2021- October – Our Annual Portmann Cigars Visit

12 Oct

It is a ritual by now that Frank, Jos and I take a yearly trip down to Switzerland to visit our good friend Mr Portmann. Last year was the only exception due to the freaking pandemic. We used to drive in Jos’ old VW Bus, but that bus has been retired by now … so Read more…

2021 June – Cigar Dinner Aroma De Cuba Cigar Club In Gent Belgium

18 Jun

I had heard a lot about the Aroma de Cuba cigar club, after all most of my good Belgian friends are members there and we had met in Havana, Kortrijk and other places individually but I had never attended a cigar meeting with them. So when my buddy Frank told me about the first ADC Read more…

Looking for Yankee Mike – A retired Lufthansa B-747-200

28 Sep

In normal times this would have been a weekend trip to Switzerland to visit Portmann cigars – the usual VW annual vacation bus trip… In normal times – nowadays it is hard to predict what is normal and where you can travel. Switzerland won’t let Belgians in without a 14 day Quarantine, so it made Read more…

Almost Back To Normal – Except For The Masks – At Chateau Henri LCDH Cologne

1 Jul

Last time Frank, Jay and I met in Cologne at the LCDH for cigars was in February. In the meantime I was supposed to have flown to Havana and back, visited northern Italy and Spain and we would have met again a few times – all cancelled due to “stay at home and be safe” Read more…

Cuba, China, Friends, Karma and Covid-19 – A Tale Of Friendship And Humanity

6 Apr

In February last year in Havana with my Scottish mate John Bongo we had one of those pleasant and nice experiences that travellers have when venturing out of their comfort zone – which I and my friends always have as we do venture out. After a good dinner with friends at Destino we were ready Read more…

March 2020 – Cancelling Cuba – STAY AT HOME !!

19 Mar

Last November after returning from Cuba I booked my next HAV flight for 19th March – today. I’d be in Havana usually February for the Habanos Festival, but after 15 years I felt I don’t need another one – so I thought March would be quieter. After returning from Hong Kong last December, the news Read more…

Picking Up The Cabs – A Visit To MRN In Hong Kong

29 Dec

I had two nice Cabs waiting for me in Hong Kong and if that was not incentive enough for a trip there, my friend Javi was also flying there for a quick business trip …. Javi and I have shared a few trips to Havana and the fun they entail so what better than having Read more…