Out to Pinar Del Rio

[Ryan]

We avoided the mayhem of the official tour out to Pinar del Rio and got our own bus out on the Wednesday. 7:30 am start. For the love of crumbcakes.

Although I got to see feeding time for the peacocks and guinea fowl at the Nacional terrace which was nice.

Anyway, out to Hector Luis Prieto's farm first. everybody well there, although Hector wasn't there himself, I actually bumped into him in Havana the night before and he hadn't arrived back out yet. We just missed Nino and his group again who I think were going out for a visit after us.

Hector had planted the field opposite the river very late this year, the plants looked like they were in the ground only a week or two, maybe a sign of the wet weather earlier in the season. He had crops in already from his other fields though. A lot of new building going on out there, which is a good sign.

Next on to Pancho Cuba's farm. He was elbow deep in work but still made time for us, lovely guy. He also was having a hard time with the weather but got a crop of Corojo 98 wrapper tobacco in. The plants left were producing more leaves for cigarette tobacco.

Lunch at a Paladar in San Luis after that and managed to get some sleep on the bus back without waking up with my head in David's lap, which was a result.

Pictures

Guinea fowl at the Nacional

More birds

One of my favourite views in the world

Rob, Laura and Percy

Young tobacco

Jose Marti and dining area

Panorama of Hector's farm

Horse

Pancho Cuba

[Ryan]

More Pictures

Punch Joe and Pancho Cuba

Hanging tobacco in Pancho's barn

[laficion]

Just FATASTIC ,What can I say, The pics . are Worth a thousand words,Thanks Andy !!!!!!!!

[Puros Y Vino]

Great posts Ryan. Keep it up. Was at Hector's farm in Nov. We had an excellent roast pig lunch there.

[Onsto]

Looks like Hector has reinforced that bridge a bit over the winter. It had a pretty good 'wonk' on it in November...

[crasmith]

Thanks Ryan! Wish I was there!

[targa88]

Now I want to go...

[fingerburner]

Love it. Cheers mate.

[Chunks96ss]

Great pictures, Cuba looks wonderful

[madandana]

Thanks for sharing.Can't wait to check that out.

[MattW]

Fantastic pictures, looks amazing!

[riazp]

Probably one of my highlights of my HAV trip with the boys in november was visiting Hectors farm in PDC. The lunch was fantastic and it was a great time.

[mk05]

Does PdR only grow Corojo 98 or do they grow other wrapper varieties?

[Ryan]

Criollo is grown too. Remember that video interview with Hector last year, there's a thread on here. He explains it a little bit.

[AlohaStyle]

Thanks for sharing Andy.

Do you know if Prieto planted a crop in the Fall at all and lost it during the rain they had, or did he not even try?

[Nino]

Thanks for sharing Andy.

Do you know if Prieto planted a crop in the Fall at all and lost it during the rain they had, or did he not even try?

Not replying for Andy here, but Hector Luis also planted again, like many other planters, after the torrential rains that affected the area.

When I was there 25-th Febr., same day as Andy, he had just planted his fields again ( Andy can correct this information if I am mistaken ).

[Ryan]

Not replying for Andy here, but Hector Luis also planted again, like many other planters, after the torrential rains that affected the area.

When I was there 25-th Febr., same day as Andy, he had just planted his fields again ( Andy can correct this information if I am mistaken ).

I wasn't talking to Hector directly about this but that what Nino says makes sense.