DarkSky Posted April 17, 2011 Posted April 17, 2011 When all was said and done, I came back with 90 cigars. 2x 25ct boxes, a few 10ct boxes, and some 5's. I brought back 2 boxes of 25, my gf brought back the rest. Never had to show any paperwork leaving Cuba. Which is good because it was impossible to get receipts for the 10ct boxes. Pretty much only 25ct boxes would they give a receipt. I even pestered one clerk at the yellow LCDH in the pictures. Canada customs never gave me any hassle. It was actually a lot EASIER getting back IN to Canada than it was leaving! Talk about difference in airport security though. Canada customs weighed everythign including carry-on down to the gram. Cuba airport just threw my checked luggage on the scale (which had no readout), then when I went to put on my carry on the guy looked at me and just waved me away and shook his head with a "phhhh... don't worry about it" and gave me a sticker to put on my carry on myself. And the whole time I was REALLY worried down there that my carry on would be over weight with the 2 boxes of cigars + my camera gear. To the point that I even put 2 of my camera lenses in my gf's purse since they don't weigh them. I believe my Monte #2s were 53 pesos (CUC) for 10. And since the peso was 1.0072 Cdn dollars, it was basically at par with Canadian dollars. My boxes of Partagas D4 (25) + Montecristo Petite Edmondo (25) came to about $272 together. I don't even want to know what they'd go for here in Canada.... Note: Havana was *AMAZING*. I can't believe how anyone goes to Cuba and does not do at least one day in that city! I bought my 2x 25ct boxes at an LCDH in Havana... but unfortunately we missed the Partagas cigar factory tour as we had to be there before 11am for it. The hotel lobby pic a few shots down is the cigar shop inside Hotel Tuxpan. Mostly Cohiba, Monte's, and R&J's in there. Lotsa rum. The picture of the mojito in the glass is on top of Ernest Hemmingway's hotel roof top (Hotel Ambos Mundos). We went up there, had a cigar with a strong mojito to live music and a view across parts of Old Havana. Great stuff. For all shots of my Cuba vacation with lots of Havana, Matanzas, etc... please check out my Cuba Vacation !
CBL Posted April 17, 2011 Posted April 17, 2011 Great pictures! Looks like you had an amazing trip. I LOVE the humidors in the first couple of pictures Which LCDH was that?
shawnbc Posted April 17, 2011 Posted April 17, 2011 Just like I told you on the other forum, your pictures are amazing and makes me want to go to Cuba soon! All of your pictures just shine!
docbp87 Posted April 17, 2011 Posted April 17, 2011 While you scored some great looking cigars, I am even more interested in the great swag you picked up as well. Great photos, looks like a great time!
DarkSky Posted April 17, 2011 Author Posted April 17, 2011 Just like I told you on the other forum, your pictures are amazing and makes me want to go to Cuba soon! All of your pictures just shine! Thanks! (and to the others who replied). Yes it was a nice change to go from 3C here to 38C 3.5hrs later. Unfortunately our first day also had 90+ % humidity, although an eventing thunderstorm helped lower that down for the next week. Here's a tour of the humi inside an LCDH in Havana (sorry for the low-light - I didn't have a chance to post-edited this video much)
cigarroverzulu Posted April 17, 2011 Posted April 17, 2011 Awesome pics. Looks like a once in a life time trip.
cigcars Posted April 17, 2011 Posted April 17, 2011 *You know, in addition to it's being ever so wonderful to view these pics (just imagine us being there and all those havanas to swim around in - writhing in ecstasy with satisfied moans akin to Snuffles and his dog biscuit), but it's also highly valuable & educational. You see, I would end up spending all my money and time in just that one glass enclosure pictured there, and miss out on so much more that's there. THANK YOU, DarkSky for a very necessary public service!!!
DarkSky Posted April 17, 2011 Author Posted April 17, 2011 For the record, I should point out before someone else does - the shot of the burning cigar in my hand was given to me by a staff member (the only non-LCDH bought on the trip). Most definitely a fake (band has 2 rows of dots at top instead of 3) - but for the record, THE BEST smoke I had on the trip oddly enough!! Tasted almost identical to a Cohiba Robusto but with a stronger flavor, which suited me just fine because the Cohiba robusto I smoked earlier that day was great but just too weak to justify buying a box of 25. (too bad that resort staff guy didn't sell those fakes by the box!! )
CanuckSARTech Posted April 17, 2011 Posted April 17, 2011 Oh, 'Sky..... Please, PLEASE don't tell me you actually bought one of those Che Guevera t-shirts!
Dourowino Posted April 18, 2011 Posted April 18, 2011 Oh, 'Sky..... Please, PLEASE don't tell me you actually bought one of those Che Guevera t-shirts! That's the che? I thought it was Dr. Zaius from the planet of the apes? my bad
ckearns Posted April 18, 2011 Posted April 18, 2011 Great pictures! Thanks for taking the time to put them up.
beamer Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 WONDERFUL Post! Thanks so much for sharing. Loved the pictures.
investandprosper Posted April 21, 2011 Posted April 21, 2011 WOW, thanks for all of the fantastic pictures! Felt like I was almost there! I love those cigar carriers (the Monte and Cohiba), simply gorgeous. Does anyone know if Czar is able to get them?
gmoney Posted April 21, 2011 Posted April 21, 2011 Great....Thanks for sharing........I really need to get there.
mazolaman Posted April 22, 2011 Posted April 22, 2011 Great pictures,Darksky. I loved some of the paraphanaliar available. Also glad you enjoyed Havanna,it is a magic place!
davidl Posted April 22, 2011 Posted April 22, 2011 Awesome Pics, thanks for sharing! I wonder, what are smoking laws like, if any, in Cuba? Were you able to smoke at your hotel...in public...or did you need a designated area..ect?
LowKey Posted April 23, 2011 Posted April 23, 2011 loved the pics! I have been to many of those places in your imgaes. Brings nice memories to mind.
jerseyjay Posted April 26, 2011 Posted April 26, 2011 Thanks for sharing. Awesome trip ! If you don't mind me asking ... how much did you spend on cigars ?
nick17 Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 WOW nice selection and thanks for sharing! i need to go to cuba I heard the prices the women was calling out in LCDH and i would buy a mountain at those prices!
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