Havana Update

[El Presidente]

I miss you guys! I love you Lise! Keep packing Smithy!

Internet here has been a dodgy affair (in and out like a thief in the night) but I have a hell of al lot to tell you when I get back Tuesday. It is impossible to answer threads given we only have one chance at this.

As Ken ..... or Senor ¨Goofy¨ as they call him in Cuba :-D ..........pointed out the Italian Dinner went as smoothly as a 1970´s Alfa Romeo. Little wine, mediocre food. How can they expect to entertain Aussies on such meagre fair In protest we took the D4, P2 and left a few hours early to partake further in our ¨Cultural Immersion Program¨ The boys went fishing 3am yesterday where as I decided to give it a miss and troll through a series of Habanos and PCC meetings. Given I returned to my room 6am I believe that the meetings were highly informative and effective.

We have the final dinner this evening at the convention centre and the big rumor is that Fidel may turn up. To be honest, I couldn´t give a rat´s arse. He has a **** load to answer for given the huge deterioration in personal freedoms the average Cuban is experiencing. Things have always been tough economically but the bully boy tactics and sheer nastiness are over the top. As an example, last night some Cuban friends and I headed out from the Gato Tuerto to The Crocodillo Night Club. One of my friends here has a great little Skoda car he is damn proud of. Half way to The Crocodillo Nightclub (3 am) we were pulled over by the police. He was interrogated for 20 minutes and accused of using the vehicle as an illegal taxi. The real reason is that they had a foreighner in the car. Things were becoming heated and I could see my mate was about to be taken away. I hopped out, gave them a verbal spray and would have ended up in the watch house if it wasn´t for some judicious name dropping and some fake dial ups on the cell phone. 40 minutes later we were allowed to go.....only to be pulled over again by another police officer 2 km later for the same thing and with the same drama´s.

The real story of this visit is the horrendous crackdown on the Cuban people. It makes rum, salsa and cigars almost meaningless.

Enough of my rant.

Senor Goofy Gargett is today out purchasing a fridge for his special friend.

He has taken his new role as ¨National Bank of Cuba¨ to heart and God bless him for it. Krusty the Clown Des Park has gone from 2 cigars a week to 2 cigars before 10am. Michael Liberace Machin has only lost 12 items this trip.

It is just one loooong Mojito haze spent with great locals. Hamlet Paredes says hello to all of you. He is proudly wearing his ¨Friends of Habanos¨cap . He was with me until 7am the other morning. The reason we stayed up so late was that he was afraid to go home and face his wife by himself ......some things never change

We should find out this evening what new Cohiba´s (if any) are on the horizon. I hope to taste a few ;-)

Keep well my friends!

[Ginseng]

Fantastic, El Prez!

I look forward to your safe return and the completion of your stories.

Wilkey

[habanolover]

Wow Rob, thanks for the update....I've often dreamed of visiting Cuba, but the visit would be most unfulfilling under the circumstances you discribe:-(

Stay safe!!

[Tampa1257]

Excellent report of the current situation going on in Cuba. Sorry to hear of the Nationals having such a rough go of things. Gestapo type tactics never go over well no matter what country one may be in

[Havana Joe]

I hope you enjoy your stay. Sounds interesting. Can't wait to hear more stories.:-)

[J-ROD]

Nice update, I do feel sad for the people there. Someday soon I hope all gets much better for them. Make it home safe guys:-)

[cigardawg]

Thanks for the update. Can't wait to hear more upon your return. Safe travels.

[Taino]

Like always, very nice updates. Thanks, travel safe

[Wiley]

Thanks for the update Rob! I love reading these things.

[Colt45]

Have a safe and "uneventful" trip home.

[PJ_CEONAD_CC]

Be safe buddy! Grab what you can and get the hell out of Dodge! LOL!

[thschrminm]

Rob.... Nice report (notice the singular use of the word report)....

I still want to hear about the mystery well dressed man when you get back...

[Havanaaddict]

Hamlet Paredes

» says hello to all of you. He is proudly wearing his ¨Friends of Habanos¨cap

» . He was with me until 7am the other morning. The reason we stayed up so

» late was that he was afraid to go home and face his wife by himself

» ......some things never change

What are the chances you can get your friend to roll us about 500 of his great blended cigars;-)

[skid11]

It was very interesting to read your take on things in Cuba at the moment, it seems things are taking a turn for the worse. You have experienced these changes first hand as I know you've been in the country many times before................. You would think that with such a potentially huge money making cigar business and tourist industry that if managed correctly they could be a very prosperous nation..............

I have experienced the same degradation in Burma, it's a crying shame how governments can stuff things up............. enough ranting

Have a safe trip back mate, looking forward to the photo gallery.

[SuperT]

Great (but depressing) report, thanks!

Have a safe trip back home and bring me a Hamlet!!

-T

[cvm4]

Thanks for the report Rob! I'm sorry to hear Cuba has gotten so strict on their people.

[Loki]

Thanks for the report Rob, too bad for the Cuban people and their plight.