![[image of PU Class of 1960 website logo]](../images/newlogo.gif "PU Class of 1960 website logo")
CLASS OF 1960 TRIP TO CUBA
by Philip Detjens
The Class of 1960 made history by being the first Princeton Class to hold a mini-reunion in Cuba (Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad) from October 20-27, 2012.
Many Class members remembered seeing Fidel Castro, after his forces overthrew then President Batista on December 31, 1958, when he came to Princeton to give a speech at the Woodrow Wilson School in April, 1959, in our Junior year. Others were involved in the Bay of Pigs invasion while serving in the Navy.
A list of Members of the Group of Thirty and the trip's itinerary follows:
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Mr. James Beardsley Mrs. Ellen Gibson Buffalo, NY, US Mr. James Bromley Ms. Joan Bromley Bryn Mawr, PA, US Ms. Mary Ellen Daly Shelter Island, NY Mr. Philip Detjens Sheffield, MA, US Mr. Lee Fuller New York, NY, US Mr. Frederick Hilles Ms. Jane Osgood West Windsor, VT, US Mr. Ronald Katsky Los Angeles, CA, US Mr. Peter Larr Ms. Rosamond Larr Rye, NY, US Mr. Garland Lasater Mrs. Mollie Lasater Ft. Worth, TX, US |
Mr. Paul Mecray Mrs. Ella Mecray Bryn Mawr, PA, US Mr. Harold Medina Mrs. Pamel Medina Rose Valley, PA, US Mr. Frank Montgomery Mrs. Mary Montgomery Edmonds, WA, US Mr. Theodore Peyton Mrs. Elizabeth Peyton Princeton, NJ, US Mrs. Georgeanne Rousseau Mr. Jean Rousseau Stockbridge, MA, US Ms. Victoria Sorrell New York, NY The Hon. Paul Taylor Mrs. Dorcas Taylor Newport, RI, US Mr. Peter Williamson Bronxville, NY, US Samuel Winn Mrs. Linda Winn Hollywood, FL, US |
October 20, 2012
7AM -Meet in the Lobby of the Miami International Airport Hotel to receive travel documents. Rumors are that Fidel Castro has died. ( Later proved unfounded).
11 AM- Arrive at Jose Marti airport in Havana and check into Saratoga Hotel.
4 PM- Lecture by Princeton Professor Jorge de los Santos followed by rooftop reception and dinner at local restaurant, El Aljibe .Celebration of Princeton's football victory over previously undefeated Harvard, 29-24.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
AM- Lecture and walking tour of Old Havana- focusing on its four main squares-Plaza deArmas, Plaza de San Francisco de Asis, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza de la Catedral.
Lunch at a paladar, La Monda Cubana.
PM- Private concert in the hall of a 17th century chapel with four singers accompanied by five musicians performing music from the middle ages to 19 century.
Dinner at a paladar, La Maraleja.
Monday, October 22, 2012
AM- View rehearsal of the Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba at Teatro National.
Tour the Musea de la Revolution which documents the founding of the current government.
Lunch at Dona Carmella.
PM- Trip to "The Alley", a two block area decorated by grafitti paintings.
Visit to the School of the Arts to see the unique architecture of its buildings and the art work of its students.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Morning lecture by a local professor on U.S. - Cuba relations.
Drive to the outskirts of Havana to tour Ernest Hemingway's house and see his fishing boat, Pilar.
Lunch followed by a tour of the University of Havana.
Evening- Reception and dinner at the Ludwig Foundation, an organization which assists young artists.
Performance at the Buena Vista Club.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Depart for Playa Giron, the landing site for the Bay of Pigs. Tour museum dedicated to the Cuban victory.
Lunch in Cienfuegos at La Union Restaurant.
Tour of the town square and then view the art works of students at the Graphic Society of Cienfuegos.
Check into the Jagua Hotel.
PM- Concert of Cantores de Cienfuegos Singers, a choir of twenty singers performing in a Museum Hall.
Dinner at a paladar, Villa Lagarto. Hurricane Sandy crossed Cuba just west of Guantanamo Bay during the night.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
AM- Drive to Trinidad. Hurricane Sandy is evident. Heavy showers.
Tour city square and visit Museo Romantico, a former residence.
Lunch at a paladar, Restaurant Sol.
PM- Drive to Havana. (four hours)
Friday, October 26, 2012
AM- Lecture by former Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister on "Current Cuba Reality".
Tour of the National Museum of Fine Arts given by the current Director.
Lunch at Hotel National.
PM- Tours of two artists studios.
Visit to Ceramics Museum followed by a reception and performance by a classical guitarist.
Farewell dinner at a paladar, San Christobal. Sang Old Nassau, gave the Tiger Cheer.
Saturday, October 27
Depart for the Airport at 8am. Fly back to Miami.
Jim Beardsley writes:
We all had a great time during our brief visit and learned a lot about the country which you could only understand by being there. It is indeed a third world country in many ways, but there seems to be a lot of pride among the inhabitants. Raul Castro is currently introducing bits and pieces of free enterprise and private ownership, but Cuba is still very much a socialist country.
I was a little skeptical about the food we would encounter, but found it to be one of the best parts of the trip. One reason is the fact that the government realizes that tourism is perhaps their most important product, so they treat the visitors very well while the typical Cuban gets along on pennies for food. One example of the emerging private enterprise is private restaurants which are usually located in former mansions and compare favorably with some of the best eating establishments in the US. We had several of our meals in those locations.
Pictures from the trip
The first two pictures are from the party on the last night in the bar of the Hotel Saratoga. Note the various enthusiastic embraces of large bottles.
Click on any image to see a larger one.
 BACK ROW Peyton, Fuller, Beardsley, Rousseau, Lasater |
 Classmates with spouses/partners/others |
 photo credit: Peter Larr |
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 photo credit: Roz Larr |
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 Peter Williamson, Paul Taylor, and Jamie Bromley |
 Lee Fuller and Friend |
 Dorcas Taylor with the “Biggest Capitalist in Cuba” and his 1956 Chevy |
 Frank and Mary Montgomery with a Cuban Artist |
 Jamie Bromley |
 Interesting Flag |
 Sunday book sale in Havana (Banyan tree in background) |
 Street festival with stilts and music |
 Graffiti on site of building collapse (typical scene in Havana) |
 1950’s cab in Havana (there were many of these) |
 Jim Beardsley and Ellen Gibson (Jim’s wife) with Havana cab |
 Che Guevara (and Cuban flag) on side of building in Monument Square in Havana |
 Ron Katsky (white spots are from sun) |
 Ernest Hemingway’s desk and typewriter where he wrote some of his works |
 Front door of Heminway’s house outside Havana |
 Inscription celebrating victory of Revolutionaries in Bay of Pigs museum |
 Pete Larr talking to mule in Trinidad, Cuba |
 Ellen Gibson bargains with mule owner |
 Typical Havana Spanish style buildings in disrepair |
 Ted Hilles and Jane Osgood |
 Statue in Havana depicting the emptiness of modern life |
 President Phil Detjens addresses the group at the final dinner |
Marguerite Vera of the University’s Class Affairs Committee was also on the trip, and has a large collection of pictures here .