I am a blessed man

[El Presidente]

I arrived to Czar House Wednesday 8:30am after 30 hrs of travel from Havana. I rang the doorbell suitcases in hand to be met by Lisa. Beaming smile and a hug only she can give. I love that girl.

Smithy comes down the stairs...."Dude....stay away longer....we have never had it so good". Smithy gave me a man hug but it lacks Lisa's upfront intensity

It is great to be home. Czars is a family and as I type this 24 hrs later I have cooked a BBQ lunch for the team/family and they have shared the past three weeks without me. I really do not need to be here. Lise, Smithy, Diana, Simon, Jason are crack operators, both passionate and proficient. One man could not be more blessed.

I left for Melbourne on the 13th Feb for the wedding of Angelo Gianakopoulos (CEO PCC Australia). He married the lovely Poppy on Valentines day and it is great to see a good friend so happy. I love Greek weddings and I am sure that I added to the madness. I missed Angelo in Havana this year where we have got ourselves into and out of trouble so many times. To you my friend I wish you every happiness in life.

I spent a Sunday in Melbourne catching up with friends before heading for an afternoon at Crown Casino. I am not a casino guy but after the shellacking I have taken from Greenpimp, Trevor, and Zeedar on the FOH Poker table I tried my hand for the first time on the Texas Holdem Table with a $100 buy in. Eight hours later I cashed out with a couple of thousand in chips. I was thrilled but I won't be going back any time soon ....nerve wracking stuff

I had the best part of 30 hrs ahead of me on Monday to reach Nicaragua (via LAX/Houston/Managua).

Why Nicaragua? Well, good friend and FOH member (Freefallguy/Rob) invited me last year when in Oz visiting Czar house with his two delightful sons.

I am a firm believer (aka Tom Tremendous Jones) that the difference between the person you are today and the person you are in 10 years are the people you meet and books you read. I will accept an invitation to spend time with people I like at a drop of a hat whenever the opportunity presents itself. I like to break up my week to Havana so I could see no reason why not to go to Nicaragua.

My knowledge of Nicaragua was Sandanista rebels and a long and protracted civil war. Rob owns a lovely beach house 90 minutes north of Managua and I landed to find my name on a board as I left the schute of the plane. Whisked through immigration to the VIP lounge I was drinking a Johnny Walker black Label and watching the Simpsons in Spanish when a voice behind me said "Welcome Mate"

It was great to see Rob and hugs all around. 90 minutes later we were sitting at his house (11pm), surf crashing in the back ground, laughing and enjoying some fine cigars and La Flor De Cano rum. 5 hours later we were still there doing much the same. I can’t recall how many great people the humble cigar have brought me in contact with. Rob is in that top echelon.

Besides catching up the purpose of my week in Nicaragua was to do some fly fishing with Rob. Billfish and Jack Crevalle where the game and I had my flies, rod and reels all prepared. Unfortunately from the minute I landed to the minute I left, 30-35 knot winds howled morning and night. Not a serious cast was made during the week but I couldn’t have given a hoot. We had an absolute ball yacking away and enjoying each others company until the early hours of the morning. I never know what cigars to take away with me when I travel. Actually that is not quite right as I always take a box of Punch Petit Punch but the second box is always a quandary. This time I took a box of Cohiba Selection Reserva from 2004 ….nice to have a choice

Photo of Rob and his manager Roger (top bloke)

Rob at breakfast. Typical Scrambled eggs and "Gallo Pinto" Speckled Chicken in Spanish...beans and rice.

Some shots of the area around Robs house. I loved walking along that beach with a cigar in the late afternoon.

local fishing village

Locals have a sense of humour

View from Robs Deck...some nice surf rolling in.

Rob calls the shower Head "The Widowmaker". Nothing like mixing electricity and water for an "Electric" experience ...it sure as hell woke me up one morning!

It became obvious after a few days that my Fly rod would not be flicked in anger. Rob invited me to accompany him on a few things he was involved in locally. I love travelling around but I was not really expecting what I was to experience over the next couple of days. I was blown away by Rob and his friends and to some of the great things they are doing which include a building program of remote school classrooms for local Children and supporting local orphanages. I visited these places and spoke to some of the most caring people I have ever met. I saw happy kids with a gleam in their eye and I witnessed how much difference a few dedicated people can make.

Here is the first stage of a small classroom servicing children in a remote area. It really doesn't take much to educate. Next stage are some walls

I came to Nicaragua to catch up with Rob and catch a Billfish on fly which is something I have not done. I left Nicaragua humbled and uplifted. I left enthused and wanting to do something more. Over the coming month I would like to put to the board that we commence a program to assist a given cause....a remote area school...an orphanage. I haven't spoken to Rob about this but he knows I am hardheaded enough that I am not going to change my mind. I would like to focus at first on one school or orphanage. To have a section on the forum where we can see the progress, see photo's of the kids, the teacher, see their progress over the years and let them tell us what they are doing.

I will expand on this later in the month.

To Rob I say thankyou for an amazing week of friendship, laughter and enlightenment.

Flew from Managua to Panama to Havana. Arrived midnight and I was keen to get to the Nacional to catch up with fellow Aussie and first time Habanos visitor Arthur Kassos. Arthur is one of Australia's top Tax accountants which would make you think he could be a tad dull. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Arthur is one of my closest mates, a havanophile who rocks on the deck of Czar House regulalry. To describe Arthur is to describe someone who is in love with life: passion, integrity and with a heart as large as himself.

He entered Cuba knowing Hamlet. He left having met about 4 million people .....all of whom loved him.

Being Arthurs first time i went back and did things I have not done for years. Mate Toby Brocklehurst (Best travel guide in Havana) came with us as we scooted around the city looking at the sights. I have forgotten how stunning Havana is.

Toby and Arthur

By day 4 in Havana Artie was introducing me to people. Arthurs new mate is Alejandro Castro....Fidels younger son. The two got on famously as they saw each other two or three times during the week.

5am finishes were the norm during the week but invariably we found ourselves just catching up with great people. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Nino and Hans....two people of the highest calibre

Arthur went to Pinar Del Rio on Tuesday while I went over to Jose's house (Punch Joe). Jose is a brother of mine. I love that guy. His now Fiancee Ingrid is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Their house is my house as is my house back home to them.

There are times in life you just click with people. In this case it is the purity of their substance and integrity. Jose's great friend is Hamlet....another brother. Together we get up to more trouble than the "Rat Pack". Hamlet has one of the most beautiful wives in the world in Jeanette. Sassy, gorgeous, intelligent.

How do I describe Hamlet? Honest, intense, intelligent, loyal, trouble

We hit it off years ago when things were not always as good as they are today (for both of us). We haven't forgotten.

We really need to get Jose a new BBQ Gorgeous Pork cooked slowly.

Jose Doesn't look overly concerned

The Love of Jose's Life

The other Love of Jose's Life.......if you don't marry Ingrid...I will

My Cuban Family

James Suckling popped in for a couple of hours. It is really only the second time I have had some good one in one conversation with James and I have to say I like him. I agreed with many of his thoughts and those I didn't he backed intelligently and eloquently. He has been a good friend of Jose for some time and Jose doesn't suffer fools. Then again he likes Ken.

I have purposefully not written about cigar events but people because to me that is what Cuba is all about. However the PCC party is the hottest party in Havana during festival week. Toby Brocklehurst organizes it with Cuban band/dancers/rum bar/wine bar/beer bar.....200 live lobsters (kept live in a saltwater swimming pool) for 120 people.

Here is Jeremy ....the man who freedives 25-45 metres and caught the lobsters for the dinner. I spoke for an hour with Jeremy and his wife (Spanish Literature teature who gave my Spanish a solid B+ )

Jeremy has a house in a fishing village off the coast of Pinar Del Rio. Next time I am in Cuba I have promised to spend 2-3 days with him to go fishing for Tuna. Absolutely lovely couple who work damn hard. My highlight of the evening was when Arthur dragged Alejandro Castro over for a picture with Jeremy and his wife. They were stunned. They had never seen a real live Castro before ....well done Arthur!

One of the leading Cuban dancers. She can shimmy like I have never seen anyone shimmy before. Her group has toured Australia earlier this year and are coming back September to Brisbane. I arranged to have them over for lunch at my house. I am sure Angela.... my wife... will be thrilled

The gorgeous Yaima mid shot. Yaima heads the Cubanita surf team of which FOH is chief sponsor. I am going to do a full article on the progress of our project in Havana next week. I can tell you it is going exceedingly well. Yaima is intelligent, passionate, articulate and dances like the devil himself.

I spent a fair bit of time with Yaima as she took me to her clubhouse and had me inspect all the boards she has purchased. I met her parents at their house in the seaside suburb of Santa Fe. More of this next week.

On the final day Hamlet had a shindig at his house. Angela (Havana House Canada) and Naresh (Habanos Distributor Malaysia) are two wonderful people who have been longterm friends of Hamlet. Whenever he travels to their regions for work as a demonstration Master roller they treat him like a brother and bring him into their homes. He doesn't forget. Having gotten to know them well...he is a good judge of character. Arthur had already left for Australia by this time. He was in tears.

What a great spread!

Love is in the Air!

The highlight for me in Havana is never the cigars or the festival. To be brutally honest...I couldn't give a hoot.

Spending leisurely time with the friends above and the likes of Dag, Jemma, Nestor, Wishnu, Keith, Ian, Toby, Simon etc etc etc.

I am indeed blessed.

[Padrino]

Wow.

Blessed indeed.

Thanks for sharing !

[brian1]

Great summary and photos Rob. Your living the dream

[Rogers72]

All I can say is "WOW!!!"

[laficion]

Nothing to add to that Rob, you've said It all, thanks .

[Ginseng]

What a wonderful and poignant travelogue, Rob. Thank you for bringing us there with you in spirit and in photos.

Wilkey

[mkz]

Great reading, great pictures!!

[Warren]

We missed you around the house Mate, it's good to have you back.

[shortsqueeze]

Great post and pic's Rob.

[gacigarman]

This is wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing.

[Coloniales]

Great report Rob!!! I met Jose myself during the week, great guy. Bloody shame Hamlet didn't have any bloody tobaco to roll with, i always buy from him.

Great pictures and a pleasure to meet you and Arthur. Look forward to doing it again on the deck in BNE.

Keith

[mbrody]

Awesome...

[Colt45]

[brian1]

Rob,

How were the cigars..any standouts ? Alot of chatter about the Cohiba Grand reserva..what did you think and more importantly when will they be showing up at HQ?

[Jimmy2]

Great stuff Rob ...Very nice

[Tampa1257]

I look forward to the time when I can travel with you to Cuba Rob, because I respect the real reasons why you love going there, it is the people that make it so very special. The heart and the soul of Cuba is the mates you have.

[genevapics]

Thanks for sharing, Rob. What great friends you have throughout the world.

[beachcougar]

Very nice Rob. Thanks for sharing such a great experience.

[olotti]

Great stuff Prez. I always look forward to reading your reviews of your week in Havana, looks like an amazing time with some amazing people.

[sounddust]

Well bloody done Rob. Life is indeed beautiful.

[aavkk]

fantastic trip Rob! I love to ask myself the question, if someone wrote a book about my life would anyone want to read it? I would definitely read yours!

I do have to ask though, will we see you this year in NYC?

[kjellfrick]

It's a joy to read our story, Rob! Thank you!

[sinnyc]

Wonderful stuff Rob - thanks much for the story and pix. To your last thought about the people being the thing - well, isn't that what cigars are really all about - enjoying them with friends old and new?

Can't wait to read the additional articles you promised.

- Tim

[greenpimp]

Simply wonderful, Rob. Thank you.

I have been wanting to go to Cuba since I was a teenager (my Cuban uncle Oscar Barillas told me many stories.) It sure would be great to see it with you. You travel like I like to. All about the people.

[SofaKing]

Very nice read Rob, looks and sound like you have an amazing group of friends who, over the years have become your extended family in the Carribean.