Day 1: Thursday, November 30, 2023: OUR JOURNEY BEGINS/WELCOME TO CUBA!

• We depart Miami and arrive at the Abel Santamaria Airport in Santa Clara, where we meet our English-speaking guide and driver.
• We stop at the Che Guevara memorial for a photo opportunity in Plaza Che Guevara (Che Guevara Square), see the eternal flame lit in his memory, then visit the Che Museum underneath.
• This afternoon, we meet with Victor Tacher, a leading representative of the Santa Clara Jewish community and Rebecca Langus from Cienfuegos, to learn about their Jewish communities and deliver our gifts.
• We enjoy lunch together at La Aldaba paladar.
• After lunch, we drive to Havana and check into our hotel, with a chance to refresh before coming together again for a welcome drink and orientation, followed by a welcome dinner at our hotel.

Overnight in Havana

Day 2: Friday, December 1, 2023: HAVANA VIEJA (OLD HAVANA)

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we visit the Sephardic Center, where we meet with community leader Mayra Levy for an update and to deliver gifts. We then walk through the Holocaust exhibit, the only of its kind in Cuba.
• Our next stop is at the La Corona Cigar Factory. Here, we learn about the history of tobacco and the tradition of cigar rolling in Cuba while interacting with some of the rollers and locals.
• We stop for lunch together at Al Carbon.
• After lunch, we enjoy a walking tour of Old Havana (Havana Vieja), a UNESCO World Heritage site. We learn about the history of Havana as we visit highlights of the city and the colonial plazas. We also visit Jewish points of interest, such as the Hotel Raquel, a Jewish-themed hotel.
• We return to our hotel for a chance to relax and freshen up for our evening out.
• This evening, we join together for Kabbalat Shabbat services at Patronato Beth Shalom Synagogue with community members.
• After Shabbat services, we enjoy Shabbat dinner together at Chateau Blanc, Cuba's only Kosher guest house.

Overnight in Havana

Day 3: Saturday, December 2, 2023: SHABBAT SHALOM!

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin our day with Shabbat services at our hotel led by Cantor Askenazi overlooking the Malecon and the sea, followed by lunch on own.
• Optional: This afternoon, join a guided tour of Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas (Museum of Decorative Arts) in the Vedado district (approximately a 20-minute walk from our hotel).
• As day turns to night, we join together for Havdallah at the Patronato with youth and a leader from the community, to whom we deliver our gifts.
• Tonight, we enjoy dinner together at Mansion Castillo.
• Those interested can be dropped after dinner at the Hotel Nacional, a landmark with a storied history, for a late-night Mojito (return to hotel on own, taxis readily available).

Overnight in Havana

Day 4: Sunday, December 3, 2023: THE ARTSY SIDE OF HAVANA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Time permitting, we continue to the nearby Almacenes San Jose market, where we stroll through the stalls of arts and crafts and interact with local artisans to learn about their challenges.
• We continue to Vocal Clave del Sol, a musical education program for children ages 5 to 19, founded in 2009. We meet and interact musically with some of the students and teachers and learn about the importance of this program to the students here.
• We enjoy lunch together at Marea.
• Next, we visit the impressive Fuster house/studio to see this unique mosaic masterpiece and learn about the artist's project to beautify and help the community in which he lives.
• This evening, we set out on a classic car ride! We meet private owners and taxi drivers of classic American cars and learn about their daily challenges to keep these relics running as you cruise the streets of Havana on a scenic ride in pre-1959 lassic American cars.
• This evening, we enjoy dinner at Atelier.
• Optional: Attend the world-famous show at the Tropicana, an old-world Vegas-style show in production since 1939 (separate cost).

Overnight in Havana

Day 5: Monday, December 4, 2023: HEMINGWAY IN HAVNA 

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel. We store our luggage for the day.
• This morning, we begin with a visit to the Habana Compas Dance headquarters to enjoy a performance and interact with the dancers and instructors.
• Next, we visit Finca Vigia, the villa that Hemingway called home for 21 years. His home is now a museum with many of his personal belongings, where we learn how Cuba influenced his writing.
• We stop for our farewell lunch at Finca Yoandra/El Divino and take a glimpse into this organic urban farm and community project with a private restaurant in the outskirts of Havana.
• We continue to the Jewish cemetery in Guanabacoa, including a moment for reflection at the small Holocaust Memorial.
• After time to pick up our stored luggage, we head to the Havana airport for our 8pm flight back to Miami. Dinner on own.