Conference Attendance

Conference Center

The reason for this trip was Scott’s participation in an Engineering of the Americas meeting.  It took place at the city’s conference center:

Part of the American delegation.

The opening “reception” for the thousand or so attendees was actually a sit-down affair at which we were each served a plate of appetizers, including pork cracklings, pigs’ feet, fish croquets, cheese and cold cuts (salami and baloney), and a piece of cake.  We had our choice of beverages:  beer, lemon-lime soda, or a local cola.  After the plates were cleared, the bar opened and free rum and beer were abundant, which members of our group enjoyed.  The only thing in short supply here appears to be water.

Classroom Building

Students at the university.

Several of our group visited a technical university, Jose Antonio Echeverria Higher Polytecnnic Institute (CUJAE).  We were hosted by two women attending the congress who were faculty members from the campus. 

 

Jose Marti, father of the revolution

We thought we would get a tour, but instead we were packed into a room, along with congress attendees from Mexico and Costa Rica, where we watched a video about the school, received a book about “The Cuban Five” (reportedly political prisoners, but tried and convicted as spies by a US court), and listened to lots of speeches (all through translators).  We dubbed it our propaganda component.

We were not allowed out of the sight of our hosts and were transported back to our hotel as soon as the activities were over.

The trip did allow us to see some of the city we had not otherwise seen.

Workers being transported in the back of truck.

One of many old American cars on the streets.

Houses and sign to the airport.