The Long Trip was revived in 1998 by Fern Khan, then Dean of Continuing Education, and Carol Hillman, a Bank Street alumna and former Board of Trustees member. Attendees to these "new" Long Trips include students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Bank Street. The thirteenth of these trips took participants to Havana, Cuba in 2012.
Visit the 2012 image gallery to see pictures from the trip.
Participants had a glimpse into a glorious past through the once grand, now dilapidated buildings, but also an uncertain future since Cuba is on the edge of another period of social change. They saw exceptional arts in education programs, a superb ballet performance and the result of planned ecotourism for one community. They stayed at the Hotel National which through its photographs clearly showed the early influence of, and link to, the U.S. On the patio in the evenings, there was always great music played by a female quartet. Participants toured Old Havana while receiving a history and political orientation from their guide; marveled at how Jose Fuster totally decorated his community with amazing and creative art forms and colors, even on the benches. At various schools, students welcomed them with performances and they visited Ernest Hemingway’s home, a cigar factory and museums. A great case study of social and political change.
To view a timeline and map of the newer Long Trips, visit the Bank Street Continuing Professional Studies site.
