PAINTING HOLIDAY - ITINERARY 1 HAVANA / VINALES

ART & ARCHITECTURE TOUR - HAVANA

MUSIC TOUR - HAVANA / TRINIDAD

PAINTING HOLIDAY - ITINERARY 1 HAVANA / VINALES

Day 1

You will be met on arrival at Jose Marti Airport, Havana, by your guide, and transferred to your Hotel in Old Havana where you will stay for the next three nights.
Later the group will get to know each other over drinks in the Baroque splendour of Plaza de la Catedral, followed by an al fresco dinner at a nearby restaurant; a perfect introduction to the atmosphere and music of Habana Vieja.

Day 2

The morning includes a guided tour of the Cuban section of the National Museum of Fine Art (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes), followed by lunch at the pool-side terrace at the Hotel Sevilla, an architectural gem.
The afternoon to be spent at leisure to just soak up the atmosphere in this bustling part of the city or visit the regular Friday street-market beside the fort. Alternatively, those who prefer to relax can remain at the Sevilla to enjoy the shady terrace or swim in the pool.
In the evening the group will visit the highly-rated jazz club, La Zorra y el Cuervo ( The Fox and the Crow).

Day 3

This is a free day and a perfect opportunity to explore Havana with a sketch-book and camera. Alternatively, there is an optional City Tour in the morning and the option of visiting some of the commercial galleries in the afternoon.
Dinner will be taken in a local restaurant.

Day 4

Departure for Vinales, stopping at Las Terrazas community in the province of Pinar del Rio, for a guided-tour of this ecotourism centre, followed by lunch in a local vegetarian restaurant.
Following arrival at Los Jazmines Hotel in Vinales, the group will be introduced to the Artist who will provide an overview of the weeks programme.
Dinner will be taken in the Hotel.

Days 5 to 9

The basic outline of each day is described under the Tuition details. During the five days of the painting course, participants will take most of their meals in the Hotel.
Generally our classes begin early, finishing in time for a late lunch and allowing participants to engage in a range of optional activities in the afternoon.We can arrange horse riding, walking, caving and visits to local places of interest. Alternatively, participants can relax by the pool in the hotel.
There will be opportunies to sample local music and dancing in the evening at local bars, in the town of Vinales.

Day 10

Depart for Havana.
Following arrival at the Hotel in Old Havana, the afternoon will be free to spend as you wish.
For the final evening we will visit the world famous Hotel National, with its beautiful terrace and gardens overlooking the Malecon where we will take dinner.
We can also arrange for those who wish to attend the colourful and exuberant in-house Cabaret Parisien, a showcase of Cuban music.

Day 11

The morning to be spent at leisure followed by lunch at the roof terrace restaurant of Ambos Mundos, once the home of Ernest Hemingway, followed by departure for the airport.

7 NIGHT ART & ARCHITECTURE TOUR - HAVANA

Day 1 – Arrival and Orientation
	•	Arrival at Jose Marti Airport
	•	Transfer to your Hotel in Old Havana where you will stay for the next week.
	•	Welcome meeting over drinks in the Baroque splendour of Plaza de la Catedral, followed by an al fresco dinner at a nearby restaurant
Day 2 – City Tour of Havana
Morning
	•	Walking tour along the main streets and squares of the Historical Centre (Plaza de Armas, Plaza de San Francisco, Plaza Vieja and Plaza de la Catedral)
	•	Visit to Mother Teresa of Calcutta garden and the Greek Orthodox Church.
	•	Tour by the Cortina de Valdés and the ancient arsenal.
Lunch at La Mina restaurant
Afternoon
	•	Panoramic tour of the modern part of the city (Central Havana, Cerro, Vedado and Miramar neighbourhoods) making stops at important places: Plaza de la Revolucion, University of Havana, etc.
	•	Welcome Drink at Hotel Nacional.
	•	Drive through the Metropolitan Park.
Day 3 – Architecture tour of Old Havana
Morning
	•	Panoramic tour of the Presidents Avenue, Carlos III and Reina Streets (examples of the architectural transition from the colonial period to the republican time and to modernism).
	•	Tour of Obispo Street and visit to Anton Recio´s House.
	•	Visit to El Templete: the founding site of San Cristobal de la Havana Village.
	•	Visit to the Scale Model of the Old City to understand the urban development of the Old city.
	•	Visit to the Melchor Gaspar de Jovellanos Workshop School.
	•	Approach to the main residential, public, religious and military buildings located in the Historical Centre : the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the Palacio del Segundo Cabo, the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, Catedral de la Habana, the Stock Exchange, Iglesia y Convento de St. Francisco de Assis, etc.
Lunch at Santo Angel restaurant
Afternoon
	•	Tour of the Paseo del Prado and the Avenido del Puerto:
	•	An explanation of fortresses system outside the Castillo de la Real Fuerza.
	•	Drive by the remains of the ancient City Walls.
	•	Visit to San Carlos de la Cabaña Fort.
	•	Visit to the Santísimo Salvador de Santa Brigida´s Chapel.
	•	Visit to the Morro Castle.
Evening
	•	Optional visit to the highly-rated jazz club, La Zorra y el Cuervo ( The Fox and the Crow).
Day 4 – Architecture tour of Modern Havana
Morning
	•	Panoramic Tour of La Rampa (examples of the heroic architecture: Coppelia Ice Cream Parlor and Pabellón Cuba).
	•	Visit to the Casa de La Amistad, former residence of Doá Catalina Laza and evidence of the residential Art Deco from the beginning of the 20th century.
	•	Visit to Miramar Neighbourhood to see the new buildings with different styles
	•	Visit to Club Havana with a welcome cocktail.
Lunch at Aljibe Restaurante.
Afternoon
	•	Visit to the Museo de la Ceramica in the Castillo de la Real Fuerza
	•	Visit the Camera Obscura in Havana Vieja
Day 5 – Art and Colour/Galleries Tour in Havana
Morning
	•	Specialist guided tour of the Cuban section of Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon
	•	Visit to the art galleries on Obispo Street.
	•	Visit to the Engraving Workshop at the Callejón del Chorro.
	•	Visit to the Hand-made Paper Workshop.
Day 6 – Art and Colour/Studio Tour in Havana
Morning
	•	Visit to some private art studios and galleries.
	•	Meet with some Cuban artists
Lunch at Valencia Restaurant
Afternoon
	•	Visit to some of the studios of Ernesto Rancaño, Roberto Fabelo, Zaida del Río, Pedro Pablo Oliva, Ángel Ramírez, Nelson Domínguez, (The occurrence of these visits will be subject to the availability of the artists)
	•	Visit to the studios of Carmen Montilla and Eduardo Roca (Choco).
Day 7 – Free Day
Morning and Afternoon
	•	Free day and a perfect opportunity to explore Havana with a camera and possibly a sketchbook. Alternatively, an opportunity to buy gifts and mementos of your visit to Cuba.
Evening
	•	Visit and dinner at the world famous Hotel National with option to visit the colourful and exuberant in-house Cabaret Parisien, a showcase of Cuban music.
Day 8 – Departure
Morning
	•	Visit to the Hemingway room at Ambos Mundos Hotel followed by lunch at the roof terrace restaurant
Afternoon
	•	Departure for the airport.

10 NIGHT MUSIC TOUR - HAVANA / TRINIDAD

Tour date November 9th to 19th 2008 - Price £1,625.00

As a result of the growing interest in Paint Cuba tours, we are planning to expand our business to incorporate a Musical Tour of the island.
The clients on these tours are likely to be musicians who we will encourage to bring their instruments with them.
The tour price includes flights, accommodation, most meals, all seminars, workshops, visits and entrance fees.

The music tour we are planning will include the following:

	•	workshops with Cuban musicians
	•	seminars on Cuba's musical history
	•	visits to jazz clubs in Havana and Trinidad
	•	visits to museums and music schools
	•	opportunities to play with Cuban musicians in Havana and Trinidad
	•	opportunities to discuss the contemporary music scene in Cuba with local experts
	•	one-to-one tuition with local musician (not included in tour price)

If you are would like to register an interest and receive full details please contact Pam@paint-cuba.co.uk or telephone her at 0161 962 0805.