The New Cuba

A Chat on Cuba, Millennials & 2018

By Jauretsi on April 9, 2018

Recently, I met Paula Goldstein through our mutual friend and globetrotting DJ, Mia Moretti. Paula runs a sweet website named Voyage d’etudes, focusing on travel, and women doing inspirational things abroad.

(Paula Goldstein, Founder/Editor of Voyage D’etudes)

How did it all come together? “I spent most of my 20s living out of a half-unpacked suitcase” confesses Paula. “My jet-set journey from small town Essex, was touch-and-go at times but also exceptionally lucky.” After many colorful adventures traveling the world (some light moments, some dark moments), Paula began a “global girl gang” of sorts, to share stories, and hold space for each other. It was a place “conceived to share the wealth of support and knowledge I was given by my network of female friends”.

“The world is bigger when we’re united” she declares of the mantra. “And I believe our stories are what bring us together. Voyage D’etudes is a place to celebrate travel that is less about tuning out, and more about tuning in together.” Needless to say, I was honored to embark on a conversation about Cuba with the passionate lady. It was a topic of deep interest to her given that her husband is Cuban. Well, I’ll say no more, and let her take it from here. The following is a piece from our chat…

Thanks for the love, Paula.
Keep that wanderlust poppin!
-Jauretsi

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In true Global Girl Gang fashion I was connected to Jauretsi Saizarbitoria by our mutual friend Mia Moretti, after I read about her talk on connectivity and it’s resulting changes in Cuba. My husband is a Miami Cuban, so I have a lot of personal interest in anything about this largely isolated island nation. Ironically, Jauretsi and I struggled to connect across several mediums, yet after a series of bounced emails and missed messages her story arrived, and it was well worth the wait.

Paula: Firstly, tell me a little bit about you, Jauretsi.

Jauretsi: I’m a Leo, a media girl, an ex-New Yorker, and present expat in Cuba, who’s on a constant journey trying to figure it all out. I’m sure the insatiable curiosity stems from my roots, being part Cuban, part Basque — 2 proud (with a capital “P”) cultures, obsessed with independence while finding their place in this world. I sort of laugh about it. It’s in my DNA.

P: Where did you grow up?

J: Miami Beach, where it all started, the land of the Cuban exiles. It’s also the land that set my thermostat. Love heat. Hate winters. Big ocean girl.

P: What do you do?

J: Currently, I’m a Producer in Cuba, supporting all things that are the New Cuba. I’ve worked on everything from documentaries to music projects to art consulting to tech initiatives. I also now provide travel experiences, bringing lots of great industry friends to the island to immerse themselves in the new Cuba.

P: You run the “New Cuba,” tell me about that… What is the mission?

J: It’s funny because I called it The New Cuba early on, not quite sure what it would be. I just knew that I wanted to explore all things “New Cuba,” and that I didn’t want to be limited by sector. So today, the New Cuba (both the website editorial and my services) tends to observe and honor this new incarnation through the lens of culture. The mission is to break from this cliche that Cuba is stuck in the past. It’s actually an emerging market, bursting with new energy and fresh ideas.

P: Cubans are very proud, and there is a very rich history there. What do you think people in Cuba would want the rest of the world to know more about them as a country, beyond the obvious politics?

J: The thing with young Cubans is that they have been raised their whole lives with a strong narrative pushed onto them from their own society. Then there is this outside faction of “Anti-Castros” who are also pushing their own agendas onto the residents. I think the younger Cubans are more awake than we understand. They are trying to create a new definition of what it means to be Cuban, and how they want their society to move forward. I think they want to be seen as individuals, looking to join the world market. The lack of global media on the island contributes to this information black hole, but we’re slowly seeing a DIY market emerge, with young creatives expressing themselves through fashion, film, tech, and design. This is a youth culture that wants to maintain the fruits of the revolution, yet discard what didn’t work. How this plays out is a mystery, and only time will tell.

P: Cuba is changing a lot right now. What do you attribute that shift to?

J: This year will be the most transformative year Cuba has had in generations. This April 2018, Raul Castro (Fidel’s brother) is stepping down from power. That means it’s been 59 years that Cuba has been ruled by a Castro. Most of the present mechanisms are still in place with the new government, but make no mistake: this is a big tectonic shift, both mentally and spiritually. For the first time in 3 generations, Cuba will be living a post-Castro world. The States’ difficult new mission will be to win the hearts of their youth, and to help fix a broken economy. The reality is that there is a lot of work to do. We are in unchartered territory.

To read the rest of the interview, visit VoyagedeTudes/Jauretsi.

All Photos by Amanda Bjorn, another rad traveling spirit who hosts photo tours in Cuba.

(Photographer Amanda Bjorn)

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Calling All Cuban Programmers

By Jauretsi on April 3, 2018

If you know any computer wiz programmers in Cuba, make sure they read this before Friday, April 6th. Google is stepping up their inclusion for Cuba tech by inviting the nations top programmers to compete.

“We are proud to announce that for the first time we have made Code Jam available to Cubans” says Brett Perlmutter, Google’s Head of Cuba Strategy & Operations. “For the first time, the world will be able to see the capabilities of Cuban computer scientists and programmers”.

What is Code Jam? Think Superbowl for computer programmers, except this game is on a global level. Last year, 2017 drew 42 competitors from 16 countries, with a registered 65,000 participants — which brings me back to the original reason for this post…

If you think you know a Cuban who’s got the chops for a global competition, visit g.co/codejam to register. Worth noting is that the website can be accessed from Cuba too.

The Online Qualification Round lasts 27 hours and begins this Friday, April 6 at 23:00 UTC; Registration is open until the Qualification Round closes. After the online competition, the World Finals will take place at the Google office in Toronto, Canada in August of this year, and the world champion will win $ 15,000 USD.

To watch all things Code Jam, check out their YouTube Playlist. We’re rooting for all emerging Cuban tech talent to come out of the shadows, and into the chair.

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10 More Packing Essentials for Cuba

By Jauretsi on March 27, 2018

Back by popular demand… New friends continually ask “What do I pack for Cuba?” in that how-can-I-help tone? So I decided to write another Top 10 List, Part 2. Before you read any further, take a peek at my first blog post “My Top 10 Packing Tips for Cuba” to get started on care package ideas. For only $5 to $50, you can make a strong impact in someone’s life. It might not be life-saving, but you’d be making their day a whole lot more pleasant. That might be just good enough for today.

1- Tequila bottle

Cubans are drinkers, however if you’re not a rum drinker, you’re kinda screwed. Most open bars at official events are rum, beer, and water. If you’re a sole Tequila drinker, you may find yourself skipping libations. If you’re attending an event in a private home, a solid bottle of good tequila is an excellent gift and contribution to the party. Plus you could enjoy a glass yourself. You see? The gift that keeps on giving. An amendment to this gift is a good bottle of Scotch (MacCallan 18) or other Whiskeys not easily found in Cuba. The important thing to know is that Rum and cigars is in high supply in Cuba, but if you are a connoisseur of other liquors or other cigarette brands, bringing them to Cuba is a wonderful high-end gift, and builds relationships.

2- Umbrella

For some bizarre reason, umbrellas are a pain to find. One can go months without seeing one, and then inexplicably walk into shop and see a few in stock. The rare times you spot one, it is an incredibly overpriced 3rd world level umbrella that breaks like a twig. This is the reason I encourage travelers to add this to their gift list. I personally like a discreet small strong one that fits in a small bag, but don’t forget the large sturdy ones that can protect 2 sweethearts simultaneously during a downpour (cue Rihanna: you can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh)

3- Digital Content Care Package

In my last Top 10 post, I mentioned how USB drives were very useful in Cuba due sparse internet. I am extending this idea to suggest that you add cool files onto the stick. A care package of content is an even better idea. New albums. New podcasts. New movies. Fill up a USB and pass it onto a Cuban of all ages. If you want to hook up a local DJ, just go to any cool bar and give them a USB full of new (and classic) mp3’s. Or if you want to hook up a driver, jump in any vintage vehicle, and notice their car stereo. Most drivers in Cuba listen to their music off USB sticks. If this is the case, pass the USB for instant gratification and enjoy music together within a few seconds as you ride through Havana. I repeat, the gift that keeps on giving.

4- Bath Towel

I learned this one from a close Cuban friend who kept asking me for a nice bath towel every time I returned from the States. He didn’t want electronics, he didn’t want clothes, he didn’t need money. He just wanted a damn plush bath towel from the United States, and not the sorry-excuse-for-a-towel that Cuban stores offer which is akin to sandpaper. I also learned this the hard way myself when trying to purchase a last second towel on my way to the beach, and discovered that the few options available were offensive to my wallet, and grossly thin tourist towel that absorbed zero water. If you can make it happen, bring a dope white lush towel from Bed Bath & Beyond.

5- Pack of Pens

I know I know. This list is supposed to be about bringing medicine and profound things, but a pen? After many months stuck in Cuba, I’ve discovered that pens are not found everywhere. I’m not saying there are no pens in Cuba, it’s just there are no Office Depots to buy bulk, so when somebody steals your pen, you want to kill them, because there’s not an easy find around the corner. One of the best gifts I brought myself was two rounds of 10 packs (GOOD PENS I might add) to Cuba. It made me less hoardery about lending a pen, and I am never without a good writing utensil. It’s the small things that makes life easier. Highlighters, stickees, calendar agendas, paperclips, and journals with good paper are additional smart gifts for organized people.

6- Chocolate

I mean PROFESSIONAL chocolate. Cuba has many things — ocean, salsa, rum — But Lordy, it has crap chocolate in all the shops. It’s only been recently that I’ve begun taking note of Paladars with good chocolate desserts thank you to my fixation on the perfect bite (hello chocolate molten cake at La Guarida). You’ve saved an addict in need. In terms of chocolate gifts, think dark chocolates. If you don’t have time to purchase gourmet chocolates in advance of your trip, scout your US airport for a simple king size bag of M&M’s on your way into Cuba. You’ll make someones day. Trust me.

7- Kitchen Goods

Ziplock bags, Saran wrap, Mini-food processor, Scotchbrite pads, Magic Bullet blender, or anything that would make a womans life (or mans) easier in the kitchen. Want to really make a foodie happy? Bring a solid bottle of Olive Oil or Balsamic vinegar. Like a good one. Maybe a block of Parmesan cheese. You’ll relish tasting fresh Cuban bread dipped into the exquisite olive oil late one night with your new Cuban friend who will thank you for the luxury bite.

8- Snacks

I don’t mean junkfood, I mean healthy scrumptious snacks. Cuba lacks any practical deli-culture to grab a quick snack in between meals. Think Granola Bars, Trail Mix, Gourmet Chips, Dried fruits, or any of that healthy stuff we take for granted at the previous US airport we just flew in from. This stash may save you when getting “hangry” on your own vacation, although you’ll want to make sure to bring an industrial size box in order to leave behind for a fellow Cubano who is more in need of these snacks.

9- Beauty Products

What is life without a Ricky’s around the corner? Well, if you move to Cuba, then you’ll have to make due. Tweezers, Eyelashes, Moisturizer, Foundation, Nail polish remover, nail colors and accessories. A good tricked-out nail set is an extra bit of fancy gift. Next time you walk past a row of flat irons, professional conditioner, baby blowdryers, facial masks, or anything that dolls up a woman, please do a good deed and buy some extra stuff for your next Cuba trip. It will be highly relished, and you will be doing women justice all over the island.

10- Pillow

Pillow game is WEAK in Cuba. You can extend that need into the realm of bedware. Allergy Free bed covers is something not available in Cuba, which is a health-risk for folks who are sensitive to dust mites and mold. This can be a tremendous gift to someone’s well being. The Same for allergy-free zip-up pillow or mattress covers. Remember that lots of the mattresses in Cuba are not replaced every 5 years as recommended. Some people have the same bedware from, dare I say, their whole lives. On your next visit to Target, drop a good pillow, or bedsheet, or allergy cover into your cart before headed to Cuba.

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The Orishas at HWM

By Jauretsi on March 27, 2018

(Supporting stickers by Clandestina)

It’s the end another week in Cuba, and we’d like to give a round of applause to Havana World Music for pulling off these 3 days of global music. Just like the band origins, each visitor represented a spectrum of countries ranging from local Cuban flavor to Europeans, to Americans, to Africans, and beyond. Closing night was the climax, a performance by The Orishas, hometown boys gone big.

Very early in the night, lines of fans wrapped around the entire Almendares Park. The show took place under the bridge of the sacred Almendares river The band took their time on stage, churning out hits from each album and stage of their career. It has been 18 years, so why not stretch out this glorious moment? They even invited a few guest artists on stage. Singer Yotuel also took a few moments during the night to just talk to the audience, and on multiple occasions, really opened his heart about how much it meant to be Cuban, and perform in the motherland.

The New Cuba wants to thank all the organizers who I can personally declare are some of the hardest working showpeople in business. Seeing these last few months of their pre-production sweat and passion has truly filled me with optimism for the near future.

Here’s a few pics I snapped of the evening. It’s just a drop of water compared to the oceans of people who attended. Hopefully, it’s enough of a taste to bring you back next year as the HWM festival spreads its wings into a power-player for local culture.

(All Photos by Jauretsi)

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The New Cuba mix

By Jauretsi on February 28, 2018

Inspired by the “Cuba Is” exhibit at The Annenberg Photo Space in Los Angeles, I whipped up a symphony of tracks that inspire me on the island today, with a sprinkle of legendary ancestors whose shoulders we all rest on.

If you visit the Skylight studio at “Cuba Is”, you’ll enter the Resolviendo exhibit, which deep dives into Wifi Parks, DIY Magazines, and modern day Cuban content (a collaboration I was honored to curate through Commonwealth Projects). After 6 months of boasting beautiful works from Cuba, both exhibits will end early March with a closing bash on March 3rd. To bottle the spirit of Resolviendo, I’m posting the mix online. Here is a bit of old-school meets new school — a mash-up of modern day Cuba.

Upon hearing the assemblage of tracks, it can appear seamless to move between the voices of the past and the voices of today. It’s evident the rappers are contemporary, but the percussion and words of the ancient Yoruba language are still woven into the fiber of todays Cuban millennial. Tradition is paramount in Cuba, and history is bookmarked through music, dance, and spoken word. First, it was through “cabildos”, the underground slave jam sessions of the 1500’s, all the way up to the Rumba’s and Cha Cha Cha’s of the 1960’s. Today, a Perez Prado mambo still roars on the streets, but instead, a DJ is flipping it with a remix, lifting the original to newer heights. Listen for yourself. Achè.

RESOLVIENDO (Track list)

Ellegua Invocation – Orishas

Rumba Pa’ofrendarle – Telemary Diaz

No te olvides de tu Son – Yelsy Heredia

Bonito y Sabroso – Beny More

Para Bailar el Montuno – Arsenio Rodriguez

Watermelon Man – Mongo Santamaria

Palabras Manuales – Danay Suarez

River – Ibeyi

Corazon de Melon – Rosemary Clooney with Perez Prado

St James Infarmary (Perez Prado vs Wichy de Vedado)

Fundamento – Edgar Productor’n’Jefe

Rico Vacilon – Orquesta American de Ninon Mondejar

Julian Monsieus – Bola de Nieve

Habanera Repartera – Soandry

Tu Seras – Danay Suarez

Cubanacan – Lecuono Cuban Boys

Madres – Daymé Arocena

The Rumba Experiment – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band

Exhibit Diaz – Ibeyi

3 Mujeres – IFE Havana Remix Feat Con100cia, Positivo Siempre, Amehel Mission Raiz

Negra Caridad – Dayme Arocena

Fever – La Lupe

Lean On (Salsa) – Major Lazer with Havana Maestros

Mis Raices – Yelsy Heredia

Bossa Cubana – Los Zafiros

Soledad – Bahama Soul Club feat Telmary

Papa Aggun – Celeste Mendoza y los Papines

Encantamiento Yoruba

Guajira Guantamera – Joseito Fernandez

Weird Latin – feat Pedrito Martinez & Paul Carlon

Negro Mi Cha Cha Cha – Facundo Rivero

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The New Cuba hits LA & San Fran

By Jauretsi on February 4, 2018

Internet is tricky in Cuba. This is pretty much an understatement, but the “why’s” require a much more expansive conversation to wrap our heads around the stakes.

(Photo credit: Juan Cruz Rodriguez for Resolviendo Exhibit, Annenberg)

I will be visiting LA & San Francisco this month to discuss one of the most fascinating subcultures on the island today – the Tech sector. It’s been a long road for all things New Cuba regarding our gatherings to contemplate contemporary Cuban culture. Three years back, we gathered in the ballroom of The Standard Hotel in 2015 to talk about various creative industries — including music, art, and architecture. This year, it’s all about the Web, which of course affects the fate of all these creative and business endeavors.

(Photo credit: Juan Cruz Rodriguez for Resolviendo Exhibit, Annenberg)

What appears as a fully disconnected country is truly the opposite. Like most things in Cuba, the people have found a way to “inventar”, creating digital solutions, thus turning your average grandma into a hacker, learning to circumnavigate Wifi hotspots in the most unusual ways.

This Feb, two conversations will take place on the US West Coast, focusing on Cuba’s internet and its state of connectivity. RSVP confirmations are required for both.

(1) Annenberg, Feb 10th, Los Angeles

(Jauretsi, Curator/ Digital Strategist. Photo credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images N. America)

An extension of the Resolviendo Exhibit (which launched in Sept 2017), the Annenberg invited The New Cuba to co-host a special panel in Los Angeles on February 10, 2018 entitled Cuba: Sin Limites that gathers experts on the state of Internet in Cuba.

(Photo credit: Juan Cruz Rodriguez for Resolviendo Exhibit, Annenberg)

The listing reads:

Moderated by Cuban-American curator and digital strategist Jauretsi, speakers will include Dadne Carbonell (Cuban computer systems analyst), “Dany Paquete” (a kingpin of El Paquete Semenal, an underground weekly distribution of pirated international content via hard drives), and Susanna Kohly (Marketing Lead, Google Cuba).

(Dany of El Paqeute in his home in Havana. Photo credit: Jauretsi)

Please visit the Annenberg Wifi Cuba Panel page to confirm your attendance or read more on the event. You can learn more about Dany by viewing the documentary Give Me Future, currently downloadable on iTunes (trailer here).

For a proper headstart, you can also now visit the art exhibit at the Annenberg gallery entitled Cuba Is, which contains a section called Resolviendo, an exhibit that The New Cuba helped curate with Commonwealth Projects. You’ll see photographs of Wifi Parks, a spectrum of videos from Cuba’s famous El Paqeute, and some DIY magazine culture Imagine the streets of Cuba’s content networks transported into an exhibit hall in Los Angeles.

(Jauretsi at “Cuba Is” Launch. Photo Credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images N.America)

The original launch event took place early September 2017, with a big bash where I was lucky enough to helm the DJ booth with Matthieu Schreyer, host of the excellent KCRW show on Global beats. It was a bonafide Cuba love-fest in the heart of Los Angeles, complete with a “who’s who” of Cuban arts, film, photographers, curators, gallerists, and fans alike. The full exhibit will be up til March 4, 2018, so don’t forget to book out an afternoon to soak in all the beautiful photography before the panel.

(“Cuba Is” Exhibit. Photo Credit: Leysis Quesada Vera)

THE PHOTO EXHIBIT:
“Cuba Is” Exhibit
Currently on Display through March 4, 2018
The Annenberg, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles CA 90067
General Gallery Hours: Wed-Sun 11am to 6pm. Mon-Tues is closed

THE INTERNET PANEL:
“Cuba Sin Limites” Panel
Annenberg Space for Photography’s Skylight Studios
Feb 10, 2018
7:00-9:00pm
10050 Constellation Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90067

(2) Media Noche, Feb 11th, San Francisco

(Media Noche Cafe, San Francisco)

The next evening, Feb 11th, the topic continues nearby in San Francisco at the charming restaurant named Media Noche. This is a more casual gathering in a cafe setting hosted by a a group called Bay Area Cubans, lead by Project Binario’s Eddy Perez who we recently covered in our visit to Techcrunch.

(Photo credit: Juan Cruz Rodriguez for Resolviendo Exhibit, Annenberg)

We expect our Cuban-American community to come out and celebrate our culture, gather for constructive conversation, and build awareness of future generations. Hermanos unidos. Like most Cuban-Americans, the topic of Cuba is passionate and immersive. Our belief is that it’s imperative for both our cultures, on and off the island, to grow a better understanding of each other for a brighter future. Building bridges, not walls. We invite any curious non-Cubans who would love to be part of the conversation.

Feb 11, 2018
7:30pm
Media Noche
3465 19th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
To confirm your attendance, please click on the EventBrite page listing. Enter code “givemefuture” for 30% discount

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We Invite You to Havana World Music

By Jauretsi on January 24, 2018

I’m thrilled to announce a cool music festival happening in Cuba this March called Havana World Music. What’s more exciting is that The New Cuba will be hosting guests from abroad to come attend the festival with VIP access. There will also be a few days of fun to explore Havana’s best and brightest spots.

But first… what is Havana World Music?

(Eme Alfonso. Photo: May Reguera for Garbos Magazine)

“We were a group of friends, talking one day” said HWM Founder, Eme Alfonso (pictured above). “We thought, in Havana, there is nothing like an event for young people where we can enjoy ourselves and say this is the music that I listen to, this is the music that I want my friends to listen to. Then we said to ourselves, we have to do something. Let’s do something.”

Enter Havana World Music. Three days of unfettered music, art, culture, diversity, people, emotions, and energy. It’s a mix of artists both inside and outside the island, bringing fresh sounds to the forefront while honoring ancestral roots. This March 22,23,24 marks the 5th year of this gathering of international music buddies throwing it all down hard in Havana.

This years lineup includes:

The Orishas

The Orishas are Cuba’s most globally known Cuban Hip Hop band, having exploded onto the scene in 2000 with their premiere album, A Lo Cubano. The record defined the sound of what Cuban rap would be — a mix of local flavor, traditional Afro-Cuban nodding & rhymes on the motherland. For those that haven’t heard the album yet, give it a listen here.

Gato Preto

Gato Preto is a tropical bass thunderstorm. The booty shakin’ beats are produced by Lee Bass, who rolled out the perfect sound carpet for the Emcee Gata Misteriosa and her Portuguese power punchlines. The collective members members unveil African sounds reflecting their roots in the polyrhythm of Bass from Ghana, the Portuguese slang of Gata’s Mozambique and the incredible Djembe Power of Moussa Diallo from Senegal. Dive into their sound here.

Interactivo

If you’ve been hanging out in the Havana music scene the last few years, it’s impossible to have missed Interactivo, who hosts one of the most well attended weekly parties, a live jam featuring a rotation of band members.

Interactivo is a music collective begun by Roberto Carcasses, Yusa, Francis de Rio, William Vicanco and Telmary Diaz. The bands Director, Roberto, prides himself on Interactivo’s free-form, experimental, and collaborative nature. The mix of Jazz, Funk, Salsa, Hip-Hop and general Cubaneo is swirled up into an audio feast.

Marinah

Hailing from Spain, Marinah dons a flamenco skirt and head wrap representing Afro-Cuban spirit — think Flamenco Latin Jazz. She is the ex-singer of the Catalan band Ojos de Brujo for over a decade. In 2016, Marinah & Chicuelo launched the album “Sintonias” where, with his flamenco guitar, they infused sounds of rumba, flamenco, Afro-Cuban and Caribbean music. More here.

…And now for The New Cuba Travel package to attend festivities.

Our weeks program will be held from March 21-26, with 3 of those days attending the Festival (22,23,24). The trip includes 5 nights & 6 days of sight-seeing, music, art, culture, and the best food spots in town. The advantage of our package is that we will schedule you to be at the right place at the right time every day this week.

Price: $2,200 per person. Payment must be complete 3 weeks prior to trip.

Price Includes:
_5 Nights stay in a Casa Particular
_VIP Access to Music Festival & After parties
_Full Time Guide/Concierge, English Speaking
_Curated activities for the week (please reach me for specific itinerary)
_Welcome Package
_Private Transfer to and from Havana International Airport with Guide
_Private Transportation for all activities of the week
_Pre-Trip Concierge (Additional pre-trip planning such as flight purchase assistance and pre-departure information)

Price does not include:
_Airfare & Visa (we can assist/advise this process)
_Tips for Vendors – Driver, Waiters, Housekeeping, Guides, etc
_Rooming Incidentals – Minibar, etc.
_Meals/Drinks – Note: From past experience with seasoned travelers, I’ve noticed that NOT including dinner fees is a better offering for the traveler. It means the guests can avoid “cookie-cutter” price fixes, and order more luxuriously to their liking. We reserve you at the best restaurants, and you order as much or as little as you’d like.

Special Deal:
For the first 8 people to confirm, I will offer a 15% discount, and personally guide the crew myself all week.

To assure proper attention for all visitors, anyone beyond the first 8 reservations will still be guided by an expert and cool local from our crew of “new Cuba” tour leaders. Groups are capped at 10 people to insure best attention. Keep in mind, all groups will be celebrating together anyways for opening cocktail event, as well as all Festival events & after parties.

Legalities:
Our itinerary and program is compliant with US Treasury Department regulations. This trip is permitted through the “people-to-people” general license category authorized by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Our program of activities offers meaningful interactions with the Cuban people under an authorized tour leader according to US regulations. For more details, visit US Treasury Gov.

Questions:
For any further questions, I’d be happy to get on the phone and discuss deeper. Please email jauretsi@gmail.com to open dialogue.

(Eme Alfonso. Photo: May Reguera for Garbos Magazine)

“That’s it” in the words of Eme, “Music is the excuse. We are going to meet and we will have a great time.” About the musician herself, having been raised in a legendary family of recording artists, and part of the successful band Sintesis for two decades, Eme is formally breaking out on her own this month with a fresh solo album. To read about Eme’s vision and voice for music, download the latest issue of Garbos Magazine.

We look forward to celebrating the best of this new Cuba together.

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