Letter from Jacques Trudeau in which the Secretary General of UNIMA talks all members of UNIMA about traveling to Cuba for the UNIMA Council Meeting in Havana, April 22 nd – 23 rd – 24 th of 2014. A perfect opportunity to meet the puppets of Cuba and throughout the three Americas, as well as the charms of this island which begins to change and open to the world.
Dear UNIMA Members,
for the first time in its history, UNIMA will hold its Council Meeting in Latin America. I had the opportunity, last spring, to meet the President of the Cuban Art Council, Mrs Gisela Gonzalez, and the members of the Organizing Committee directed by Ruben Dario Salazar, which is also UNIMA-Cuba’s national secretary. Some of you had the chance to meet him at Chengdu and assist to its presentation. Believe me, it will be an event not to be missed!
The meeting place of all the UNIMA Councillors will be at the Convention Center, Plaza América, in front of the gorgeous Varadero Beach. The address is: Highway South kilometre 11, Varadero, Cuba.
The dates are April 22 nd -23rd -24th of 2014. The International Puppet Festival organised around the Council Meeting will be hold at 20 kilometres from Varadero, in the city of Matanzas, considered as the Cuban capital of puppetry.
Plenary Hall Plaza America.
To get the inner transportation included, it’s better to book with the agency Gaviota Tour (See more below. )An additional amount of 200 USD, covering the cost of the dossier for the meetings and cost of shows will also be perceived by the Gaviota Agency in addition to your hotel cost.I encourage all the UNIMA Councillors and UNIMA members to underline these dates on their calendar.
Please attend this important meeting and discover the International Festival called “Taller internacional de Títeres de Matanzas”, celebrating 15 years of existence.
Its activities will be presented from April 19thto 27th. An excursion day to the city of La Habana, on April 20th, will also be included in the package Gaviota with presentation of a show. Please visit the UNIMA-Cuba website and read their blog concerning this unique event at: http://titerescuba.wordpress.com and http://www.facebook.com/unimacuba?ref=hl
I suggest that you arrive on April 19th at Varadero international airport during the day, since the opening is that same night and the excursion to la Havana is the day after, April 20th.
Jacques Trudeau con la administradora de Plaza América
Details of the offer made by Gaviota Agency:
I’m giving you at the end of this newsletter the details of the offer made by the Gaviota Agency recommended by the Art Council and the Cuban organisers.
It offers:
1) A choice of 3 hotels by the beach of different price range with 3 meals and unlimited drinks,
2) Transportation by bus to the meeting and to the festival in Matanzas and
3) A day trip to La Habana that includes a show.
The important thing is to reserve directly with Gaviota Agency. Please book a flight to the Varadero International Airport. (If possible don’t take a flight to La Habana Airport, it will complicate things for you).
Contact:
Osvaldo Morán Rubio / Eloyde Guevara Hernández /Jose
Dpto. Comercial Gaviota Tours Varadero
Calle 13 entre 2da y 4ta, Varadero, Cuba.
Telf:(53 45) 611844
Fax: (53 45) 667325
Email:
josek2h.var@repgavtour.co.cu
jgonzalez@thecubantravelcompany.com
Parque de la Libertad de Matanzas.
You could book with another agency and find a price a little bit lower, but transportations to the meeting place and to the city of Matanzas will not be included. You will find the taxis quite expensive in Cuba and buses from Varadero to Matanzas don’t always go to the center of the city where the shows will take place
Concerning the hotels, I visited the 3 hotels recommended by Gaviota Agency in Varadero and the 3 of them are situated directly by the beach and are of an excellent quality.
The hotel Melia Varadero is just by the Meeting place, the 2 others are at around 5 kilometers from it. Free buses will transport you, if you book with Gaviota. For more information, see http://www.unimacuba2014.info/
