Talking Points
Cuba is an island roughly the same of Pennsylvania, located 90 miles off the coast of Florida.
The country’s population is 11 million with Spanish and Castillan as the spoken langauges.
To Cuba and back
Local insurance agent travels
Vicki Middleton
Disney Land and the Grand Canyon are two places most people might consider as vacation destinations.
These places, however, were not in mind for one Midwest City businessman and his wife when they took a vacation this past spring.
While Gerald and Donna Dawkins have visited their fair share of vacation hot spots, they were looking for something different this time around.
The end result: a “Cuba Today: People & Society” tour of the cities Trinidad and Havana.
On day one of the trip, April 21, the Dawkins joined a group of 22 strangers from all over the U.S. before departing on a seven-day tour of Cuba, which is located 90 miles off the coast of Miami – but a world away.
From the Sunshine State, they flew to the Cienfuegos Airport and then transferred to Trinidad, which is famous for its cobblestone streets and pastel-colored houses.
On their first night in the central-Cuba city, the Dawkins enjoyed a welcome dinner at a local restaurant to introduce them to the vibrant culture of the Cuban people.
The next day, the group visited Manaca Iznaga’s sugar factory and estate, located in the “Valley of the Sugar Mills,” to learn about sugar production and its importance to the country’s economy.
A tour of Trindad to a history museum, churches and unique houses followed the “sweet” educational outing. Then in the afternoon, the group visited a ceramic studio to learn generation-old pottery traditions.
On April 25, the group took off on a road trip to Cienfuegos, a city known as the Pearl of the South. The group’s time there included a visit to a botanical garden, a picnic lunch, a city tour and a harbor cruise where local fishermen shared stories and insights into their industry.
Another scenic drive was scheduled for the following day past the pristine Caribbean Sea. The group also toured the Bay of Pigs Museum where they discovered the history behind one of the major events of the Cold War and how the “Victory of Giron,” as it’s known locally, impacted Cuba.
The group ended their day in Havana, Cuba’s capitol, where they toured a castle and took in a cannon firing ceremony.
In the final days of the trip, the Dawkins saw how some of Havana’s youngest citizens live with a visit to a daycare center run by nuns and a primary school. The group also visited Ernest Hemingway’s home at Lookout Farm where he conceived his final masterpiece, “The Old Man and the Sea.”
Activities on April 28 focused on more of Cuba’s history with educational programs presented by a city planner, a Catholic charity and a local art historian.
One of the best parts of the tour was saved for last, Dawkins said. Although a non-smoker, he said discovering the secrets of Cuban cigars at the Casa Fuster cigar factory was fascinating.
All throughout the trip, Dawkins said he always felt safe. He said one of the sad parts was Cuban people did not have air conditioning to escape the tropic heat.
He recommended everyone to give the often-overlooked country consideration for future vacations, but highly advised using a travel agency.
“I encourage more people to visit there,” he said.
In fact, Dawkins said he hopes to make a return trip one day.
“I would like to go back, especially if it improves some,” Dawkins said.
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