~Disconnect with Technology and Connect with Cuba~

~Disconnect with Technology and Connect with Cuba~
Cecily D'Amore

Our Cuba course taught us so many different things, both about tourism and Cuba. Some of my biggest takeaways from our trip come from my personal experience combining the two.   

 The first thing I learned from our Cuba course is the importance of “People to People travel.” Traveling to a foreign country has so much to offer, but in many cases we as tourists rather experience it from the outside. We travel to 5-star hotels on the beach and spend the entirety of trips within the walls of all-inclusive resorts. Our trip to Cuba placed such a strong emphasis on engaging with the local community. There is no better way to understand Cuba than by talking to locals. This trip gave us a plethora of opportunities to do so, whether through daily excursions or overnight stays in Casas Peliculares (essentially B&Bs). This form of travel exposes you to the realities of the country, and in our case gave us a very real look at Cuban life.

The second thing I learned from our Cuba course is that being without access to service or Wi-Fi isn’t just okay, but is rejuvenating. Using data would have been extremely expensive, and Wi-Fi was not only limited but also wasn't free. The process included purchasing a Wi-Fi card and finding a hotspot to activate it. I rarely did so, and it felt so good to be disconnected. I was able to truly just live in the reality of what was going on in my surroundings. I had no stress from home to attend to and had time to reflect on my experiences without any distractions. As a millennial, I have the tendency to constantly check social media on a repetitive cycle daily. Disconnecting brought me closer not only to myself but also to everyone/everything around me in Cuba.

The third thing I learned from our course is that Cuba is so much more than what I had ever known prior. I understand that it is difficult to make generalizations like such, but I feel that most Americans have this understanding of Cuba that has only been formed from political perspectives. The history that lies between our two countries is complex and full of tensions, but it should not be the only frame through which we view Cuba. The country has both lively cities and rural valleys, intriguing locals and enthusiastic tourists, historical sites and modern restaurants. The political background that underlies many Americans’ understanding of the country tends to overshadow the beauties that lie within Cuban culture.

For these reasons, I implore you to go to Cuba not as a tourist who will stay in a hotel with Wi-fi and only interact with your travel group and waiters. Disconnect from technology and connect with local Cubans and their way of life.

~Surprises in Trinidad~

~Surprises in Trinidad~

Cecily D'Amore 

My friend who will remain anonymous (@Liz G.) told me she thought something was wrong on the trip agenda because a friend told her we were supposed to go to Trinidad, the completely different country. Little did I know that not only was her friend wrong about the Trinidad we were going to, but that the one on our agenda would be such an amazing place. We spent two nights in Trinidad, and although the agenda did not necessarily go as planned it was still an amazing experience.

Trinidad is a popular town located on the southern side of Cuba, lined with cobblestone streets and historic buildings and labeled as an official UNESCO World Heritage site. Some of the activities on our agenda included a trip to a local multi-generation family pottery workshop, a nearby beach, an Afro Cuban Folkloric dance performance, and several museums in the town. All of these were great experiences, but what really stood out to me were the surprise elements of the trip that ended up making long-lasting memories. 

The first of these surprises came after dinner. We had a great meal at a local restaurant where we sat outside at one large table for the group and enjoyed live music. What we were not prepared for, though, was the downpour that came at the end of the meal. We ended up staying at the restaurant for about an hour after our meal ended trying to wait out the rain, but ultimately had to venture into the storm to head home. We waded through massive puddles in the cobblestone streets as a group. Although we ended up soaked and got home much later than expected, it was a great time spent with one another.

We also enjoyed little surprises at various other events. Our trip to the pottery workshop included a local drink in a specific cup made at the workshop, and also featured a gorgeous husky in the shop. The rain forced us to cancel an activity on our original agenda, but we sporadically ventured to several museums instead. At one of the museums we went to, we were even able to venture to the top and have a beautiful panoramic view of the town. We even spent our final night at club that was located in an underground cave, a feature I had certainly not anticipated in our time in Trinidad. 

 

My insights from this part of the trip not only point to the beauty of Trinidad and our experiences there holistically. I found that the little surprises thrown in at several points of our time in Trinidad truly made for an outstanding experience. I encourage future trips to feature such surprising highlights and keep visitors like me in awe with the stunning town and all it has to offer.