maybe one of the best lobsters of any that we've had! We were again serenaded by music while eating lunch, which seems to be standard procedure around here. It has been very pleasant each time.
We had a bit of free time after our lunch. These activities varied from swimming at the pool to kayaking on the ocean to just relaxing in many of the beautiful spots around the hotel. Then it was showtime! Today we got a chance to both learn from , hear, and play with some of the local Cuban musicians who were in a new-age, alternative rock band that incorporated traditional rhythms into their songs. The were amazing. They taught us various rhythms on the congas, bongos, and claves and then demonstrated their own music for us. We returned the favor following their performance and ended the night with a collaborative piece that we all enjoyed. Today was a great day and we look forward to another new experience tomorrow in Trinidad!
-Evan Long '14, Steven Anton '16, Drew Bassilakis '16
We returned to the hotel, ate some dinner and got reading for the 10 o'clocl check-in, expecting to be entertained after dinner by a dance competition being held by the hotel. However, several of us were roped in by the resplendent entertainment staff; four Groton students participated, with varying degrees of willingness. Evan Long, Andrew Sudol, Drew Bassilakis, and Steven Anton were partnered with four women from the crowd to dance salsa, mamba, tango, rumba, and other dances. What we expected would be a short twenty minute competition ballooned to an hour and fifteen minutes, punctuated with interludes from cross-dressing entertainment staff "demonstrating" the dances to raucous applause. When the dust settled, Evan and his Cuban partner, a native of Cienfuegoes, were crowed the victors, their final act being a reenactment of the final scene of Dirty Dancing. 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th place all went to our Groton representatives; in short, we dominated.
Today was our first full day in Cuba! We met at 9:30am to hop on the bus and toured the city center of Cienfuegos. We were met by a tour guide who showed us much of the town's history, including an incredible theater that they have intentionally kept as original as possible. It was all wooden seating and staging, so the acoustics were phenomenal. We also had the pleasure of hearing one of their choirs sing in rehearsal on the second floor of the theater and they blew us all away to say the least! I would say that it sounded much like a recording. After our walking tour, our next stop was a restaurant that served maybe one of the best lobsters of any that we've had! We were again serenaded by music while eating lunch, which seems to be standard procedure around here. It has been very pleasant each time.
We had a bit of free time after our lunch. These activities varied from swimming at the pool to kayaking on the ocean to just relaxing in many of the beautiful spots around the hotel. Then it was showtime! Today we got a chance to both learn from , hear, and play with some of the local Cuban musicians who were in a new-age, alternative rock band that incorporated traditional rhythms into their songs. The were amazing. They taught us various rhythms on the congas, bongos, and claves and then demonstrated their own music for us. We returned the favor following their performance and ended the night with a collaborative piece that we all enjoyed. Today was a great day and we look forward to another new experience tomorrow in Trinidad!
-Evan Long '14, Steven Anton '16, Drew Bassilakis '16
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Greetings from Miami!
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| Groton students standing in front of the Versace Mansion |
Greetings from Miami! Everyone arrived yesterday afternoon to the Cardozo Hotel which is on the beautiful Ocean Drive and conveniently located just steps away from the beach! It didn’t take long for the students to switch into their beach gear after arrival and take advantage of the sand. Once everyone settled in, we were treated to a very infromative walking tour of South Beach's famous Art Deco architecture, arranged by alumbus Andrew Capitman '68. Mr. Capitman has been involved in the Art Deco District preservation for many year; in fact, his mother is considered the founder of the movement. The tour was given by public historian Jeff Donnelly, and he enlightened everyone on the history and architecture of each building in the area. During the tour we also visited the home of world famous fashion designer Gianni Versace. As the tour ended, we all certainly built up an appetite, so we enjoyed a great dinner at the Cardozo restaurant.
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| Check-In |
Yesterday was a mixture of education and relaxation which gave everyone a chance to get a closer look at some of the Miami Beach history and also wind down from a day of traveling. We concluded the night in traditional Groton fashion, check-in style! We all gathered in one of our larger hotel rooms, had a feed, and talked about the day. Each student wrote down some of their thoughts from their first day in Miami and what they are looking forward to on their Miami/Cuba trip!
Paul Lopez
Miami is a wonderful and colorful place.
Evan Long
I expect Cuba will be less of a culture shock than South Beach, Miami.
Christine Bernard
Waiting for those Caribbean beaches...
Violet Papathanasiou
Miami and Groton, MA are similar in some ways, and different in many more.
Andrew Sudol
Awesome first day! Miami is very fun.
Steven A
I had a great time getting to hang out and know my band mates even more. Saw some very interesting things today. The people are fascinating here. It's easy to say we all took our talent to South Beach today.
Michael You
Best part of Miami is using the bathrobes I found in my closet :)
Erik
We saw quite the sights on the beach today! The rain clouds were menacing.
Zahin Das
Miami is a fascinating city. Our first day was fun and informative.
Drewwww
We saw many cool things in the city and went to a delicious gelato shop.
Matt
We had a good time checking out the city. It's a lot different from Groton.
Peter
We had a light and joyful tour of the nearby buildings today. And I'm looking forward to the coming rehearsals tomorrow!
Zach
It was interesting to learn so much about the architecture of an area so close to my home.
Malik
I got to explore the Art Deco District and eat a delicious steak sandwich.
Miami is a wonderful and colorful place.
Evan Long
I expect Cuba will be less of a culture shock than South Beach, Miami.
Christine Bernard
Waiting for those Caribbean beaches...
Violet Papathanasiou
Miami and Groton, MA are similar in some ways, and different in many more.
Andrew Sudol
Awesome first day! Miami is very fun.
Steven A
I had a great time getting to hang out and know my band mates even more. Saw some very interesting things today. The people are fascinating here. It's easy to say we all took our talent to South Beach today.
Michael You
Best part of Miami is using the bathrobes I found in my closet :)
Erik
We saw quite the sights on the beach today! The rain clouds were menacing.
Zahin Das
Miami is a fascinating city. Our first day was fun and informative.
Drewwww
We saw many cool things in the city and went to a delicious gelato shop.
Matt
We had a good time checking out the city. It's a lot different from Groton.
Peter
We had a light and joyful tour of the nearby buildings today. And I'm looking forward to the coming rehearsals tomorrow!
Zach
It was interesting to learn so much about the architecture of an area so close to my home.
Malik
I got to explore the Art Deco District and eat a delicious steak sandwich.
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| Walking tour of Little Havana |
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| Soul Sauce at Miami Beach Church |
Our Miami trip continued today with a walking tour of Little Havana in the morning led by tour guide, Paul George. We looked at the architecture and history behind each building, as well as visited Domino Park and cooled down with some homemade Cuban ice cream! Our first jazz performance was tonight at 7:30pm at Miami Beach Community Church which featured several of the songs that we will perform in Cuba. We will wind down the night once again with a check-in and prepare for our morning flight to Cuba!
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| Ready for Cuba! |
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