puros71 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 I just got back from another trip to Cuba last month for 15 days. Every year me and the wife to go visit her family and at the same time we catch up with old friends. Highlights of my trip was meeting up with Punch Joe and hanging out with him and his wonderful fiance Ingrid. My wife and I went over Jose's house for some great bbq steaks Jose cooked up. He's a great cook! I brought over some good California wine from Sonoma County. Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel matched up with some good Hamlet cigars and Cohiba Sublimes. A few days later Jose and I went to San Luis to meet Alejandro Robaina and his grandson Hirochi. We spent 5 hours chatting about cigars, tobaco growing, and life. Robiana offered us some Chiliean wine and we smoked some good cigars Robaina gifted me. I learned lots from Don Robaina. I told him that meeting him was one of the highlights of my life. Here's some pics. I hope to go back in February for the festival. Jose is a great guy and me and him have known each other for a few years. A real classy guy with great stories and knowledge of tobaco that I absorbed like a sponge. Gracias mi amigo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginseng Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 You've got me five shades of green with envy. Great photos! Wilkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anacostiakat Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Great pictures. What a great time you must have had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thechenman Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Awesome trip and awesome photos. I seriously envy you. What an experience of a lifetime. Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rckymtn22 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Thanks for posting the pictures, looking like a sweet trip. I look forward to going back soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrickNick Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Wow, sounds like you had a sweet trip. Thanks for sharing the experience with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CigarmanTim Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Yowza!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassman Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 The Don's looking healthy. Isn't he over 90? Compay Segundo was still playing well into his 90s. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habanos2000 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Nice trip and nice pix! I'm jealous, you dog! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy2 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Nice !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Thanks for the great pics mate So good to see my Havana friends again. November cannot come soon enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compitaveggie Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 LOOKING GOOD!! Damn you had a nice trip!!! It was nice meeting up at Partagas. If you are ever in SD hit me up we can meet up and go to TJ. jose(compitaveggie) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n2advnture Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 You've got me five shades of green with envy. Great photos! Wilkey I was thinking the exact same thing Wilkey. GREAT story bro and thanks for the pics! ~Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laficion Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Great story, great photos and an even greater experience. I was touched by the photos of Don Alejandro, thank you for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asmith Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Great holiday by the looks and good to see you Punch Joe, looks like you have been enjoying the Cuban summer aswell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa1257 Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Several have said it, yet it still is worth repeating, I wish I could have been there with you! I would absolutely love to meet Jose and Don Alejandro. Great photos and thank you for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartolomeo Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Great pics, always nice seeing real time pics of the beautiful island Bart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puros71 Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Thank you all for the kind words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfury76 Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Looks like you had the trip of a lifetime. Touring the Vuelta Abajo and meeting Sr. Robaina is way up on my "bucket list", too. I really would like to get down to Havana before things change too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt45 Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 P71, great pics ( you always have a smile on your face! ) - thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maalouly Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 mate I am jealous! i'm sure meeting DA would be a dream to alot of us leaf lovers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puros71 Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Well this was not my first trip, I have going to the island since 2001. It was the first time meeting Robaino in person for the first time though. I found Cuba these days much tighter meaning that there is shortages of food every where. You go to restaurants and you ask first "what do you have?" No milk is another item that is in shortage, so the governments gives real milk to children and adults get powdered milk if they can find it. Other than that I try to enjoy time with family and friends. And also I forgot to metion Cuba is so expensive compared to western standards. The Cubanomics I call it hahaha. I just know when your in Cuba expect the the craziness that comes along with being there. I just roll with the punches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thechenman Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Well this was not my first trip, I have going to the island since 2001. It was the first time meeting Robaino in person for the first time though. I found Cuba these days much tighter meaning that there is shortages of food every where. You go to restaurants and you ask first "what do you have?" No milk is another item that is in shortage, so the governments gives real milk to children and adults get powdered milk if they can find it. Other than that I try to enjoy time with family and friends. And also I forgot to metion Cuba is so expensive compared to western standards. The Cubanomics I call it hahaha. I just know when your in Cuba expect the the craziness that comes along with being there. I just roll with the punches. Thanks for your comments. Being someone who has always wanted to visit the ISOM, I found them very insightful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormin691 Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Cool pics thanks for posting them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rob Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Great photos! Great stories.... sounds great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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