Vintage car on street in Cuba
Americas Winter Land
Travel
January 06 - January 12, 2024

SOLD OUT – Cuba: Art, Culture & History

Michael Small '78

Michael Small '78 was the Canadian Ambassador to Cuba from 2000 - 2003. A career diplomat, he joined the Canadian foreign service in 1981 and served in Malaysia, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico before going to Cuba. In Ottawa, he was Assistant Deputy Minister, Global Issues and then Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. His last posting was a Canada's High Commissioner to Australia from 2010 - 2014. Since his retirement from the foreign service in 2015, he has been a Fellow at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and an Adjunct Faculty member of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia. On this trip, he will talk about the Cuban Revolution and its legacy for Cuba's relations with the United States and the rest of the world.

Dr. Denise Jacques S78

Dr. Denise Jacques S78 was a trade commissioner in the Canadian foreign service. She was posted to Costa Rica and served in the Canadian missions Mexico, Tel Aviv, Sydney and Barbados. After retiring from the foreign service, she completed her Ph.D. in material history at the University of Ottawa and has been the president of a historical costume museum in Vancouver. While living in Havana with her husband, Michael Small, she researched and wrote a study of the literary connections between the Canadian Official Residence in Cuba and Ernest Hemingway. On the trip, she will talk about her research into the "Tiled Mansion".


About the Journey

With privileged access to Cuba’s arts community and thought leaders, including a talk and reception at the Canadian Embassy, this in-depth itinerary will bring you into homes and studios, and into thought-provoking conversation with the Cuban people. Enjoy a private rehearsal at a famous dance company and a phenomenal evening of art and music at Havana’s Fábrica de Arte Cubano. Explore the dazzling Ceramics Museum at an after-hours tour and reception, and meet local experts including the former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and the President of The Ludwig Foundation of Cuba. Spend a day in the western province of Pinar del Río, known for its lush tobacco plantations, and in the Viñales Valley, encounter spectacular caves, underground rivers, and the famous Mogotes, the iconic hillocks of the region. We invite you to experience this enigmatic island – just 90 miles from our shores – through the eyes of its people.

Accommodations

Paseo 206 Havana, Cuba
A member of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” collection, Paseo 206 is a beautifully restored historic boutique hotel nestled in Vedado, the economic and cultural heart of La Havana. In this family home dating to 1933, ten cozy and comfortable rooms and suites offer free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, Hermès bathroom amenities, Marshall speakers, and hypoallergenic king-sized beds with luxurious Frette linens.

Trip Details