Back From Cuba – A Preview
3 Dec
Reflecting on these memorable two-and-a-half weeks in Havana, which passed too quick as always when you have fun and good company, I am very happy to state that these were the best days and absolutely the best trip I’ve had so far in my ten years of travelling to Cuba since I started “doing my own thing”.
Truly wonderful days full of laughter, friendship, cigars, rum, tears of joy and camaraderie.
The main positive factor was having “Blanquito” Yannick as my travel companion and house-mate. We not only shared the Casa, we shared our Cuban lives and friends.
Yannick is a great human being blessed with a Cuban soul, the ability to charm, snake, stay calm and talk the local lingo. His mother Juanita, the famed roller, is rightly proud of him.
Another big positive influence was the fact that I only attended two “official” events – the Partagas Welcome dinner night and the private Cigar Sanctum party.
All else was truly private, very much Cuban and we played it by ear.
The visits to the Lung Kong society for the elderly were very valuable and emotional and I wish to thank my Canadian and Hong Kong friends who have donated so generously to this charity in Havana.
We had a wonderful time visiting the El Laguito and La Corona factories and could enjoy the good company of the directors. Our gratitude for the hospitality and time spent with us to both of them and their great staff.
Same gratitude goes to Grecia Quiñones, Partagas LCDH manager who not only performed tremendously against all odds in having the Encuentro de Amigos de Partagas organized, but also gave us time, company and human warmth.
We were happy to meet and spend time with many great friends like Hector Luis, Jose Ernesto Aguilera, Juanita, La China, Hamlet, the Canucks, Hannes, Norbert, Rezha, Ajay, Emrah, John DeCosta and many, many others.
We shared a unique fishing experience from Marina Hemingway to El Morro and back and the tuna caught was again shared at a wonderful dinner for our Cuban friends.
This was a unique trip and I am happy to have shared it with great people.
Here’s a preview of pictures from the posts that will come over the next weeks.
Nino
Great story and pictures Nino! Sorry, I missed it.
great to finally of met you after all of these years reading your thoughts
Take care,
Ryan
Good meeting you Ryan !
Nino
Sounds you had a great trip, I know I did!
Nice shots, looking forward to the details.
Glad to finally meet you, spend some time and have a smoke or two.
Cheers
Mike
Hi Mike,
the pleasure was mine !!
Regards / Nino
Hello Nino,
It was a pleasure meeting you. Looking forward to seeing your posts.
Hope to enjoy another cigar with you in the future.
Cheers,
Peter
Merhaba Peter,
the pleasure was mine and I enjoyed meeting all of you Canuck friends and sharing good time and cigars with you all.
Warmest regards / Nino