For the past week the West Hartford community has hosted a group of 17 Cubans – 12 teens and 5 adults – in the inaugural USA-Cuba Goodwill Tour, a cultural exchange rooted in baseball but that is about much more than just a game.
12 Cuban teens and their coaches and translators have been spending the week in West Hartford and the surrounding area. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
By Ronni Newton
Team Cuba arrived in West Hartford on July 10 for the USA-Cuba Goodwill Tour, and will depart from Conard High School on Tuesday, July 19.
The 12 teens and five adults (coaches and translators) have had a busy week since their arrival, with an opening ceremony, six baseball games, a baseball clinic, trips to Fenway Park and Cooperstown, and visits to the Mark Twain House, Connecticut Science Center, and ESPN. In between, there has been swimming, and lots of eating – although unlike most American teens, the Cuban teens reportedly don’t eat much pasta, nor do they eat much beef.
Despite some language barriers, the Cubans and their host families have had no trouble communicating and hope to be able to stay in touch in the future.
On Monday the Cubans will enjoy a day of fun at Lake Compounce, and Tuesday they will leave West Hartford and will begin the lengthy return to Holguin that involves several bus and plane trips.
Thanks to photographer Gary Cohen for capturing the photographs below of what will surely be lifetime memories for all involved.
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Featured guests at the Rotary Club of West Hartford meeting at the Pond House. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Featured guests at the Rotary Club of West Hartford meeting at the Pond House. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Luis Tiant and Rob DIbble take a selfie at the reception after the opening ceremony on July 11. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Mementoes of the trip to Cooperstown. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
At Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
On the way to Cooperstown. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Warm-up at the clinic on Wednesday. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Bears Smokehouse provided lunch. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Chompers, one of the Yard Goats’ mascots, attended the clinic on Wednesday. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
At the Mark Twain House. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Mark Twain House. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Cool off with a swim at Eisenhower Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Cool off with a swim at Eisenhower Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. West Hartford Havoc at Hall High School. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Cuban and American flags fly at Hall High School. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Bill ‘Spaceman’ Lee and Rick Sanford. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba and West Hartford Havoc. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Hartford at Hyland Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Hartford at Hyland Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Hartford at Hyland Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Hartford at Hyland Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Hartford at Hyland Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Hartford at Hyland Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Hartford at Hyland Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Hartford at Hyland Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Hartford at Hyland Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Hartford at Hyland Park. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Photo credit: Gary Cohen
CT Science Center. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
CT Science Center. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
CT Science Center. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Pizza at Pepe’s. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Pizza at Pepe’s. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Pizza at Pepe’s. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Pizza at Pepe’s. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Visit to ESPN. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Visit to ESPN. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Visit to ESPN. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Visit to ESPN. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Visit to ESPN. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Visit to ESPN. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Newington at Legends Field. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Newington at Legends Field. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Newington at Legends Field. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Newington at Legends Field. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Newington at Legends Field. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Newington at Legends Field. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Newington at Legends Field. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Newington at Legends Field. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Team Cuba vs. Newington at Legends Field. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Closing ceremony and brunch at Hartford Golf Club. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Closing ceremony and brunch at Hartford Golf Club. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Final game for Team Cuba, a 10-8 win over Glastonbury at Riverfront Stadium. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Final game for Team Cuba, a 10-8 win over Glastonbury at Riverfront Stadium. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Final game for Team Cuba, a 10-8 win over Glastonbury at Riverfront Stadium. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Final game for Team Cuba, a 10-8 win over Glastonbury at Riverfront Stadium. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Final game for Team Cuba, a 10-8 win over Glastonbury at Riverfront Stadium. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Final game for Team Cuba, a 10-8 win over Glastonbury at Riverfront Stadium. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Final game for Team Cuba, a 10-8 win over Glastonbury at Riverfront Stadium. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Final game for Team Cuba, a 10-8 win over Glastonbury at Riverfront Stadium. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Final game for Team Cuba, a 10-8 win over Glastonbury at Riverfront Stadium. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
Final game for Team Cuba, a 10-8 win over Glastonbury at Riverfront Stadium. Photo credit: Gary Cohen
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