S panish study trip to Cuba
Joining the Cuba trip was an experience I will never forget. We
visited three very different parts of the country: Havana, Trinidad
and Viñales. In Havana, the capital city, we enjoyed a walking tour,
including a visit to the fortress known as El Morro and San Carlos
castle. We also spent an afternoon volunteering in an outdoor
sport complex where we helped create a new basketball court and
made friends with the local children, teaching them songs and
dances...’flossing’ was a particular favourite!
On our journey to Trinidad, in the centre of the island, we visited
the Ché Mausoleum and the Tren Blindado and, with the help of
our tour guide Cinthia, we learnt all about the Cuban Revolution:
the six-year armed revolt fought by Fidel Castro and Ché Guevara
against the authoritarian government led by President Fulgencio
Batista. It was interesting to understand the Cuban perspective on
their history as it has influenced the way they live. In Trinidad,
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I celebrated my birthday and had an unforgettable day: a guided
hike in the Topes de Collantes national park, a swim in the
freshwater natural pool of one of the huge waterfalls, and the
afternoon was spent at the Playa Ancón, a beautiful Caribbean
beach where we relaxed as the sun was setting. That evening
we had our own private rooftop dinner with a band who played
‘Cumpleaños Feliz’ as I was surprised with a cake!
Our journey to Viñales, in the west of Cuba, was just as exciting
as the previous day. Viñales was so different to our previous two
destinations. Whilst Havana is a busy city, and Trinidad a colourful
town, Viñales is a beautiful old town encircled by huge mountains.
Here we spent the day on a gorgeous Caribbean beach and had
a morning hike in the valley, including a visit to a tobacco farm.
We took small rowing boats out on a huge lake and watched
hundreds of flamingos.
TRIPS, CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES