2011/03 – Cuba 2011 – Introduction And Picture Gallery

6 Mar

 

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With Abel Esposito at Partagas after our arrival holding a big Culebra

March 2011

During my visit to Singapore last December, my friend Jimmy Ng suggested we visit Cuba outside the Festival circus madness and tour the island by ourselves with good long-time Cuban friends.

We had discussed doing this same trip years ago but it had never been possible – this year it became a reality.

Jimmy and I spent 2 weeks in Cuba, travelling the countryside, horse-riding in the Viñales valley and watching the sun rise over it, drinking coffee in an old coffee plantation, feeling, touching and smelling the tobacco leaves while spending time with possibly the best Cuban tobacco grower Sr Francisco Milian aka “Pancho Cuba”, having countryside meals, smoking the best cigars available from Cohiba 1966 to MC GR to Laguito Nr 1 to BHK 56 while riding in a van full of cigars, aged rum and Cuban music.

We drove the boring and straight-as-an-arrow highway from Havana to Cienfuegos and the crazy, disoriented and dangerous-at-night country roads at the foot of the Sierra del Escambray by the sea to Trinidad led by a “crazy horse”.

We shared Rum in the patios of Trinidad, climbed the Torre Iznaga and were cooled by fresh Guarapo juice.

We drove through the Zapata swamp to see the invasion museum at Playa Giron in the Bay of Pigs and up to Playa Larga and past … “Central Australia” … before returning to our beloved Old Havana and “El Templete” by the harbour.

In Cienfuegos we enjoyed the sleepy ambience of Sunday afternoon in a colonial relic, a city so beautiful, clean and welcoming as I had always dreamed Cuba to be.

While in Havana during the XIII Festival del Habano we did not attend any official event but met friends and attended privately organized affairs.

One such private event was the now traditional vintage cigar tasting organized by Alex Iapichino, the fourth after El Laguito, Partagas and Plaza Vieja, in which we tasted a 1974 Rafael Gonzales Corona Extra to 1974 Macallan Single Malt courtesy of Jimmy Ng.

This event took place at the Hostal Conde de Villanueva and attracted respected connoisseurs such as Simon Chase, James Suckling, Jose Ilario, Salvatore Parisi, Deborah Zulueta, Dr Luis Sorinas, Colin Ganley and many other international cigar lovers.

Apart from a small private rooftop dinner at the Centro Asturiano Prado 309 where Jimmy Ng and James Suckling were our guests of honour, these were the only events I attended.

A first-ever baseball game between Cuban rollers and International merchants organized the the Fox Bros. of Ireland was a smashing success. The Cubans won hands-down ( and cigar in mouth ) 22-6 and it was my first and best baseball game ever.
Thanks Andy, Yorgos, Rob, Stuart, Harry et al.

My most memorable event was celebrating my birthday at El Laguito, Cohiba in my mouth and goose bumps all over as staff there sang happy birthday for me. This must certainly be every cigar lovers dream and I had it fulfilled.

We met many good friends and good people. We witnessed how Cubans will always help and assist each other due to the many hardships they suffer. We will never forget “Caballo Loco” and the 85 crazy kilometres he took care of us.

It was impressive to be along Cubans, looking at things their way and being infected by their sense of reality and joy of life.

Just the four of us, two Cubans and 2 foreigners – we became one and we felt real pain when saying farewell after sharing all this time together.

Muchas Gracias !

Back in Germany we toured the Mosel valley visiting the best Riesling estates and enjoying excellent hospitality from their owners.

We had good home-made Pasta at Massimo’s and a “piggy” dinner at the regular pharmacy cigar meet courtesy of Andreas before Jimmy flew back home.

An unforgettable trip – I wish to thank Jimmy Ng for insisting on making it and for offering me a chance to see the other side.

Nino

I will post some text and many pictures in the coming days on this fantastic trip.

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Cueto at La Cabaña
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With Cueto at La Cabaña
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With Santos & Sr Trelles at Comodoro
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With Armando Osvalles, Director, El Laguito
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Celebrating my birthday at El Laguito, 16.02.

 

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Celebrating my birthday at El Laguito, 16.02.
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Birthday lunch – Lobster, Champagne and cigars with Jimmy at El Templete
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Relaxing at Hotel Moka
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Asking directions
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Cafe Cubano & Trinidad at the old Cafetal Buenavista coffee plantation

 

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Dawn over the Viñales valley
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Dawn over the Viñales valley
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Guajiro in the Viñales valley
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Horse riding in the Viñales valley
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Morning breaking in the Viñales valley

 

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With Pancho Cuba
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With Pancho Cuba
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With Pancho Cuba
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At the Pancho Cuba tobacco curing barns
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A very happy Jimmy at Pancho Cuba

 

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Sadly missed
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A prayer for Don Alejandro at Vegas Robaina
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A coffee with Hirochi Robaina
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First guests at Paladar El Pinar / Robaina
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With the cook – best farm fresh food in Cuba

 

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Finding our way
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Dancing to the music in the streets of Trinidad
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Trinidad
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Torre Iznaga – Valle de los Ingenios
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Fresh warm bread in Cienfuegos

 

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Old Quintero Factory in Cienfuegos
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Private dinner at Centro Asturiano Prado 309
Jimmy Ng with James Suckling and Alex Iapichino
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With James Suckling
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With Ian Pepper at the Hostal Conde de Villanueva
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Private Tasting of 1974 RG Coronas Extras and 1974 Macallan
Hostal Conde de Villanueva

 

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Private Tasting of 1974 RG Coronas Extras and 1974 Macallan
Hostal Conde de Villanueva
Alex Iapichino & Jimmy Ng
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Private Tasting of 1974 RG Coronas Extras and 1974 Macallan
Hostal Conde de Villanueva
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Private Tasting of 1974 RG Coronas Extras and 1974 Macallan
Hostal Conde de Villanueva
Simon Chase & Alex
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Private Tasting of 1974 RG Coronas Extras and 1974 Macallan
Hostal Conde de Villanueva
Deborah Zulueta
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Private Tasting of 1974 RG Coronas Extras and 1974 Macallan
Hostal Conde de Villanueva
Perfect Trio

 

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Private Tasting of 1974 RG Coronas Extras and 1974 Macallan
Hostal Conde de Villanueva
Perfect Duo
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Private Tasting of 1974 RG Coronas Extras and 1974 Macallan
Hostal Conde de Villanueva
Saludos James !
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Morning Trinidad on my terrace in Trinidad
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Trinidad
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Trinidad

 

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Trinidad
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Trinidad
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Cienfuegos
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Cienfuegos

 

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Cienfuegos
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Bay of Pigs
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Central Australia – In Cuba
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Habanos SA VP Maique at Melia Habana raffle
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Portmann dinner Hostal Valencia – Marc Portmann & 2010 Portmann-Tour book

 

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Buenos Dias Cuba – H.Upmann Half Corona
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With Urs Portmann & Marc Portmann – Habana Libre raffle
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Buenas tardes Cuba – Partagas Ser E Nr 2
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Hamlet, Alex & Nino – Guanabacoa baseball stadium
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The Cuban team of rollers

 

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Nakamura firing up the rollers
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With Miguel Brown – Guanabacoa
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BBQ with Dr Luis Sorinas
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PS E Nr 2 & Mero
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Living well

 

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Jimmy with Massimo in the village
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With Andreas at the pharmacy – early morning coffee & cigar
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Tasting Mosel Rieslings
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Lunch with Mr Haag at Brauneberg

 

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Carnival Bretzel in Mainz
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Spiessbraten at the Pharmacy
Copyright 03-2011 © Ninos Flying Cigar
Copyright Nino

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