Mount Students take Historic Journey to Cuba

BRONX, N.Y. - May 17, 2016 - PRLog -- Mount St. Michael Academy partnered with Education First Tours to send one of the first groups of American student travelers to Cuba in April. The group of six students from grades 9 through 12 along with a chaperone, spent nine days exploring Cuba during their Easter Break.

One of the first experiences upon their arrival was feasting on Cuban cuisine from one of the local 'Paladares' (private, family owned restaurants) where tourists and well off Cubans are allowed to eat. The other local restaurants are designated for residents only.

The group started their Cuban adventure with a trip to 'Las Terrazas' a National Reserve for a day of Ziplining and a swim in a local river. They then followed up their explorations with walking tours of a number of different cities and historic places including 'La Vieja Habana' (Old Havana), the cities of Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Santa Clara. One of the most popular tours was the 'Bici-Taxis of Remedios' tour which featured Taxis made of out bicycles. Brandon Diaz '16 said, "It was an enlightening experience."

Other sites included the Cigar Factory, Ernest Hemingway's house, the Sugar Cane Museum, the Palace of Pottery and the National Cuban Circus where they watched children of all ages perform. The group even received lessons on popular dances including Salsa and others dating back to the 1800's. The trip culminated of course, with a baseball game where students played against the coaches of local baseball teams.

The students were surprised to learn that Wi-Fi access became available in the country less than seven months ago. "With such limited and expensive Wi-Fi access, the outside world had never seemed so distant." said Joseph Hernandez, Class of 2016.

Tour Leader, Ms. Amantina Reyes said "Being in Cuba was like being transported back into the 50's. The old cars, neighborhoods, and houses looked just as if they were taken out of a movie scene dating back many, many years. It was so much more than we expected."

About Mount St. Michael Academy

Mount Saint Michael Academy, in the tradition of the Marist Brothers, provides a Catholic, college preparatory education to a brotherhood of young men, grades 6 through 12. Learn more at mtstmichael.org.


About Education First Tours

EF educational travel and cultural exchange programs provide international and domestic travel experiences, hands-on learning and lasting cultural connections for both students and adults.