Writing retreat in Cuba
| BOOKING FORM |
16 February – 2 March 2009
Imagine living for a life-changing fortnight in the 16th-century city of Havana, meandering down streets of crumbling mansions, exploring narrow, cobblestone alleys with the rhythms of the cha cha, the mambo and especially the salsa coming from every balcony, enjoying a daiquiri in Hemingway's honour, perhaps dancing with the locals in open-air nightclubs - meanwhile discovering that you can write your own stories and, what's more, write them well.
Run away with us to Cuba and write the story that's always been on your mind.
OVERVIEW OF ITINERARY
'All the students who have come with me before to Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Darjeeling and Cuba were astonished at the stories they wrote. 'Where did it come from?' they all ask. Perhaps it was that in our retreats we always tap into an astonishing culture, we see an extraordinarily beautiful landscape and we meet fascinating local people. But best of all is the camaraderie of the writing group - a camaraderie that often lasts for years; the stimulation and discipline of the regular writing sessions; the new way each person learns to use his or her creativity'. Sue Woolfe
This 15-day writing retreat set in beautiful Cuba takes you on an adventure into your imagination. You'll learn and practise fiction techniques to prompt your imagination to move in ways it may not have done for a long time, if ever. We first tour Cienfuegos and Trinidad while we have our introductory lessons in writing stories (suitable for beginners as well as those who have already begun to write), but Havana will be our home. Once there, a typical day will consist of a morning writing workshop, an excursion or a talk or a free afternoon, with perhaps a few lessons in dancing, and then some lively discussions over dinner (and perhaps later, there'll be more dancing). Previous participants have found the workshops enthralling, non-threatening and utterly life changing!
Your tour leader
Sue Woolfe is a fiction writer, teacher, and student of the creative mind. She has made storytellers even out of those convinced they have no imagination.
'For me there's nothing more exciting than a group beginning to discover their own creativity,' she says.
'I can feel it happen, just a few hours in. The air seems to thicken and feels charged. My hair stands up on the back of my neck. Often later there are tears, for many people have lost their creativity since childhood and on our retreats they discover it again.'
Sue's outstanding teaching methodology and abilities were the subject of a recent BBC radio documentary for the series Between the Ears. Her most recent book is The Mystery of the Cleaning Lady: A Writer Looks at Writing and Neuroscience.
Tour Highlights
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Wander the narrow cobblestone alleys of 16th century Havana with its crumbling mansions and 1950s Chevys against the exciting rhythmic strains of the cha cha, mambo and salsa
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Explore Hemingway's haunts, from where he wrote "For Whom the Bell Tolls" to where he sipped his favourite daiquiri
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Be fascinated by talks from local experts about the history and culture of Cuba
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Share time, place and everyday experiences (dancing the salsa!) with Cuba's friendly people
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Dine in the "secret" Paladares, the privately owned, family-run restaurants of Havana
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Enjoy stimulating discussions, evening performances of your own work (don't worry, it's voluntary) near the end of the tour, along with readings and perhaps acting extracts from local and international literature
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Return home, proudly and triumphantly with a story, or, at least, the beginning of one, in your suitcase.
How much does the tour cost?
Land only: (ex Havana)
$6,050 per person (based on twin share accommodation)
$380 single supplement for single room
Air Travel and Further Information:
For assistance with air travel and airport transfers in connection with this tour, please contact the Travel Coordinator, Lissa Sharp, on (02) 90364766 or e-mail
Subject to exchange rate fluctuations and the number of people on the tour, the price may vary. You will be notified immediately of any changes. The land costs are based on a minimum of 10 tour participants. A deposit of $500 per person is required to reserve a place on the tour. The full balance is due 60 days before departure.
| BOOKING FORM |
What is included in the land tour cost?
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All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners
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3- to - 4 star accommodation in selected hotels
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Ground transportation by air conditioned minibus or coach (depending on group size)
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Excursions and admission to all sites and museums mentioned in the itinerary
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Eight writing workshops
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Services of tour leader and tour manager from Havana (16 February) to Havana (2 March)
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Services of local guide on tour
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Group tips to drivers and guides
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Tour notes, pre-departure meeting and buffet dinner in Sydney
What is not included in the land cost?
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Travel insurance (this is a requirement)
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Visa costs (if required)
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Meals and activities not mentioned in the itinerary, or listed as optional
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Tips for individual services
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Personal expenses, such as laundry, phone and fax bills and other incidentals
DETAILED ITINERARY
Monday 16 February: Havana
Check into the hotel in Havana. In the evening, our notebooks in hand, we take a short walking tour to the romantic illuminated Cathedral Square. The oldest building in the square dates from 1720 and now houses the colonial arts museum. Across the square is the Baroque Cathedral De San Cristobal De La Habana, where for over 100 years the body of Christopher Columbus lay in the mausoleum. Here in the square we enjoy our welcome dinner together. Overnight Havana.
Tuesday 17 February: Cienfuegos
This morning we have our first workshop where we learn a way of what, for many, will be a new (and unique) way of writing a story. We then travel into central Cuba and en route to Cienfuegos pass by the Bay of Pigs made famous by the US invasion of 17 April 1961, which led to the Cuban missile crisis. Time permitting you can swim in the unbelievably turquoise Caribbean or you may prefer to just gaze at it and scribble in your notebook. In Cienfuegos we take a walking tour in the main square, Parque Marti', with its French colonial architecture, and peep into the nostalgic Terry Theatre, where such greats as Enrico Caruso, Sarah Bernhardt and Anna Pavlova once performed. In the evening, we visit the elegant Palacio del Valle, another reminder of the European influence in Cuba and later we stroll along the peninsula. Overnight Cienfuegos.
Wednesday 18 February: Trinidad
Today begins with our second writing workshop. In the afternoon we travel along the panoramic coastal road to Trinidad. Founded in 1513, Trinidad is listed as a World Heritage site, and its five main squares and four churches are all well preserved. We stroll through cobblestone lanes and pass the magnificent manor houses of the old sugar barons. The late afternoon is at leisure. After dinner we walk through old Trinidad where the music never stops. We may even dance with the locals! Overnight Trinidad.
Thursday 19 February: Trinidad
In the morning Sue holds the third workshop. In the afternoon we visit the unforgettable Romantic Museum, housed in the exquisitely preserved 18th-century mansion of the Brunet family. In the evening we visit a typical nightclub where we watch the local salsa dancers and, again, you may even try it for yourself. Overnight Trinidad.
Friday 20 February: Havana
Today we drive back to Havana via the city of Santa Clara with its monument of Che Guevara. Havana is now the base for the rest of our stay. On several evenings before dinner we gather and read extracts from novels written and set in Cuba. These readings will inspire you to look more closely at the way people live here - the gracious old houses with their soaring ceilings, the vibrant streets, and especially the fascinating Cubans themselves. Overnight Havana.
Saturday 21 February: Havana
This morning begins with our fourth writing workshop. In the afternoon we take a guided tour through colonial old Havana, discovering Cathedral Square, Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, Hemingway's "Bodeguita", El Templete and Castillo de la Real Fuerza. Near the Plaza Vieja we visit the fascinating Perfume Museum, a former Episcopal palace, with perfume and soap collections of the last two centuries. Later we visit the Parque Central, then take a look at the art deco Bacard building and the legendary Hotel Inglaterra, where Graham Greene worked on his novel Our Man in Havana. During our extended stay in Havana there are a variety of options available to enjoy and experience many aspects of Cuban culture: learn more about Cuban art, visiting homes or studios of local artists, examining and discussing their work with them; explore local markets, marvelling at the ingenuity of Cubans to make sculptures, jewellery and works of art from commonplace objects such as kitchen utensils and paper; visit the famous nightlife of Havana, including the Buena Vista Social Club and the Tropicana Cabaret, an extravaganza of Cuban singing, dancing and acrobatics accompanied by a big band. You may decide to attend a performance at the Baroque Gran Teatro Garcia Lorca, home to the Cuban National Ballet and Opera. Overnight Havana.
Sunday 22 February: Havana
We begin the day with our fifth workshop, then after lunch we experience the Havana of the 1950s, beginning with a guided tour through Vedado's Revolution Square, then on to the legendary Cemetery Colon with its elaborately sculpted monuments and mausoleums.Tonight a convoy of classic 1950s American cars awaits. We cruise along the Malecon, a spectacular road around the Bay of Havana to the legendary Hotel Nacional, to enjoy an aperitif in the gardens and the "Bar de la Fama" while we hear reminiscences of the Mafia by a local celebrity. Overnight Havana.
Monday 23 February: Havana
In the morning Sue conducts the sixth writing workshop. The afternoon is at leisure. In the evening we experience our first meal at one of the "secret" Paladares, the privately owned restaurants where you often eat in someone's living room. These are the real gems of Havana, run by individual families, each exuding their own unique ambience. And the food is magnificent! Overnight Havana.
Tuesday 24 February: Havana
The day begins with our seventh writing workshop. Afterwards we take a guided tour through one of Havana's famous harbour - side tobacco factories to watch torcedores (cigar rollers) rolling the best cigars in the world. In the afternoon we visit the Fundacion Havana Club where we learn all about (and taste!) the world-famous Cuban rum. In the evening we have a lesson in salsa dancing with professional salsa teachers. Overnight Havana.
Wednesday 25 February: Havana
Hemingway is much loved and warmly remembered in Cuba, and today we visit some of his haunts, including the room at the Hotel Ambos Mundos where he wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls. We visit the fisherman's village of Cojimar, background for his Nobel prize-winning novel The Old Man and the Sea. We also visit his former home, the Finca Villa Vigia, now a museum. We stop at La Floridita, Hemingway's favourite haunt for daiquiris, and then visit the churches of Guanabacoa and Regla where we learn more about Cuba's history and the mysterious Afro-Cuban cults, including the cult of Santeria. Overnight Havana.
Thursday 26 February: Havana
This morning begins with our eighth and final writing workshop. The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight Havana.
Friday 27 February - Sunday 1 March: Havana
These last days are at leisure for final shopping and sight-seeing, but more importantly for contemplating, writing some final segments, perhaps talking over any problems with Sue, and pulling our stories together. In the evenings, as people finish their stories, we listen to each other's. (Reading your own story is optional.) On our final evening in Havana we meet to enjoy our farewell dinner. Overnights Havana.
Monday 2 March: Departure
We depart Havana for our flights home.
Additional Information
Accomodation
Hotels (3- to 4 stars) on this tour have been carefully selected for their comfort and convenient location.
Writing Workshops and Background Talks
There will be 8 morning workshops and discussions conducted by Sue Woolfe. In addition, while on tour, you will be accompanied by a local guide to give historical and background information about the places and sites that you visit.
Non-workshop Participants
You don't have to be a writer or aspiring writer to participate in and enjoy this tour. All are welcome to come and experience vibrant and exciting Cuba. Your tour manager will be delighted to organise additional activities for you.
Approximately 4 weeks before your departure there will be an evening meeting and buffet dinner. This allows you to meet your tour leader and fellow travelling companions and gain valuable information regarding climate, currency and other practical travel information.
Weather
Cuba's climate is subtropical and the weather humid and warm to hot all year round. Winter is a pleasant time to visit, well away from the summer extremes of temperatures and cyclones, and any influences of cold air masses from the north are of short duration. February is one of Havana's driest months but torrential rainfall can occur at any time. Average February temperatures in Havana range between minimums in the mid to high teens (degrees Celsius) to maximums in the mid to high twenties (degrees Celsius. Due to its narrow configuration, Cuba receives refreshing trade winds and marine breezes.
Fitness
Overseas travel takes us beyond our usual physical and mental comfort zone. Therefore, please consider the following carefully.
In order to fully enjoy the cities and towns, sites, museums and countryside on this tour, it is necessary to walk reasonable distances, over uneven surfaces and up and down varying gradients. A comfortable pair of walking shoes with firm grip is recommended. You should be fit enough to walk for periods of up to 90 minutes with only short breaks. If after carefully reading this daily tour program, you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to participate in this tour, causing delay or inconvenience to others, please contact the Travel Coordinator (02 9036 4766) to discuss further the physical demands of the tour.
What kind of people travel with us?
The age of participants varies from 18 to 80, but mostare over 50 and independent travellers wanting the assurance that most of the technical things on tour are taken care of.
With all our tours we ask participants to give feedback. Over the years they have told us that the main reasons they continue to travel with Continuing Education include:
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Well-delivered and carefully-planned itineraries that combine intellectual engagement with enjoyment and relaxation
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Informed, enthusiastic and caring tour leaders, many of whom present regular courses at CCE on themes relevant to tours they are leading
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Being with like-minded travellers who want to be part of a lively and informed group
Safety and Security
Your safety and security is our priority. If the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issues an official 'do not travel' warning for places visited on a tour, we cancel the tour and give you a full refund.
