Cuba Travel 2016 – Picture Gallery Two

Frank joined me for the last week in Havana and with the Festival just about to begin the city was filled with familiar faces of friends gathering to celebrate the 50-th Anniversary of Cohiba during the 18-th Festival del Habano.

In fact so many people were attending this event that there was a waiting list of a few hundred to get tickets for the Gala dinner despite the huge price increase.

We were more concerned finding the missing turtles at La Fontana so Frank could kick them back into the Koi pond – none was around. Must have been hiding in fear of my Vlaamse buddy.

We sure smoked some fine cigars that week but the sticks I had waiting for the welcome Mojito were finger-burning excellent, as were all the others smoked before & after his arrival.

No complaints about the food either. Great lunch at Santy’s and happy to meet Nicky & Yannick, as well as Jimmy, the Gibraltar guys around Alberto, Keith, Andy, A.Rahim, Mohammed, Hussain, Abdullah et al.

Rahim kindly invited us to an excellent lunch at his Casa in Siboney, more friends attending, excellent cigars, good time and a kiss to Dominique ahead of her winning the Habanos award.

Our cigar reserve was so varied and excellent that we even “forgot” to smoke the single sticks of the new Cohiba 50-th Anniv., the Majestuoso and the Medio Siglo that we received. Guess we will have to do that in Cologne ….

A very rare and precious cigar was gifted by Commander Keith, a cigar with over 100 years on it, mild, faint and exquisite after breakfast and the smallest ring-size I smoked on my trip. Compare it next to the Cohiba 58 rg monsters.

As the Festival started we took off to Playa Larga and the peace and quiet of my friends Homero & Silvia. Ute and Patricia were waiting for us and after a beautiful sunset and cold sun-downer up on Mayito’s roof-top terrace we celebrated my official retirement in style with tasty red snapper and rose LP bubbly followed by spectacular Salomones and Santiago Añejo.

Frank enjoyed riding around Bay of Pigs in a classic vintage bathtub and we visited the Cueva de los Peces and Caleta Buena as well as the swamp coal maker friend – sadly the arms collection at the Invasion museum was closed, weapons being of equal interest to Frank as good cigars we will be back once it opens again. Frank is making enquiries as to how to get the two soviet tanks to Belgium as garden ornaments …

The last days in Havana were once again dedicated to less lethal stuff, meeting Carmen, Paul and Simoncito from Canada and German friends, having the Portmann family in our Casa, relaxing having great food, smoking stellar cigars and finally taking part in a couple of cigar events like the Partagas reception.

We were delighted being invited to the JJ Fox reception at La Guarida’s terrace and our gratitude goes to David, Stuart, Yiorgos and Andy for being such great hosts. Happy to see Punch Joe and Naka as well as John from FL around.

All in all it was another great week of cigars and friendship and loads of fun and good experiences from the first cigar after landing to the last at the VIP lounge before boarding.

Never a dull moment !!

Nino