After receiving a tour of Santer\u00eda altars and having the opportunity to walk around a house-temple, we had the chance to view and take part in their sacred ceremony. There are many elements to this ritual, largely revolving around music, dance, chants, prayers, and offerings. I was moved by the amount of joy and passion emanating from the space at which we were gathered. I happened to be sitting in the front row during the ceremony and got invited up to the central area to dance with the Orisha of youth and mischief! <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was time to hop back on the bus to attend our 1PM lunch reservation at Aj\u00edaco Cafe in Coj\u00ecmar. This was our first full sit-down meal as a group, and one of the restaurant\u2019s staff members prepared us for the multi-course meal ahead by explaining the order of the meal and different options. The main appetizer was the famous Aj\u00edaco stew, a dish that showcases Cuban cultural fusion by blending a mix of meats with a variety of root vegetables and a sofrito base. The main entree consisted of chicken, beef, pork, rice, beans, and salad. Dessert featured \u201cdulce de coco con queso,\u201d meaning \u201csweetened coconut with cheese.\u201d This was an interesting, yet tasty combination! And, as a coffee connoisseur myself, perhaps my favorite part of the meal was being able to watch an older woman brew hot coffee for us, preparing it as they do in the mountains of Cuba. This coffee preparation method involves a Moka pot and results in a concentrated and strong brew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just a few minutes down the street from\u00a0Aj\u00edaco\u00a0Cafe, was JJ Brothers Garden\u2014an urban farm that provides much of the restaurants\u2019 fresh, organic produce!\u00a0As a Climate Change & Sustainability major, our visit to this urban farm was one of the parts of the trip I was most looking forward to.\u00a0I was deeply inspired by their anti-pesticide,\u00a0all-organic approach consisting of a diverse mix of plants\u00a0and produce, a composting system, and the reuse of materials. For example, plastic and glass bottles were used as a sturdy structure to separate\u00a0plant\u00a0beds. Additionally, in each plant bed, there were plastic water bottles painted a certain\u00a0vibrant\u00a0color that the farmers would\u00a0put animal fat on to attract and\u00a0eliminate\u00a0pests\u00a0(in a natural way).\u00a0Throughout our tour of the farm, we got to sample fresh herbs like oregano and rosemary, and even coffee beans!\u00a0This experience allowed me to draw parallels between urban agriculture efforts I have\u00a0witnessed\u00a0at UMass Lowell and\u00a0beyond, re-emphasizing\u00a0the\u00a0positive\u00a0environmental and food security\u00a0benefits\u00a0these projects have on local communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coj\u00edmar is a historical fishing village that provided a contrast between the hustle and bustle of life in Centro Habana, where we spent the morning. In Coj\u00edmar, many people were enjoying the boardwalk and playing music. We visited a 17th<\/sup> century fort and Ernest Hemingway\u2019s memorial. We would later learn that Hemingway based characters from Old Man and the Sea <\/em>on local fishermen from Coj\u00edmar, with whom he spent much of his time. Hemingway also docked his famous fishing boat, El Pilar,<\/em> in Coj\u00edmar\u2019s harbor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our welcome dinner at El\u00a0Idilio\u00a0was the perfect ending to a great first full day.\u00a0Appetizers featured foods such as: croquetas, empanadas,\u00a0jam\u00f3n, and queso.\u00a0For the main meal, I chose \u201cla\u00a0ropa\u00a0vieja\u201d a classic, traditional Cuban dish that I was excited to try upon my arrival in the country.\u00a0I was so impressed by the quality, depth of flavor, and presentation of the food! And of course, no welcome dinner is complete without a rich,\u00a0decadent\u00a0slice of chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice\u00a0cream.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saturday, January 3, marked\u00a0the\u00a0first full day of our study abroad experience in Cuba. This day would certainly set the tone for an exciting week ahead, as we learned about culture, cuisine,\u00a0and visited a small town called\u00a0Coj\u00edmar!\u00a0The day ended with a … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.uml.edu\/cuba-winter-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/229\/2026\/01\/IMG_7893.jpeg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.uml.edu\/cuba-winter-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/229\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-5.09.01\u202fPM.png\")
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.uml.edu\/cuba-winter-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/229\/2026\/01\/IMG_7614.jpeg\")