Cuba, Matanzas back to Havana

The Sanborns' Trip, Matanzas back to Havana

Matanzas is a major sugar producing area of Cuba. During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was also a primary exporter of tobacco and coffee, both products today for which Cuba is famous. Because of the sugar plantations, the slave trade was also important to Matanzas in the early days. Because of that early wealth, Matanzas was known as the Athens of Cuba.

Matanzas is only 100 Kilometers east of Havana. The name Matanzas means "slaughter" and probably refers to the way the local indian population was dispatched. It may have also come from the fact that Matanzas was a major cattle processing center as well.

The Center Augusto Coto is the editorial house of Cuban Christian Publications. From here, many of the periodicals, song books, and publications are created.

Matanzas is a beautiful part of the country.

The Theological Seminary of Matanzas lies on a very picturesque hill overlooking the city.

Back to Havana, the city that never sleeps (at least we could hear people in the streets all night long). With very little air conditioning and no real problem of flying insects, most places we stayed had no screens (or glass) in the windows, just louvers to shut if it is raining too hard. With fans running all night, it did make for more comfortable sleeping.

In Havana, we met with the leaders of the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC). On the left is Dr. Reinerio Arca Valentin, President of the CIC. Beside him is Rev. Miguel Marcial, general secretary. We had some wonderful discussions with them about the role of the church in Cuba.

Outside the monument to Jose Marti is Carmelo Alvarez, dean of students at Christian Theological Seminary, Rhode Gonzalez, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC), and Ormara Nolla, VP of the CIC. Carmelo was our tour leader and Ormara was able to travel the country with us and was wonderful company all along.

The monument to Jose Marti was actually built before the Castro revolution. Inside is a museum where Carmelo reads to us a letter to home from Frank Pais.

Our translator Eduardo Gonzalez and Torre

From inside the San Carlos Seminary, Columbus lands on the new world.

The Spanish left a wonderful legacy of churches.

Next was to visit two great projects in Cuba, The Green Medicine farm, and to see a great group of kids, "Generation with Purpose".

So, from here, now go to Two Great Projects, outside of Havana.

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