Cuban Adventures e-Newletter!

Edition 6 - August 27, 2010

New Tour!

New Years Rumba Tour - Dec 23 to Jan 2. One of our most exciting tours in the calendar! Among other things, "Rumba" in Cuba means party. This tour includes two of the island's most lively and traditional festivals, and is the ideal way to party in Cuba over the New Year's period. Featuring:

• New Year's Eve in Havana - a special night in Havana for New Years Eve, with a spectacular outdoor dinner/show at the Cathedral Plaza.
• The Parrandas de Remedios Festival - The small town of Remedios is famous for its Christmas festival which is considered the oldest in Cuba. The celebrations include street parades with rumba percussion ensembles, music and verses, a float display a very dramatic fireworks competition.
• The Charangas de Bejucal Festival - Havana's oldest traditional festival is in the small provincial town of Bejucal. It involves a performance from Los Tambores de Bejucal (a percussion band of high international prestige), and festivities formed by a traditional rivalry between two conga groups.

As usual we also take you to some of our favourite, out-of-the-way destinations, but if you can handle more than a week of of non-stop immersion in Cuba's music, dance, and carnival spirit - this tour is definitely for you!

Medical Supply Donations to Cuba

Cuban Adventures supports Packaid Cuba (PAC) - a community project that provides medical supplies to hospitals in Cuba. If you are about to go to Cuba on one of our tours, you can also participate in PAC. Click here for details.

Did you know? Cuba's health care system is considered very good - ie very low rates for infant mortality, good life expectancy a large number of doctors per person. However Cuba still experiences difficulties obtaining adequate medical supplies to serve its community. Amnesty International has reported that the US government is acting contrary to the Charter of the United Nations by restricting the direct import of medicine and medical equipment and supplies, and by imposing those restrictions on companies operating in third countries. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the US embargo as it goes against the Charter of the UN and international law. See Amnesty International’s report. Cuban law allows travellers to bring up to 10 kg of medical supplies as humanitarian aid.

Book and pay directly to us!

We are now members of the Travel Compensation Fund which safeguards travellers' against the failure of participating travel agency businesses through compensation to travellers and financial monitoring of agencies. This means that it is now safer than ever to book and pay directly to us for our services in Cuba.

Fidel Lives On

Fidel celebrated his 84th birthday on Friday August 13 and has recently has made several public appearances. His appearence on July 12 on "Mesa Redonda" or "Round Table" (a public affairs program broadcast on Cuban television) - was the first time since 2007 that Cubans could actually see and hear their once-omnipresent leader again (see video). It came the day before the announcement that Cuba would free 52 political prisoners, a move that come after a fatal hunger strike by a political prisoner in February.

Even more recently (on August 7) Fidel spoke at Cuba’s National Assembly (see video). The live broadcast on Cuban television surprised many in Cuba. “A month ago I had assumed he was dead,” said Hector, an art student in Havana. Mr Castro had to be helped to his seat at the podium, and in contrast to the endless diatribes of the past, this one lasted just 11 minutes, though he stayed for an hour of debate. His theme was his latest apocalyptic vision: that conflict between the United States and Iran could escalate into nuclear war.

Since undergoing surgery and turning over the presidency to his brother, Raúl, Fidel has slipped from the spotlight, but never completely disappeared. He has met frequently with foreign leaders, usually while wearing a jogging suit, and written regular commentaries for Granma, the Communist Party newspaper, on everything from the global financial crisis to the World Cup. Source - NY Times.

Latest Testimonial

Julia, UK - 15 day Original Cuba Tour

Dady was a fantastic guide and, by the end of the two weeks had also become a good friend. When I was left stranded in Cuba by the Icelandic volcano, she went so far above the call of duty (ensuring that I had places to stay and people to look out for me) that she is now a legend among my friends in the UK!. A particular "Thank you" to Juan Carlos, our driver, who was lovely to us and did his best to speak English to me. The use of casas was my main reason for choosing this tour. I'd have loved to have had more time in Santiago but the 2 weeks don't allow for it and I think the tour is well paced due to the length. I met many of your guides on this trip and they are definitely the greatest strength of your tours. I'd just like to use this opportunity to comment on the fact that Sergio, whilst not my guide, deserves some serious kudos for looking out for me when I got stuck in Cuba, particularly as it was his week off. Many thanks.

Click here to read more Cuban Adventures testimonials

Finally

Thanks for your support!

Kind regards
John Ahrens - Manager Cuban Adventures