Who wants to go to Cuba? As part of an entrepreneurial/cultural exchange program, the Concord Chamber of Commerce invites anyone interested in learning more about Cuba can join them on a 10-day excursion, March 15-23, 2025.
You will be examining Cuba’s entrepreneurial business, art, culture, gastronomy, dance, music and history in this “support the Cuban people” program. You will travel to and be based in Havana, but will also explore Vinales Valley and Las Terrazas to the west. Learn of the wave of new privately owned restaurants or “paladars” in Cuban’s homes.
The Chamber is working through facilitator Paul Bardwill of Global Educational Facilitation. Bardwill has been traveling to Cuba designing cultural programs for universities, hospitals and specialized groups since 1998. His passion is to give Americans the opportunity to formulate their own opinion of the forbidden island called Cuba. He has unparalleled contacts in Cuba and finds nuggets of enjoyment in Cuba with each trip, whether it be historical, musical, sports, or dance.
Travelers will fly from Miami to Havana and spend seven nights with selected Cuban family stay. The program includes all the excursions, all breakfast, all lunches, arrival dinner, departure dinner. The only thing it doesn’t include are some dinners.
“People are going to have the opportunity to live with a Cuban family who is an entrepreneur, to understand what that person is going through to put a nice breakfast on the table. You will meet people on the street, see cultural activities, for example, the Cuban Ballet, one of the top ballets in the world,” Bardwill says.
There is much to learn about this forbidden island country. Cuba boasts some of the best salsa dancers, singers, musicians, anywhere according to Bardwill.
“They have very sophisticated medical advancements. They have a free educational system that works. They have a free medical system that works. But they are struggling. Tourism just hasn’t completely recovered since Covid.”
Most of your needs are covered in the program’s costs. “Understand, traveling to Cuba, you have to bring cash because there is no teller machine in Cuba that works for a US bank due to the embargo. You will need money for five dinners. Some people will want to buy cigars. Some people might want to buy some harder rum. Bardwill recommends you bring $500 to $1000 of spending money.”
The program costs $2975. But hurry, deadline to sign-up is October 15. Eligible applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited.
For more details contact William Chan at the Concord Chamber of Commerce at 925-685-1181 or email membership@concordchamber.com.