Almacenes Artisan Market and Seaside Excursion

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January 6, 2025, was our fifth day in Cuba. After eating breakfast at the residence in the morning, we were set to go to a market in Old Havana, then a seaside excursion about thirty minutes outside of Havana.

Almacenes Artisan Market

The market, also known as the San José Art Fair, is pictured above. We had about an hour to walk around and buy things. I was fascinated by the talent each individual vendor had. There were immaculate paintings, handmade purses, and jewelry. This place is a great way to connect with local Cuban artists and their culture. But, it isn’t rare to bargain for prices here. Often, what you are asked to pay can be lowered through negotiations because these vendors simply want people to buy their goods. Other goods sold here include souvenirs or clothing. I bought a vintage Cuban soccer jersey, which I am excited to wear!
Upstairs in the market, there are many food options as well. As seen in the picture, my friend, Nuala, and I found a coffee shop. I ordered a latte, and she got an espresso over ice. This was the best coffee I had the entire trip, and it fueled us up for the rest of the day seaside in Guanabo.

Seaside Excursion

Once we arrived at our seaside excursion, we had a lecture inside this beautiful home, pictured above. We discussed the sea life in Cuba with a marine biologist. She shared with us some of the common species, like sharks and fish. We also talked about how a current issue known as global warming can harm sea life. As the oceans get warmer, we see what is called coral bleaching, where coral reefs lose their colors, leading to starvation and death. This affects all ecosystems that rely on coral reefs to live. As the reefs suffer, so do the food webs in the oceans, creating a mass negative effect on all sea life. Another topic I found interesting in this lecture was about sustainability in Cuba. Cuba has taken legal measures to protect its environment. Most recently, in 2019, they updated their constitution to reinforce climate goals and further protect ecosystems from things such as illegal fishing. I found this information very interesting to compare to the United States, which has minimal legal protections for its environment. Following this lecture, we enjoyed a delicious lunch with rice, beans, pork, lobster, chicken, plantains, and salad.

Then we had a couple of hours to take in the environment. As seen above, the house was right on the beach, providing a beautiful sight! We got to swim in the ocean and play different games. This was the most relaxing part of the trip, and allowed me to further connect with Cuba and the people sharing this experience with me. Eventually, we drove home to the residence for a nice dinner together and spent the rest of the evening further exploring Havana as a group.