Cuba Unlimited #31-24 May 2002
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Cuba Unlimited # 31 - cubalinda.com - May 24, 2002
Bringing Cuba to the World and the World to Cuba
Editor's Note
Dear Subscriber,
In just two months the Havana Carnival will begin. To get into the
spirit of the fiesta, we describe one of its best events - the parade
of the Marqueses de Ataris. We also introduce the artist Amelia
Pelaez. For those who don't know about her, we describe a woman with
a sublime soul and powerful feelings, an artist with a very personal
style, who with her authentic Cuban soul has made important
contributions to the history of fine arts in Cuba. We also paint this
bulletin with the abundant green of the Yumurm valley, recommend a
fine hotel in the beautiful Viqales valley, and invite you to travel
to these outstanding destinations.
Please take care not to miss our last section where we give a brief
introduction to our new tourist packages, guiding you toward the most
beautiful destinations in Cuba. And best of all, prices have a 20%
discount!
Joselin Odales Editor
Table of Contents
1.0 Current Events in Cuba
1.1 New flights established between
London/Manchester and Ciego de Avila
2.0 Talking about Cuba
2.1 The Marqueses de Ataris parades
2.2 Amelia Pelaez paints from Cuba
2.3 A unique landscape: the Yumurm Valley
3.0 Travelers Advice
3.1 Where to claim lost or damaged luggage
4.0 Our Recommendations
4.1 La Ermita Hotel
5.0 Latest News from cubalinda.com
*
1.0 Current Events in Cuba
1.1 New flights established between London/Manchester and
Ciego de Avila
Direct flights between Britain and the province of Ciego de Avila
started recently as the result of an agreement reached between
Cubanacan Tours and the British tour operator JMC-Thomas Cook.
This new itinerary, with two flights every week, one from London and
the other from Manchester, gives access to Cayo Coco and Cayo
Guillermo, two keys located on the north coast of Cuba in the
Jardines del Rey archipelago.
Tourists traveling on these routes will also be able to enjoy one-day
visits to Cienfuegos, and excursions to the buffalo reserve in the
Isla de Turiguans (Turiguans Island).
The new agreement is in response to regular visits by British
tourists who are clearly fascinated by the natural wonders that Cuba
offers.
More news (in English):
http://www.cubalinda.com/English/General_Info/HotNewsCuba.asp
Spotlights:
Know Cuba at your freedom of will, like the snail, carrying the house
on your shoulders. You can decide, when and where to go in a
Campertour, the Mercedes Benz Diesel auto caravans that is offered
now by Cubalinda.com.
2.0 Talking about Cuba
2.1 The Marqueses de Ataris parades
One of the most significant aspects of the fiestas during the Cuban
Carnival is the Afro-Cuban processions (comparsas) - groups of men,
women and children who parade through the streets, singing and
dancing, and following the rhythms of their traditional instruments.
They have made a mark on the Havana Carnival since the early 1930s,
in particular the parades of the Marqueses de Ataris.
Since the beginning, these parades were brought together by the
rumberos, santeros and abakuas of the Ataris neighborhood that lies
in the Cerro area of Havana. The name Ataris goes back to 1763 when
the castle of Santo Domingo de Ataris was built by the Count of
Ricla, who subsequently became the governor of the Island after the
English occupation.
In contrast to the folklore of the rest of the Afro-Cuban parades,
the Marqueses interpreted the ancient Cuban marquisate with
ceremonial dances and fabulous gowns. Full of satire, the Afro-Cubans
paraded through the streets disguised in full costume, with
dress-coats and three-cornered hats; and the women wore wigs and
dressed in the style of the 1930s, and danced minuets and rigadoons.
The dancers performed a pantomime of a typical aristocratic wedding
in Havana in ancient times, following the rhythms of large drums,
pans, bells and maracas, together with trumpets and trombones to
reinforce the melodies. Their quick turns ended with exaggerated
gestures, as they raised big lanterns, banners and group emblems.
One of the merits of the parades is that they have always been
financed by their creators and dancers, who with great sacrifice
bought all that was needed for the show. This was what the founder,
Vmctor Herrera, did and what his daughter, Mercedes Herrera, the
current director of the group, continuous to do today. Mercedes, who
is 72, started her activities when she was 8 years old, and has done
a wonderful job making sure that the Marqueses continue dancing and
parading through the streets of Havana.
On Carnival days from July 15 to August 15, you can still enjoy the
parades' comedy show, which every year turns its Afro-Cubans into
marquises with blue blood.
2.2 Amelia Pelaez paints from Cuba
Amelia Pelaez is one of the best known figures in Cuban fine arts,
giving it a respected face since the early 1940s. She has headed an
artistic renaissance of international renown.
She was born in 1896 in Villa Clara province, but her debut as an
artist started in Havana at the Academy of Fine Arts in San
Alejandro, which she attended for eight years. Later, she perfected
her talents in several European countries, until she finally settled
in Paris where she received free drawing courses in important art
schools. In 1931, she began her studies with the Russian artist
Alexandra Exter. It was at this time that she began to draw her own
cubist landscapes.
In 1934, she returned to Havana and became an active member of the
Cuban avant-garde movement. For two years she dedicated herself to
drawing, based on her rediscovery of Cuba. When she went back to
painting, she did it with still life, reproducing the Cuban flora and
fauna with a cubist vision. She started to develop her personal
style, enriching her cubist range with arabesques, bright color
surfaces, baroque compositions derived from the architectural
decoration of the 19th century, and furniture design. In this way,
she achieved the peak of her work, focusing on creole interiors, the
intimacy of the house, the dining table, beautiful angular women, and
the iron work of the balconies in Old Havana.
In the 1950s, she also made ceramic art objects and produced an
outstanding mural work. Some of her most important works are shown at
the Escuela de Maestros in Santa Clara, the Escuela Josi Miguel Gsmez
in Havana, the ceramic art mural outside the Ministry of the
Interior, and on the facade of the Hotel Habana Libre, formerly the
Habana Hilton. She died in 1968, leaving a vast artistic heritage.
In general, four main elements can be identified in her artwork: the
use of intense color, elaborate composition, representations of the
flora of the island, and Cuban architectural motifs. All her work
radiates a vital strength, dynamism and abundance. Her selection of
topics, as well as her approach to them, is unique among the artists
of her generation.
At present, a great deal of her work is exhibited in the Museo de
Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts) in Old Havana (at Trocadero
between Zulueta and Monserrate) - including, Paisaje de Puentes
Grandes (landscape of great bridges), Mujer con Abanico (woman with
fan), Naturaleza Muerta con Melsn (still life with water melon), and
Peces (fish). A visit to this museum is the best way to appreciate
the life and work of this fabulous Cuban painter.
2.3 A unique landscape: the Yumurm Valley
To the west of the Havana-Matanzas limestone cliffs lies the Yumurm
river, a beautiful scenic area with much to admire in its natural
splendour.
It forms an 8km wide amphitheater and was produced by the Yumurm
river and its tributaries. The valley is almost completely surrounded
by hills 150 meters high that give way to the Yumurm river which
threads its way to the sea through a picturesque canyon. An abundance
of vegetation dominates the valley, in particular the royal palm,
although crops, such as sugar cane and fruit, were intensively
cultivated during the colonial period in Cuba.
One of the best places to view this stunning scenery is the Puente de
Bacunayagua (Bacunayagua bridge), at 110 meters the highest in Cuba
(it is also 313 meters long and 16 meters wide). The bridge, which
rises over the Bacunayagua river, is on a highway called the Via
Blanca, just on the border between the provinces of Havana and
Matanzas. On one of the gorges that surrounds the bridge there is a
lookout point and cafeteria where delicious cocktails are served.
>From here it is possible to appreciate the valley through binoculars.
Photographs taken from this point are spectacular.
For those who wish to spend the night in this area there is the Casa
del Valle, a pleasant Spanish colonial-style hotel hidden away at the
bottom of the valley. The hotel offers accommodation, rest and a
range of treatments for stress, asthma, obesity and high blood
pressure. The hotel also offers activities for nature lovers, among
them tracking, hiking, riding, cycling, and typical outdoor country
fiestas.
You can get detailed information about the Casa del Valle in the
hotels browser at www.cubalinda.com.
3.0 Travelers Advice
3.1 Where to claim lost or damaged luggage
The airline company is responsible for any damage that your luggage
may suffer during its transportation. In case your bags are lost or
damaged, you should immediately contact the lost luggage desk in the
baggage reception room, where you should fill in a form and attach
your luggage ticket.
If you want to see the report Tips for Travelers to Cuba, go to:
http://www.cubalinda.com/English/TravelAdviser/TravelAdviser.html
4.0 Our Recommendations
4.1 Hotel La Ermita
Hotel La Ermita is located in the beautiful and harmonious valley of
Viqales in the western province of Pinar del Rmo. The hotel is right
in the heart of breathtaking landscape, with mountains that reach to
the sky. In this natural environment you can breathe the scents of
the plants, walk in the open air, go riding, and enjoy heavenly
views. You can also look at the wild local flora and fauna, and visit
farmers' communities to learn about their customs and ways of living.
The hotel has double and single bedrooms looking onto the valley and
the swimming-pool, with air-conditioning, private bathrooms, radio,
TV, safe box and balconies. The restaurant also faces the valley and
offers exquisite sea-food and traditional Cuban cuisine. You can also
savour the delicious Guayabita del Pinar, a local liqueur made from a
tiny guava that grows in the area. You are just in time to make your
reservation! Just write to reserv...@cubalinda.com and you will
receive an answer within 48 hours.
In order to learn about other accommodation in Cuba, please
check the hotels browser at www.cubalinda.com
5.0 Latest News from cubalinda.com
Visit the new Cubalinda.com accommodations proposals in the best
tourist destinations in Cuba: Havana, Varadero, and Jardines del Rey
(Cayo Coco/Cayo Guillermo). Prices are attractive, and include
transfers and city tours! Take advantage and reserve your air ticket.
For US citizens, we can provide round-trip tickets to Havana from
Nassau, Montego Bay, Grand Cayman or Cancun.
Prices, facilities and much more at:
http://www.cubalinda.com/English/Packages/VPackages.asp
Bulletin edited by Joselin Odales
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