Popular Post Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted March 30, 2017 It’s about time I got some pictures of my last trip up here. Great time as usual, one of the best trips yet. I had an old Chicago friend, Sue, come down and join me for a week. One of my closest friends, I hadn’t seen her in ten years and it was great to catch up. My flight got delayed in Paris by just over three hours, for some reason they upgraded me to business, so I didn’t complain. I used some miles to get up to business on the way home too so all good! I got in the Wednesday before the festival, had to check in to two apartments, then straight to the Gato Tuerto. Refurbished but many of the old faces and still smoking allowed everywhere, which is good. The next morning, did a tour of the shops, got a few boxes of SLR Marquez and picked up my usual custom rolls, no shortage of those. Sue flew in that afternoon, then straight to the Habana Libre for more cigars/coffee, then the Nacional for a mojito. Dinner in La Guarida that night, great as always though very, very busy these days. I had made a reservation weeks before. The marlin tacos there are one of my favourite dishes in Havana. Closed the Gato again that night. Juana Bacallao was on, great stuff. Friday morning, over Finca Vigia, Hemingways house, Sue wanted to see it. Much, much busier than it was three years ago when I was last there. Probably 300 people wandering about the grounds. Last time, maybe 50. Worth a look though, interesting stuff. Lunch of Bruschetta and pizza in Nero Di Seppia. Great food, service and a lovely spot. That afternoon over to Conde de Villanueva to see Reinaldo and book the TV for Ireland v France in the rugby the following day. Reinaldo on vacation and the staff didn’t seem too interested in much of anything. The shop was empty. Shame to see that, the Friday before the festival. Some pictures and more to come. Decent rum deals in Dublin duty free Cigar prices in Charles de Gaulle Humidors for sale in the Partagas shop Sue with Hemingsways boat "Pilar" at his house, Finca Vigia The view from his writing desk. Inspirational. More to come. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 30, 2017 Friday evening, I had arranged to meet a friend of mine, Simon, who flies to Cuba a few times per year for arthritis injections. One of the funniest most interesting guys I’ve ever met. Sue, Simon, me and Yannick from Intertabac had sundowner cocktails on a very busy Nacional patio. Then a vintage convertible to the Floridita for Sue, quick Daiquiri then over to Bar Monserrate, which has lost much of its charm. I loved that place, the first bar I was in in Cuba. Now nearly totally tourists, overflow from the Floridita. There used to be a great mix of tourists and locals and great fun with the staff. Staff are now mostly dour and grabby. Closed Don Cangrejo after that. Saturday morning, up to watch the rugby with the Gibraltarians and Punch Joe. Great fun, Ireland won. Then Azucar for lunch, very decent tapas plate there. Took it easy on Saturday night, dinner with a friend, Rita, and some of her tour group in Rio Mar, nice spot, my first time there. Sunday morning, beach day in Tarará, a little windy but otherwise very pleasant. Then lunch in Santy’s with the Gibraltarians, Keith, Luke, Simon and some Cuban friends. Always great food here. Long lunch. Albert from Gibraltar pulled out a bottle of his cigar-blend Spanish brandy. Very good. Yiorgos and David arrived from Dublin that evening so off to La Foresta for dinner with them and some other friends. Lovely venue, food good and getting better. I had to go to El Sauce with Sue to meet a friend, closed that then back to Fabrica de Arte to meet the others, closed there too. Monday morning a quick tour of Habana Vieja, the cigar shops, quick daiquiri or two. Into Partagas to meet some of the others and a cigar. Lunch in Esto No Es Un Café, just off Cathedral Square. Dona Eutimia booked out, tour groups go there, thus it gets number one on Trip Advisor. There’s nothing particularly special about Dona Eutimia, it’s fine but not brilliant, I could name dozens of better restaurants in Havana, and the places next door are just as good. Shows what Tripadvisor can do. Floridita, with Simon and Sue, whatever I do , I can't rotate this here. Don Cangrejo Sue medicating the next morning Standing for the Nacional Anthem before the rugby Beach Day Lunch at Santy's Found a coffee shop near us. 4 CUP, 16c for 2 decent coffees. Here with a 1980s Punch Petit Corona Calle Obispo with Yiorgos and David More to Come.. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 Monday evening was wet, so wet that the opening event in Club Habana was going to be cancelled, the police weren’t letting anyone in. It was off, then on, then off, then on again so off we went. I’d have been happy where we were in the bar in the Nacional. The event was a bit of a washout. The London crew arrived that evening and good to see them. Most of the entertainment cancelled due to the wet. At least the rain washed some of the sand off the food, which had been sitting out most of the day. Drinks flowing though, we found one of the few waitresses with a tray and kept her busy, she was very nice and we were very appreciative. Midnight, off to Tocororo with a good bunch, maybe forty of us. Lovely evening. Saw Toby for the first time this trip, good form. Tuesday morning, a quick tour of the university and the Napoleon Museum. Both well worth a visit. Tuesday afternoon, party in John de Costa’s house, always a good bunch of people there. Dinner in Vistamar with the London crew, one of the nicest restaurant balconies in Havana with a passable chicken teriyaki, also good pasta, then the Nacional bar for a party. Closed Mio y Tuyo. Wednesday morning, met up with Punch Joe and did a tour of some of the touristy bits of old Havana for Sue. Sloppy Joes, lunch in Azucar again, the Cuervo y Sobrinos shop, Capitolio, Teatro Nacional, Revolution Museum, Almacen de San Jose. Rode in a coco taxi for the first time. Went back to Rafael Trejo boxing gym where we finally got to see some of the kids training. Lovely to see and a great coach. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 More to come later.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cubatabaco Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 It looks like you had a fantastic time!!! Thank you for sharing! I'm looking forward to seeing more. PS - I'm heading there soon! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2fly Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Fantastic! Thanks for posting. Looks like a great time was had by all! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusto616 Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Wonderful write up and pictures Thanks for sharingSent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianbeaver Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Fantastic! Thanks for the tour! Hope to see you again sometime. CB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torsion Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Nice photos Andy @Ryan! I really need to pull my finger out and get mine on here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 Cont.. Wednesday afternoon. Over to VIPHavana for the FoH event. Good turnout. About 30 of there, not all FoH. I really like this restaurant. Great tapas, try the patatas bravas, just the right amount of heat. I wasn’t going to the Wednesday night event, we were invited to the dinner at Palacio de Artesania. I have a friend who has two 1955 Chevy Bel Ari convertibles so we got one of those with a driver from out apartment. Great fun. Met up with the others in Espacios afterwards then off to “Fantasy” nightclub. I’m not sure whose “Fantasy” that place is, not mine. Not bad for a Wednesday night though. Dropped Sue to the airport Thursday morning then met up with the Fox crew and others for lunch in Santy’s again. Quick change then off to the cigar party at the Melia Cohiba. Nice event, good music/entertainment and a generous pour in the cubatas. La Guarida next for the Fox party. David McGrane, the manager of the Dublin shop for 40 years, is retiring this year so the party was in his honour. Rob and Stuart presented him with a humidor made by Humidores Habana, filled with custom rolls. Good cigars and a lovely humidor. Off to Don Cangrejo, closed it again. Good night. FoH event at VIPHavana. Rita, Sue, Stuart and Yuni in the foreground. Nino's in there, with John and a few others. On the way to Palacio de Aatesania in Yuni's car. Espacio's "Fantasy" Selecting cigars in the Fox house. Some 1991 Monte 2s there. Santy's again for lunch Entertainment at the Melia Cohiba party 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 Mind those humiors La Guarida Gordon Mott and David with his humidor Stuart and Rita Don Cangrejo Debauchery. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 Friday morning, some errands, then Espacio’s for Sarah Saunders’s Women’s International Cigar Club. A friend, Rick, flew in from Miami that morning for one day, we met him there. Lovely food, lobster with rice in squid ink. Interesting speech from Salomé Alemán Carriazo, master of rum, one of 7 in Cuba and the first female master. Tried a new cocktail that Sarah developed, aged rum and grapefruit juice. Not really my thing, though as someone said, maybe good with breakfast. Rob left from there for the airport, the rest of us went for a long lunch in El Aljibe where we met up with Nino, John Bongo and ElCaminero, relaxing, lovely afternoon. Food is always good and perfect for those going to the gala dinner later. Floridita and Monserrate again that evening with Yiorgos and Rick, then back to the Nacional for the afterparty. Finally got a masterclass in Mojito-making from Carlos. I could make a decent mojito before but now I know his tricks. Machine showed up at this, I hadn’t seen him much that week. Always good to see him. The bar in the Nacional got packed with festival goers, too many. They’ll need, and are planning, a bigger space next year. Very nice party though. Closed Mio y Tuyo. Salomé Alemán Carriazo giving her speech on rum El Aljibe for a late lunch, perfect timing to miss the tour buses. Monserrate with Rick and Yiorgos for cigars. Hoyo de San Juan from Rick. Very nice. Mojito-making tricks of the trade from Carlos. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 Gala dinner after party. Machine. Hunger gets the batter of Yiorgos. "VIP area" of Mio y Tuyo. It was a table beside the TV. The chap beside me is apparently somebody, that was his minder beside him. No idea who he is. Nice guy though. Last out. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 Saturday morning, into Habana Vieja again. The London crew heading off that day so lunch in Azucar followed by cocktails in Sia Kara, one of my favourite café/bars in Habana Vieja, right around the corner from Partagas. Great dinner that night in Nero di Seppia with some friends, then Don Cangrejo to see Alexander Abreu with his band Havana d’Primera. Great show, highly recommended for a Saturday night. Sunday, Yiorgos and David heading off so I saw them off with lunch at the Nacional then off to a friend’s house for a birthday party for his wife. Suckling pig with all the trimmings. Lovely time, my favourite “event” of the festival. Relaxing afternoon with some friends, beer and good cigars. Dinner in Corte del Principe that night. One of the best restaurants in Havana now. Set dinner, they cook what they have, Italian style and it’s all brilliant. Fabrica de Arte after that, then Mio y Tuyo, followed by Fantasy, met Yannick with a crew, then Mio y Tuyo again. A lot of rushing around on Monday, dropping stuff off to people. Called over to the daycare that some friends run, to drop stuff off for the kids that the Irish and UK crew had brought over, lovely time. Then a final lunch with the Gibraltarians and Cuban friends. Met Nakamura at the airport that evening, we were on the same flight. He had 12 hours in Paris, I had 7, so we got the train into Paris and had a very nice afternoon together over some SLR Marquez. Cuba. I’d do it again. ? On the Malecon, I like this one. Penthouse apartment over Azucar. Nice sport. David and Yiorgos at the Cuba/Ireland plaque on Calle O' Reilly. Sia Kara. Lovely spot. Malecon again. David and Yiorgos on their last day. Me on my last evening. Suckling pig Montecristo Dumas Serving up the pig and trimmings. Punch Joe, Rita and others. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 Last few pictures of my last day. Naptime for the kids at the day care. Lovely spot. Dropping off a humidor for safe-keeping. Lunch with the Gibraltarians Paris with Nakamura 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ryan Posted March 30, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 30, 2017 A quick review. Food Santy's. A seafood loving friend, there for the first time, said it was the best sushi she's had. Azucar. Easy, cool relaxing on a hot afternoon. Good tapas plate. One of the few places I've had proper bruschetta, anywhere. Corte del Principe, possibly the best food in Havana at the moment. Italian. Vistamar, lovely view, good service, decent food. La Guarida, always a sense of occasion. Very good food. Can get loud, tourist-loud. Rio Mar, lovely spot, good tapas El Aljibe, the same. Great chicken, relaxing not having to think what to order on days when thinking is taxing. VIPHavana. Lovely spot. Great service and great food. Nero diSeppia. One of the top three Italians. Proper pizza. Friendly staff. Esto No Es Un Cafe. Very serviceable, got a table at a busy time and still decent. Cuban food. Sandwiches, pork, chicken, rice and beans. Cheap. Bars/cafes Floridita, can get very busy with tourists. $6 daiquiri is expensive but they are good. Watch out for brain freeze, I always get it here. Decent band. Lluvia de Oro, my first time in here. Good band for a Wednesday night Monserrate, not what it used to be. Too many tourists and prices have gone up. Staff not happy. Nacional Bar, always a great mojito. Espacios, relaxing, a bit too relaxing. I sometimes feel very distant from things here but nice spot and decent food. Sia Kara, the place to go when the VIP room in Partagas gets too much, it's 50 yards away. Perfect for the mid-afternoon slump when all that's needed is a rum and a cigar. As good as a nap. Good selection of rums, cocktails and tapas. Sloppy Joes. No point going in. No smoking, plenty of staff but they couldn't be bothered with customers. I've no problem with that, we left. Clubs Don Congrejo, $15 in but a great time, some of the best bands in Cuba, check it's open. If you're a group of 40, go here. El Sauce, $5 in and 1,200 Cubans having a dance. Fun. Great fun with the staff. Mio y Tuyo, young crowd and lots of "friendly girls" but open late and and has booze. Smoking outside only. Fantasy, see above but slightly older crowd. Fabrica de Arte, $2 in and one of the best venues in the world. Gato Tuerto, refurbished, goes til 3 am. Hasn't changed much but maybe I have. Tocororo, the new Gato Tuerto. Nice outside space too. Good spot for a late drink on a Monday night. Highlights Simon having Sue and the Gibraltarian ladies in tears laughing in Santy's, telling a story about a fish shipped like a penis. While they were all eating fish. Simon telling a story about when he was 27, meeting a 68 year old Greek lady on a flight to Greece. Not disrespectful at all, he had the girls "oohing" and "ahhing" in admiration. Quite the charmer for a 71 year old. Not having to go to a cadeca at all to change money. My driver wanted hard currency very much so I changed it all with him. Not worried at all about counterfeit money since I'd be giving a sizable portion of it back to him. Lowlights None I can think of. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2fly Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Damn son....feels like I was there! I can't wait to go to Cuba and your posts as well as others will make it a great trip! Thanks for making me green with envy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cohiba007 Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Great write up and photos Andy. Thanks for sharing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puros Y Vino Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 One hell of a post! Fix those pics when you can. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foursite12 Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Fantastic! Thanks for sharing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliverdst Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Mental note: be careful and sober in 'lluvia de oro' 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habana Mike Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Great stuff Andy! Thanks for posting 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 .And that people......is how you do it in Havana. No one has mastered it better than Andy ............I'm exhausted just reading it Bloody brilliant Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torsion Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 @Ryan Don Congrejo - that place man, ridiculous! That was a great place to follow the Fox's party at La Gaurida! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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