Exclusive Travel Opportunity
for Circle Members
HAVANA, CUBA: ART
and
ARCHITECTURE
The Kimbell Art Museum is pleased to announce an exclusive travel opportunity for its
Circle Members to Havana, Cuba.
Located less than ninety miles from the Florida Keys, Cuba has been for over fifty
years an island nation veiled in mystery and intrigue. Only recently has it become an
accessible destination for American travelers—and only through registered tour agents.
Perhaps nowhere in the world today is there a society quite so close to the brink of
major economic and social change, due to the recent developments that allow U.S.
business interests into the country. Therefore, the time is now for a cultural tour to
Havana, Cuba. Travelers will learn about the rich artistic and cultural aspects of the
island and experience the multifaceted contemporary Cuba. They will see first-hand
how some aspects of the country have stood still for more than fifty years while other
parts, including a flourishing art community, are ushering in major changes.
The Kimbell Art Museum tour will feature curator-led visits at several locales,
including the National Museum of Fine Arts, where you will concentrate on the
fertile, expressive work of post-1920 Cuban artists. An architectural walking tour with
a local historian will include the famous Bacardi building and other local landmarks,
while a motor-coach drive around the capital will provide an orientation and
overview of the city’s structure. A walking tour of Old Havana will explore the four
central squares, Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza
de la Catedral, with time allotted to shop in local stores and to visit the enormous
handicraft souvenir market. Private visits to notable contemporary artists’ studios are
included, as well as tours of innovative collaborative spaces featuring cross-disciplinary
performances and activities. Travelers will also enjoy private music and modern dance
performances, plus a day trip outside the city to Finca la Vigía, the former home of
Ernest Hemingway, in San Francisco de Paula. We will also enjoy a dinner party in
a private home with invited guests including American expats, leading intellectuals,
professors, and Cuban artists (tentative/pending confirmation). An option to attend a
late-night performance at the famous “Tropicana” will be available. Of course, no trip
to Cuba would be complete without a ride in a classic ‘50s car and drinks at “Sloppy
Joe’s,” the famous hangout of Hemingway.
Meals will be provided at specially selected restaurants (paladares) featuring a rich bounty
of fresh fish and seafood, along with other local specialties. Hotel accommodations have
been arranged for our group at the best small, luxury hotel in Havana, The Saratoga,
located in the city center.
Be advised that in Old Havana and in some inner-city locations, there will be
days filled with strolling and walking on streets that are uneven and at times
in significant disrepair. There are also numerous flights of stairs at several locations.
Consider this carefully before registering. If you have any mobility issues, this
tour is not recommended, mainly because public transport to certain areas is
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not available, and the ability to customize days is not an option with current
Cuba tour guidelines. Our people-to-people program is intended for full
participation in all events by all participants.
Accompanying the group to Cuba will be Jennifer Casler Price, curator for Asian and
Non-Western Art. Support staff will include Robert McAn, manager of membership
and special events at the Kimbell, in-country cultural tour managers and guides, and a
tour director from International Seminar, Design, Inc. (our tour agent in Washington,
D.C.).
Charter flights from Miami International Airport to Havana, in-country hotel room
arrangements, touring as indicated on itinerary, and most meals will be included in
tour price.
Travelers will be responsible for airfare from DFW to Miami International Airport and
a one-night stay at the Miami International Airport Hotel. However, please do not
book hotel and air at this time. There is the possibility that American Airlines will have
a direct flight from DFW to Havana by the time of our departure. We will keep you
informed. The Kimbell Art Museum and Robin Sanders at Sanders Travel will advise
you when it is time to make reservations.
The tour price based on double occupancy is $5,695 per person. A very
limited number of single supplements are available for an additional $1,795.
A deposit of $2,000 is due immediately to reserve your space on the tour. Please
note: $1,000 of the deposit is nonrefundable due to nonrefundable advance hotel
fees due in Cuba as travelers are registered. See “terms and conditions” page for more
details.
To reserve your space, please complete the registration form, and return it with payment
in the enclosed envelope. If you have any questions, please call Robert McAn, Kimbell
Art Museum manager of membership and special events, at 817-288-3227.
Membership at the Director’s Circle ($600 annually) is required to participate in this
tour. You can upgrade your membership anytime prior to departure.
Please note: The itinerary is subject to change before departure. If changes or substitutions are
made, the tour will remain of the highest quality available, as outlined in the above description.
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Luxury Hotel Accommodations
Saratoga Hotel
Havana, 4 nights
Itinerary Highlights
DAY 1
Depart Miami on an early morning charter flight to Havana. Upon clearing customs,
we meet our esteemed local Cuban guide, who will accompany us throughout our
exploration of Havana. Our adventure begins as we board our coach for a panoramic
tour of Havana’s landmarks. In addition to our guide, we will be joined by an economist,
who will give us an introduction to the Cuban economy as we drive into Havana’s city
center. We will stop at the Plaza de la Revolución, the center of the Cuban government
and the location of offices of the main ministries. At one of Havana’s leading restaurants,
we will enjoy ocean breezes and beautiful views from the terrace while savoring a
delectable lunch. Following lunch, we continue to the historic Hotel Nacional de
Cuba and enjoy a coffee while overlooking luxurious gardens, the Straits of Florida,
and the famous Malecón, the majestic coastal road that circles half the city. When the
Hotel Nacional opened in 1930—when Cuba was a prime travel destination—it hosted
illustrious guests including Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich,
Marlon Brando, and Ernest Hemingway. We proceed to the Hotel Saratoga, considered
Havana’s most luxurious boutique hotel, for check-in and time for relaxation. This
evening, we board our coach for our festive welcome dinner at Paladar San Cristóbal,
one of Havana’s finest restaurants. After dinner, ride back to the hotel in classic ‘50s cars.
Saratoga Hotel (L, R, D)
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DAY 2
Following breakfast, we explore old Havana on foot, led by local architect Victor
Marin. Our meandering path passes the Capitolio Nacional, built in 1929 and inspired
by the United States’ Capitol Building. It was designed by Cuban and foreign artists
and embellished with gardens designed by the famous French landscaper Jean Claude
Nicolas Forestier. We will stroll through Havana’s iconic Central Park, which features
the first monument erected in Cuba that is dedicated to the Cuban national hero José
Martí. Martí was one of the great turn-of-the-century Latin American intellectuals who
became a symbol for Cuba’s bid for independence against Spain in the late nineteenth
century. We stop at the Bacardi Building, erected in 1930 and one of the most fabulous
examples of Art Deco architecture in Cuba. At the sixteenth-century Plaza Vieja, the
oldest plaza in Havana, we learn about the massive historic preservation program that
began in 1967 in this very plaza under the leadership of the Havana city historian
Eusebio Leal, a globally admired hero of the historic preservation movement who is
credited with saving Havana’s historic center. We explore the Plaza de San Francisco,
a cobblestone plaza surrounded by majestic eighteenth-century buildings, including
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the imposing baroque Iglesia and Convento de San Francisco. Next we visit the scenic,
tree-lined Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by many of the most historic structures
and monuments in Havana. A short stop at Fototeca, the leading photographic guild
in Cuba, introduces us to works by leading Cuban photographers. A delightful lunch
awaits us at the lovely restored mansion Paladar Los Mercaderes. Later we are welcomed
by directors Yamilis and Jaqueline Brito at the Taller Experimental de Gráfica, where
we learn about this important printmaking workshop, which is a studio, a school, and,
most importantly, an art institution that preserves and develops the sophisticated art of
printmaking. There will be time to shop for prints created by members of the workshop.
Later we follow our guide back to our hotel, exploring architectural treasures along
the way. This evening we are treated to cocktails at Bar Floridita, one of Hemingway’s
favorite hangouts, which is famous for its daiquiris, live music, and a life-size bronze
sculpture of a smiling Hemingway leaning against the bar. Dinner this evening is at
Paladar La Guarida, one of the best restaurants in Havana, famous not only for its
delicious cuisine but also for being the location of the film Strawberry and Chocolate. It
is housed on the third floor of a large, hauntingly romantic old townhouse and carries
the charming ambience of the 1920s. For those who would prefer to have dinner
followed by a show at the Tropicana Night Club, arrangements will be made in advance
(additional fee applies).
Saratoga Hotel (B, L, R, D)
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DAY 3
We begin today at the art studio known as The Merger, a collaborative venture by
artists Mario Miguel Gonzalez (Mayito), Niels Moleiro Luis, and Alain Pino. The
Merger recreates ubiquitous and mundane objects on a grand scale, presenting palatable
sociopolitical metaphors to their viewers. At our next studio stop, 3/31, we meet Adrián
Fernández, Alex Hernández, and Frank Mujica, the three talented Cuban artists who
created this new cooperative. They work in different mediums (photography, painting,
and drawing), and their art explores conflicts and problems existing in present-day Cuba.
The artists will meet with us and discuss their work and their unique lives in Havana.
Our journey continues to the whimsical fishing village of Jaimanítas, home to the artist
José Rodríguez Fuster, who has been called the “Picasso of the Caribbean.” Fuster
has made major contributions to rebuilding and decorating the neighborhood in an
architectural style reminiscent of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona. Jaimanítas is now a unique
work of public art where Fuster and his neighbors have decorated more than eighty
houses with colorful, ornate murals and domes. Following lunch at Paladar La Foresta,
we enjoy a contemporary dance performance by Company Havana Compas, where
performers blend Spanish dances with Afro-Cuban rhythms. The all-female ensemble
accompanies their dancing with various types of percussions: drumsticks, castanets,
heels, wooden slippers, claves, chequerés, even percussive chairs. This evening we will
have a drinks reception at Sloppy Joe’s Bar before transferring to dinner at the elegant
restaurant Paladar Havana Mia 7, where we can observe the chef preparing our feast in
his open kitchen. For those interested, a late-evening visit to a local jazz club to listen to
Buena Vista Social Club–style music will be available.
Saratoga Hotel (B, L, R, D)
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DAY 4
We begin our final day in Havana at the Museum of Cuban Art, where we will be
greeted by art historian Aylet Ojeda Jequín, who will lead us through the highlights
of the collection. The museum is dedicated exclusively to Cuban art, from the earliest
days of colonialism to the present. We leave central Havana by coach for an excursion
into the countryside and a nostalgic visit of La Finca Vigía (Lookout Farm), Ernest
Hemingway’s magnificent Cuban estate, where he lived from 1939 until 1960. While
living here, Hemingway wrote seven books, including A Moveable Feast and Islands in the
Stream. The house and the surrounding estate remain poignantly intact as Hemingway
left it years ago. Lunch today is at the restaurant Ajíaco, located in Cojímar, a picturesque
fishing village that Hemingway loved and that he used as the setting for his novella
The Old Man and the Sea, which won him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. We
return to Havana and wander through the many stalls at the Arts and Crafts Market,
a vibrant bazaar providing an opportunity to interact with local artisans and to shop
for souvenirs. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Early this evening, we visit
the Candy Factory Gallery, a new art venture owned by American expat and curator
Pamela Ruiz and her Cuban husband, artist Damian Aquiles. Pamela Ruiz has been
based in Cuba for more than a decade and has curated hugely successful shows there,
including retrospectives on Robert Mapplethorpe and Louise Bourgeois. Damian
Aquiles has co-curated several exhibitions with Jonathan Ferrara, and his art has been
shown throughout the world. We are invited to the couple’s extraordinary private home
for a celebratory farewell dinner. To conclude the evening, we will toast adiós to Havana
with cocktails at the Fábrica de Arte Cubana, a former tramway power plant built at
the beginning of the twentieth century that has been converted into an extraordinary
dynamic art project. We will be received by the museum curator and local artists.
Saratoga Hotel (B, L, D, R)
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DEPARTURE DAY
Mid-morning we leave our hotel and transfer to the Havana airport for our return
flight to Miami.
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Kimbell Art Museum
HAVANA, CUBA:
ART and ARCHITECTURE
Land Package Includes
Hotels: a total of four (4) hotel nights in luxury
accommodations, including:
• Four (4) nights at The Saratoga Hotel, Havana
Meals: a total of twelve (12) meals, including:
• Four (4) daily buffet breakfasts at the hotel
• Four (4) lunches
• Four (4) dinners
• Four (4) receptions
• Water, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and wine or beer at each lunch and dinner
Transportation:
• International economy-class group airfare between Miami and Havana
• Processing of Cuban visa and health insurance
• One (1) group airport transfer upon arrival from Havana Airport (HAV) to
the Saratoga Hotel
• One (1) group airport transfer upon departure from the Saratoga Hotel to
the Havana Airport (HAV)
• Private air-conditioned motor coach for all land transportation as outlined in
the itinerary
Guides/Manager:
• Services of an expert English-speaking Cuban guide to accompany the
group for the duration of the tour
• Services of an ISDI Tour Manager for the duration of the tour
Miscellaneous:
• Entrance fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
• Special demonstrations and performances as listed in the itinerary
• Bottled water on the motorcoach
• Handling of two (2) pieces of luggage per person upon arrival and departure
at the hotels
• Gratuities for guides, motor-coach drivers, porters, and restaurant staff at
included meals
• Complete pre-departure documentation and materials, including a
recommended reading list, destination information, and luggage tags
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Land Package Includes continued
NOT INCLUDED: Airfare to Miami; airport transfers for those not
taking the group transfers; activities marked as “optional” in the itinerary
(e.g., Tropicana Club); travel extensions and transportation not included
in the itinerary; personal items and services such as laundry, wines, and
liquors; gratuities to housekeeping staff at the hotels; airline baggage fees
(approximately $20 per bag, $2.00 per pound over 44 pounds); any item of
a personal nature and any item not specifically listed as included. Personal
insurance for health, baggage, and tour cancellation also not included, but
strongly recommended.
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Terms and Conditions / General Information
AIRFARE AND VISAS
A group economy-class air package between Miami and Havana, your Cuban visa, and
airport transfers between Havana airport and Saratoga Hotel in Havana are included in
the tour package. ISDI will make these arrangements on your behalf.
Please note: Passports must be valid for at least six months past dates of travel.
Due to personal preferences, airfare to Miami and Miami hotel bookings are the
responsibility of the individual travelers. Robin Sanders at Sanders Travel in Fort Worth
has researched available flights and itineraries and can assist with airline arrangements
to Miami. Please call Robin at 817-737-1401 or her assistant Ashley Knudson at 817737-1402 for more information. Upon registration, additional information regarding
airline bookings will be provided. Do not book airfare to Miami before receiving this
information.
FYI: There is a chance that round-trip airfare from DFW to Havana may become
available prior to tour. American Airlines has applied to be a U.S. carrier for this route.
The decision should be known by November 2016. Once again, Sanders can coordinate
air arrangements.
PAYMENT TERMS
An initial deposit of $2,000 per participant is required to confirm registration to
the tour, payable by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) or by check payable to
International Seminar Design, Inc. Final balance payment will be due August 29, 2016,
and must be paid by check only, payable to International Seminar Design, Inc. If final
payments are received more than 14 days after due date, a 5% late fee will be applied to
overdue balances.
INDIVIDUAL CANCELLATION TERMS
All cancellations must be received in writing by International Seminar Design, Inc.,
either directly from the traveler or via the Kimbell Art Museum. Any individual
cancellation by August 29, 2016, will result in the deduction of a $1,000 administrative
fee from any refund (due in part to advance nonrefundable hotel bookings which
are required). Individual cancellations received between August 30 and October 12,
2016, will result in the deduction of $2,850 from any refund. Cancellations on or after
October 13, 2016, will result in no refund whatsoever. Partial refunds are not available
for individual visits or meals. Once the tour has commenced, it is not possible to receive
any refund of payment. Tour registrations are 100% nontransferable. ISDI will make
tour-cancellation insurance easily available to all registrants.
RESPONSIBILITY
International Seminar Design, Inc. (“ISDI”) acts as the agent for the suppliers of
services (including, but not limited to, air and ground transportation, meals, and
lodging) provided in conjunction with the tour. ISDI is not liable for the negligent acts,
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omissions, defaults, or failure to perform of such suppliers. The Participant releases ISDI
and the Kimbell Art Museum from any and all liability resulting from acts or omissions
of the suppliers of services, including, but not limited to, loss, damage, delay or injury,
or damage to Participant (including death) or Participant’s personal property. Nor do
ISDI and the Kimbell Art Museum accept responsibility for losses or delays arising from
sickness, quarantine, government restraints, war, acts of terrorism, weather conditions,
earthquakes, or acts of God. In no event shall ISDI nor the Kimbell Art Museum’s
liability exceed the amount received by ISDI from Participant.
ISDI has no special knowledge of problems or hazards regarding health or safety in the
destinations visited by Participant. Participant agrees to assume full responsibility for his/
her safety during this tour and is advised that some destinations visited may involve risks
of political instability, terrorism, social unrest, disease, and climatic extremes, as well as
geographical and atmospheric extremes such as altitude and/or pollution, earthquakes,
etc. Participant assumes all risks of damage or injury in connection with such risks
and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless ISDI and the Kimbell Art Museum against
any and all claims arising from Participant’s travel to such destinations. For additional
information regarding hazards in specific destinations, Participant may consult the U.S.
State Department and the Center for Disease Control.
Dates, schedules, program details, and costs stated by ISDI’s itinerary and brochure are
given on good faith and based on information available at the time of publication of
the brochure and are subject to change and revision at any time by ISDI. ISDI does not
guarantee the rates of any suppliers and reserves the right to substitute alternate suppliers
if deemed necessary by ISDI. ISDI and the Kimbell Art Museum reserve the right
to change Participant’s itinerary if, in ISDI’s sole discretion, such change is advisable
to protect Participant’s safety. No refund shall be due from ISDI nor the Kimbell Art
Museum in conjunction with changes in rates or itineraries, substitution of suppliers,
or Participant’s decision not to complete a tour itinerary. ISDI and the Kimbell Art
Museum reserve the right to refuse to accept any Participant, cancel any tour at any
time, or request a Participant to withdraw from a tour if, in ISDI’s sole discretion, such
refusal, cancellation, and/or withdrawal are in the best interest of Participant or other
tour Participants. Participants are encouraged not to purchase airline tickets until after
receiving a letter stating that they are confirmed on the tour, and neither ISDI nor the
Kimbell Art Museum accepts liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by
the purchase of a nonrefundable domestic ticket to the tour departure cities and return.
Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times.
NOTE: A separate waiver/disclaimer for the Kimbell Art Museum/Kimbell Art
Foundation will be submitted to each traveler and must be signed prior to tour
commencement.
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Kimbell Art Museum
HAVANA, CUBA:
ART and ARCHITECTURE
April 5–9, 2017
Tour Cost/Reservation Form
Land Package $5,695
Single Supplement $1,795 (Very Limited)
Tour price is per person based on double occupancy with a minimum of 18 paying
participants. Prices are based on quotes of May 2016 and are subject to slight
increases. Participants are responsible for all aspects of their air arrangements to and
from Miami.
To reserve space, a deposit of $2,000 per person is due immediately.
Final payment is due on or before August 29, 2016, and must be paid by check to
International Seminar Design, Inc. Registrations will be prioritized based on firstreceived and on a space-available basis. Note: This form may be copied.
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Name(s):
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Address:
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City/State/Zip:
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Telephone: (Home):
(Cell):
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E-mail:
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Number of people:
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OCCUPANCY
Single Supplement
Double Occupancy
I will be sharing a room with: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Bed Preference:
King Bed
Two Twin Beds
I would like a roommate but am willing to pay the single supplement if one
cannot be found.
Deposit Payment by:
Check
Credit Card (Please note that we accept only Visa and MasterCard for deposits.
Final balance payments must be made by check.)
Credit Card Type:
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Name as it appears on Card:
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Credit Card Number:
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Expiration Date:
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The undersigned has read the tour itinerary and recognizes and accepts any risks
thereof. The undersigned also understands and hereby agrees for and on behalf of his/
her dependents, heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns to abide by the conditions
set forth in the terms and conditions listed in the travel program packet and to release
and hold harmless the Kimbell Art Museum and International Seminar Design, Inc.
(ISDI) and any of their officers, trustees, agents, licensees, or representatives, from any
and all liability for delays, injuries, or death or for the loss of or damage to his/her
property occurring during any portion of, or in relation to, the tour. A separate waiver/
disclaimer from the Kimbell Art Museum/Kimbell Art Foundation will be mailed to
travelers prior to tour departure and must be signed prior to commencement of tour.
EACH PARTICIPANT MUST SIGN.
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Signature:
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Signature:
Please make all checks payable to International Seminar Design, Inc.
Mail registration form and deposit payment to:
Cuba Tour 2017
Kimbell Art Museum
3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
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