Havana Diary Day 5

[El Presidente]

I really don't like getting up at 12 as half the daylight has gone.

Met Arthur in the Courtyard. Toby is there (apparently hasn't gone home) as well as Arthur, Ingrid (drop dead gorgeous) and Lars (apparently he has some sort of arrangement with Ingrid which involves commitment).

No time for a quick Sandwich as we want to get to El Moro. Toby has a suggestion of lunch at the very fine Templete restaurant and then head across to the Old Fort. I like a plan and we arrived around 1:30pm to Templete where we ran into Dag Holmboe and Jemma Freeman and proceeded to have a great 3 hr lunch together. I do enjoy watching Toby work as he was sorting out issue after issue for the PCC party he was hosting that night. One bandmember has the flu and another the clap so they cancel. Off to plan B....later to find out they though it was next Thursday night (didn't show)....Plan C in hand (another dance band) .....with a plan D of a 4 man "classics band" picked up on the way to the party....just in case

Dag decided to give us a lift but for some reason we decided that due to the lateness of the day we would miss Cueto (roller) at the fort so we can reschedule that for tomorrow and head to the Capitolio brfore it shut. I love the Capitolio building and Yamamoto took some great pictures. I am never ceased to be awed by its size and grandeur. Had time to pop into Partagas, said hello to Kiki who provided a few lovely custom rolleds where I bumped into Mitchel Orchant and we caught up over an Anejo or two.

After Partagas it was a quick change of clothes for the nights PCC party before Mojito's and Anejo at the Nacional Courtyard where we caught up with all and sundry.

The PCC pary is the hottest event of the week if not the year. It is casual and sassy and has a heartbeat all of its own fuelled by rum and salsa. The setting is an old house in Vedado lit by candles. The food is fresh lobster...tons of it.

Yaima and some of the Cubanita surf girls arrived and they looked stunning. On another note they wanted to share their deepest thanks for what FOH members (Especially Alain) did last year in rasing $4000 USD for their surf program. They are carefully buying boards throughout Cuba as they come up and have nearly 35 now.

We partied until the police shut the music at 2am and then it was all back to the Nacional Courtyard for an ABF (Absolutely boody final).

Bed was 5:30am and I have high hopes Arthur sees El Moro tomorrow.

[Guest rob]

These pictures you post upon your arrival are going to be absolutely fantastic.

But it seems I'm going to have to Google for pictures of EL Morro if I'm ever going to see what that looks like

[Tampa1257]

I do believe that El Morro is going to end up being Arthur's "Holy Grail", often sought after yet never found....................

Looking forward to "Yamamoto/Arthur's photos...................

[laficion]

Great stuff Rob, It's fun to read the day by day events ( even without El Morro)

I hope you do get to visit the shop at the fort, great cigars there rolled by Cueto.

There is one question that I would like to ask you Rob, Have you had the chance to

check out the newly reopened "Sloppy joe's Bar " ???. The last time in Havana, 2007, It was still

being rebuilt and was to open in the spring of 2008.

Keep having a fun time, also waiting for Nino to get back. Until then, remember, you only

live once

[Padrino]

Rob, when i grow up i wanna be like you.

Que vida....

[n2advnture]

Any word on the Cohiba Gran Reserva Rob?

[Jimmy2]

Nice report Rob.....

Little info on El Morro Castle for us that dont know.....

Morro Castle Spanish: Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro) is a picturesque fortress guarding the entrance to Havana bay in Havana, Cuba. Juan Bautista Antonelli, an Italian engineer, was commissioned to design the structure. When it was built in 1589, Cuba was under the control of Spain. The castle, named after the biblical Magi, was later captured by the British in 1762.

Perched on the promontory on the opposite side of the harbor from Old Havana it can be viewed from miles around as it dominates the port entrance.

Built initially in 1589 in response to raids on Havana harbor, el Morro protected the mouth of the harbor with a chain being strung out across the water to the fort at La Punta. It first saw action in the 1762 British expedition against Cuba when Lord Albemarle landed in Cojimar and attacked the fort defended by Luis Vicente de Velasco e Isla from its rear. It fell because the British could command the high ground. So when they had handed the island back in 1763 to the Spanish, the fort at La Cabaña was built to prevent this happening again.

[Colt45]

Thanks for sharing

One question - does Jose know about Lars??

[Habanos2000]

Rob,

you really need to make some time in your schedule to relax and enjoy the island. All this work, work, work must be draining!

[Padrino]

Any word on the Cohiba Gran Reserva Rob?

If JS's blog is anything to go by: "I heard that it comes in a special box of 15 cigars, and they will sell for close to $50 to $60 a cigar"

A tad insane to be honest...

[n2advnture]

If JS's blog is anything to go by: "I heard that it comes in a special box of 15 cigars, and they will sell for close to $50 to $60 a cigar"

A tad insane to be honest...

Any word on when?

[terrantheman]

Rob you travel like me my friend!!! I know you'll take your buddy to this El Morro it'll just take place when the time is right. You want to show your friend some of the historical culture and therefore eventually he'll get there I'd travel with you anyday bro!