The DER below is from the expedition to Cuba that began on December 21, 2016.
You can tell a lot about a culture through its music, and we have learned firsthand why Cuba is so well known in that arena. The music itself is lively, with stringed instruments, percussion, and sometimes horns, the songs are sung with gusto, and the dancing is energetic and sensuous.
When we awoke this morning, groups opted to visit the Columbus Cemetery, the Museum of Art, or spend one last morning relaxing in the beautiful gardens of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba. Even though we were doing different activities, the sounds of last night’s private performance by El Septeto Nacional, a Grammy-winning Cuban band with a 90-year history, still played in our heads. It had been a wonderful performance on the rooftop of the Hotel Lincoln, with dancers doing the cha-cha-cha and salsa, and the cityscape of Havana at night surrounding us.
After the morning activities, we boarded busses to make the journey to Cienfuegos and Panorama II, our home for the next seven days. It was a beautiful day and we watched the city landscape transition into the countryside, getting our first glimpse of Cuba of Havana. A mid-journey stop for lunch took us to Finca Fiesta Campesina for lunch and another performance of traditional Cuban music. The most impressive of the group was Señor Reyes, and 87-year old stand up bass player, with shining eyes and a contagious smile.
Once we arrived to Cienfuegos, we were treated to a concert from a local choir, Cantadores de Cienfuegos. Their songs ranged from traditional to contemporary Cuban arrangements as well as songs from the 1600’s and an American favorite, Oh Shenandoah. The choir formed in 1962 and has traveled through Europe and once to the United States performing. While you would never know it from their angelic voices in such beautiful harmony, this particular group of individuals has only been performing together for four months.
As the sun began to descend toward the horizon, we boarded our home for the next week, Panorama II, and settled in to our cabins. Many of us watched the sunset from the aft deck, ready for the days ahead, exploring Cuba’s Caribbean shores.
