Christmas Trip to Cuba

[Ryan]

I had been dreaming about this for years. Finally getting my wife to Cuba. She wouldn't leave the boys so far behind so we had to do it during their holidays. Christmas worked out well.

The trip was great, my wife loved it and got to see what I like so much about Cuba. The boys had a great time too. Swimming, visiting the countryside and just after mobile data became available, which was handy for them.

We squeezed a lot in. Arrived the night of the 23rd, quick pizza and get-together in Espacios. I forget how brilliant the staff are there.

Toured around on Christmas Eve.

Barbeque on the beach Christmas Day followed by Gato Tuerto. I had a friend who flew on from London with dozens of steaks and lamb chops from Fortnum and Mason. Plus pork, chicken and 10 pounds of lobster meat. Followed by toasted marshmallows. About 30 firends

Hemingway house and Napoleon Museum on the 26th followed by Floridita and La Guarida.

Vinales 27th followed by FAC. We had riding booked but there was a thunderstorm. The driver nearly went off the road laughing when I asked "los caballos pueden nadar?"

Factory visits on the 28th, then Club Habana and Otramanera and Tocororo

Very long Santy's lunch on 29th, then fell asleep in the Gato Tuerto that night.

Toured the old-town on Sunday morning, hamburgers in the Parque Central for the kids, followed by a triplet of rums in Cocineros, then off to the airport.

Fantastic. Some pictures.

 

[Ryan]

More Pictures

 

[Ryan]

More Pictures

[Ryan]

Some More

 

$5 machete bought in Vinales. My wife told me I'd never get it home on the plane.

I now have a new tool for the neighbour's weeds.

Memorial to the 1981 hunger strikers. Interesting speech from Fidel about that.

Floridita, of course

More new rums in Cuba. These about $5.

Plaque on Calle O' Reilly.

"Two Island Peoples in the Same Sea of Struggle and Hope. Cuba and Ireland". Not quite the same but it's a nice thought.

[Habana Mike]

Looks like a fantastic trip! Think I recognize a couple of those folks.

Happy New Year Andy!

[Ryan]

Last ones for now.

We had to go to the home of Cohiba.

 

 

Visited another factory. Loved the Christmas decorations.

November 18 Noellas on the shelves in the Habana Libre. I had thought these were discontinued.

 

Last one.

[Derboesekoenig]

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing. I plan on taking my dad this year--he's never been. He has no problem enjoying my cigars 

How did you get into El Laguito??

[Ryan]

In cigar news.

I visited about 10 of the shops, my wife came to the first 6 or so...

Upmann Noellas available, as above.

No Sir Winstons I could find anywhere.

No limiteds or regionals. Somebody was asking me about Talismans, not a chance, publicly at least.

Punch 48s about. Good price at $83.

No Connoisseur Bs this time.

Plenty of ashtrays at the Nacional, where Carlos substituted HC 3 for Especial (other way around, it's late here) in our mojitos and wouldn't accept a tip. Nice touch.

Lots of Monsdales, Reynaldo in good form, as were Juanita, Vivian, Heriberto, Odalys etc. Yolanda off that day. Didn't make it to Commodoro.

Partagas festival planned for 2nd week in November. They'd be wise to avoid November 16, 2019 in Havana.

No word on 2019 Cuban Regional but I wasn't really asking.

Santiago 11 available here and there in various bars. Espacios had bottles as had Club Habana.

Santiago 12 on sale at the Melia Habana.

 

[CaptainQuintero]

Great stuff Andy, glad you were able to get that box ticked, looks like it won't be before the kids will be coming on the regular with you as men not boys

[Ryan]

7 minutes ago, Derboesekoenig said:

How did you get into El Laguito??

Quick answer, charm and good looks.

Honest answer. I've been lucky to have been going there a while. Plus I don't try to buy cigars from the rollers there.

[hedgeybaby]

Fabulous. 

[mk05]

8 minutes ago, Ryan said:

No Sir Winstons I could find anywhere.

Somebody was asking me about Talismans, not a chance, publicly at least.

No word on 2019 Cuban Regional but I wasn't really asking.

Surprising on SW, they're usually everywhere. Yes on special things.

I think the regional is a Puch Robusto. 

[Ryan]

1 minute ago, mk05 said:

Surprising on SW, they're usually everywhere. Yes on special things.

I think the regional is a Puch Robusto. 

I know regarding the SW, loads in November.

I'd have thought the 2019 for Cuba would be a San Cristobal, given the year.

[mk05]

9 minutes ago, Ryan said:

I know regarding the SW, loads in November.

I'd have thought the 2019 for Cuba would be a San Cristobal, given the year.

I am sure Habanos will do something interesting for San Cristobal.

[Ryan]

10 minutes ago, CaptainQuintero said:

Great stuff Andy, glad you were able to get that box ticked, looks like it won't be before the kids will be coming on the regular with you as men not boys

My 15 year old is 6 feet tall and I'm now getting my 13 year old's hand-me-down trainers as he outgrows them.

Quite a few times I had to remind the 15 year old to stop staring at girl's bottoms. It was like travelling with Stuart Fox!

[oliverdst]

I am pretty sure the Cuban regional it will be a SCDLH. Some pictures of it since 2018. I think some members already had it.

About November 16 it took me some seconds to understand. It's 500 years Habana anniversary. 

In 2018 it was a Friday, gala dinner. Agree it wouldn't be good to have Partagás week so close to this date.

[1fastmach1]

Looks like that was a great trip!  I hope to visit some day.  

[HDGSN]

We may have passed each other out and about.  My wife and I were in Havana from 12/22 to 12/26.  I did most of my cigar shopping on 12/23 and was not able to meet Yolanda or Alex because it was their day off, but I did meet Reynaldo.  I'll write up a trip report in a separate thread.

As for Sir Winstons, I went to Old Partagas, Conde, H Upmann, Habana Libre, Riviera, Melia Cohiba, Melia Habana, Comodoro, Nacional, and 5ta Avenida (Club Habana was closed on 12/23) and the only Sir Winstons were 4 boxes tucked in a corner at Nacional (of which I bought 1 box on 12/24).

[Ryan]

18 minutes ago, HDGSN said:

We may have passed each other out and about. 

We may have. Though I didn't make it to the Nacional until after store hours. I was there for a sandwich on the 24th.

[oliverdst]

35 minutes ago, HDGSN said:

We may have passed each other out and about.  My wife and I were in Havana from 12/22 to 12/26.  I did most of my cigar shopping on 12/23 and was not able to meet Yolanda or Alex because it was their day off, but I did meet Reynaldo.  I'll write up a trip report in a separate thread.

As for Sir Winstons, I went to Old Partagas, Conde, H Upmann, Habana Libre, Riviera, Melia Cohiba, Melia Habana, Comodoro, Nacional, and 5ta Avenida (Club Habana was closed on 12/23) and the only Sir Winstons were 4 boxes tucked in a corner at Nacional (of which I bought 1 box on 12/24).

During the Partagás week last november I met many many people that I know from here, Facebook, Instagram... but they didn't know me!

The reason was basically because I don't like to have pictures of mine online so most people don't know how I look like. I am changing that. 

[El Presidente]

Fantastic stuff Andy 

They must have loved experiencing first hand your passion for Havana/Cuba

Did you get to take them to El Tocororo?

 

[Ryan]

46 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Did you get to take them to El Tocororo?

 

No, just me and a London-Irish friend, also visiting. Nicola and the boys were tired and took a night off.

Tocororo very quiet, we ended up being the last two there. I think the regulars took one look at us and got the hell outta there! 

[Wertman]

i thought someone had mentioned a while ago that Reynaldo had left for good?  

[Fuzz]

6 minutes ago, Wertman said:

i thought someone had mentioned a while ago that Reynaldo had left for good?  

He was there in November.

[Lomey]

Thanks for sharing the pictures.  Looks like the family had a great time.