IV. Last stages. Arrival and repercussions

EXPERIENCES, THE RETURN... AND NEW PROJECTS

   Each new port stood for the confirmation of their learning, or the finding of a complex and unexpected universe. They came into contact with other cultures and languages and discovered surprising things. There was also a clear awareness that the "Marqués de Comillas" was a cultural embassy of the Second Republic and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. The authorities of each country organized receptions, lectures or meetings of various kinds. Cuba, in particular, welcomed the visitors warmly and fruitfully. New York was a whole different story: the visitors were fascinated by the arrival to a new world that they had seen in films and read about in books. 
 
   And, at the end, the return to Barcelona, already thinking about new university trip possibilities. A precise report of the Cruise was prepared, in two languages, to spread the richness of the experience, and the Ministry of Public Instruction became interested in the nature of the trip. New projects were starting to stir: a Cruise around the Far East, scheduled for the summer of 1935, and the visit of students from the Universidad de Puerto Rico (one of the fruits of the Cruise of 1934). The planned date: summer of 1936. The Spanish Civil War dashed this project, like many others.
 
   This exhibition wishes to show that a well-conserved seed can bear fruit. It is in our hands to make it happens.
 
III. IniciHome

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70. Cover of a Curaçao newspaper written in "papeamento", a language that piqued the interest of many of the Humanities students and professors.
71. G. Díaz-Plaja describes in his book "Cartes de navegar" (p. 77) the observations made in Curaçao.
72. The young historian C. Taboada with children.
72a. C. Taboada narrates her impressions about the Curaçao culture.
72b. C. Taboada narrates her impressions about the Curaçao culture.
73. The visit to the Shell refinery described by the engineer M. Taboada (fragment of a letter).
74. A cable from the President of Costa Rica Republic addressed to the participants in the cruise.
75. Draft of the chronicle about the arrival in La Havana, the warm welcome and the projects to make in the isle.
76. Draft of the chronicle about the arrival in La Havana, the warm welcome and the projects to make in the isle.
77. One of the numerous invitations posed to the students during their stay in La Habana.
77a. One of the numerous invitations posed to the students during their stay in La Habana.
78. Aspect of the banquet in the Hotel Nacional, described in the Cuban press.
79. Letter of a member of the Ateneo Canario de La Habana, praising the Catalan independence movement of the time.
80. Another institution honours the students with a lunch in the Tropical Gardens of La Habana.
81.The travellers looking very stylish in a banquet offered by the Spanish Societies in Cuba.
82. The menu offered in "El Mamoncillo" Restaurant.
83. Another souvenir brought by the travellers from Cuba.
84. First impressions of M. Taboada upon arrival in New York.
85. "La Prensa", a Spanish newspaper edited in New York, talks about the University Cruise.
86. Programme handout about an interesting event in New York: Puerto Rican women adhere to the independence movement.
86a. G. Díaz-Plaja and C. Taboada, upon arrival in New York.
86b. G. Díaz-Plaja and Manhattan in the background.
87. Back home, G. Díaz-Plaja wrote "two hands" with C. Taboada a chronicle of the trip in two languages.
88. Back home, G. Díaz-Plaja wrote "two hands" with C. Taboada a chronicle of the trip in two languages.
89. The Rector of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona addresses the President of the Board, informing him about a request for information about the Cruise of 1934 made by the Ministry of Public Instruction.
90. Report about the Cruise in America and proposal for a new University Cruise, around the Far East, for the summer of 1935.
91. Document about the organization of the Puerto Rican students' visit to Spain, scheduled for the summer of 1936.
92. Dr. Ferrer i Cagigal writes to G. Díaz-Plaja talking about the expedition of the Puerto Rican students. Source: Unit of Biographical Studies of the Universitat de Barcelona.
93. Reference to the Cruise of 1934 in the catalogue of Santiago Sobrequés Centenary Exhibition.
94. Dr. Ferrer i Cagigal character study, written by X. Matias-Guiu and R.M. Martí in 1981.