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CUBA
Had a fantastic time in Cuba and it was even better than i had anticipated.The weather was apparently unusually hot for the time of year and the humidity was hard going at times.
Spent the first few nights at the Parque Central in Havana, which is a really nice hotel, with a small cigar shop on the second floor.Great views from the roof and a cool little pool as well.
Visited the rum factory, La Corona, Partagas factory and the Nacional hotel, with its cool cigar shop in the basement and the Churchill bar.Great stuff indeed.
Old havana city is fantastic for seafood, and I also managed to get a look at the huge cigar museum which will not be completed for a couple of years, but should be well worth a visit when finished.Visited Hemingways old haunts and drank some first class mojitos in some of the well known watering holes in the city.
Moved onto Vinales, in Pinar Del Rio, and this was one of my favourite places of the holiday due to the Tobacco plantations, and the valley itself.Took a trip through the middle of the Vinales mountains, which was once used by the Taino indians.
Stopped at one of the small rural factories and watched around 10 women rolling Trinidad robustos and Reyes.Fantastic experience, although as normal you were not allowed to take any photographs within the factory.Glorious to see thousands of Trinidad cigars in front of you all waiting to be checked and boxed.
Spent a night at the Jardinere hotel in Vinales, which has a spectacular view of the tobacco fields and the entire valley.There is a small official LCDH shop at the side of the hotel with a very knowledgable manager who sold me a box of 03 JL No1 which were in fantastic condition.
Visited a working farm the following day where they grew the tobacco plants and there was a cigar roller working in the middle of a field rolling cigars from the local leaves.Purchased 10 Robustos from him and he rolled me a couple as i sat and watched him work.
Spent the next few days in Trinidad and Seroa.Both beautifull places; although Trinidad is one of the poorest places in the country the people were very friendly, i met a roller in one of the bars who rolled me a torpedo (free gratis) which was as good as any MC No2 I have had.
Stayed at the La Cuevas hotel, which looks onto Trinidad and is a nice place which does some great food, especially the locally caught lobster.
Travelled around Sancti Spiritus, bay of pigs and all the small towns in that area, and I think you only get to appreciate the people and the real Cuba when you get out of Havana and meet the people and understand the way they live their lives and the culture of the country.
Ended up at the Melia Varadero and although it is a very nice hotel it does not represent the real Cuba, and you could be anywhere in the Carribean when you are there.
One of the best cigar shops I found was the two storey LCDH shop in Varadero, which had a good selection of brands and vitolas.
I did find it difficult to source some of the EL which I had intended purchasing while in the country.There appeared to be a distinct lack of EL, and I never came accross any of the shortlist i had complied before I left the UK.
The cigar prices did not seem to differ between the various shops and locations I visited, and i only brought my legal allowance back, this included Trinidad Robustos,JL No1 and No2 and some cigars rolled for me while in Vinales.
I am glad I went over sooner rather than later.As I am sure you are aware, they are now letting flights into Cuba from LA and Miami, and there were around 60 flights into the country while i was there.The beginning of the end perhaps?
PS.I have posted some photographs on my home page.
Spent the first few nights at the Parque Central in Havana, which is a really nice hotel, with a small cigar shop on the second floor.Great views from the roof and a cool little pool as well.
Visited the rum factory, La Corona, Partagas factory and the Nacional hotel, with its cool cigar shop in the basement and the Churchill bar.Great stuff indeed.
Old havana city is fantastic for seafood, and I also managed to get a look at the huge cigar museum which will not be completed for a couple of years, but should be well worth a visit when finished.Visited Hemingways old haunts and drank some first class mojitos in some of the well known watering holes in the city.
Moved onto Vinales, in Pinar Del Rio, and this was one of my favourite places of the holiday due to the Tobacco plantations, and the valley itself.Took a trip through the middle of the Vinales mountains, which was once used by the Taino indians.
Stopped at one of the small rural factories and watched around 10 women rolling Trinidad robustos and Reyes.Fantastic experience, although as normal you were not allowed to take any photographs within the factory.Glorious to see thousands of Trinidad cigars in front of you all waiting to be checked and boxed.
Spent a night at the Jardinere hotel in Vinales, which has a spectacular view of the tobacco fields and the entire valley.There is a small official LCDH shop at the side of the hotel with a very knowledgable manager who sold me a box of 03 JL No1 which were in fantastic condition.
Visited a working farm the following day where they grew the tobacco plants and there was a cigar roller working in the middle of a field rolling cigars from the local leaves.Purchased 10 Robustos from him and he rolled me a couple as i sat and watched him work.
Spent the next few days in Trinidad and Seroa.Both beautifull places; although Trinidad is one of the poorest places in the country the people were very friendly, i met a roller in one of the bars who rolled me a torpedo (free gratis) which was as good as any MC No2 I have had.
Stayed at the La Cuevas hotel, which looks onto Trinidad and is a nice place which does some great food, especially the locally caught lobster.
Travelled around Sancti Spiritus, bay of pigs and all the small towns in that area, and I think you only get to appreciate the people and the real Cuba when you get out of Havana and meet the people and understand the way they live their lives and the culture of the country.
Ended up at the Melia Varadero and although it is a very nice hotel it does not represent the real Cuba, and you could be anywhere in the Carribean when you are there.
One of the best cigar shops I found was the two storey LCDH shop in Varadero, which had a good selection of brands and vitolas.
I did find it difficult to source some of the EL which I had intended purchasing while in the country.There appeared to be a distinct lack of EL, and I never came accross any of the shortlist i had complied before I left the UK.
The cigar prices did not seem to differ between the various shops and locations I visited, and i only brought my legal allowance back, this included Trinidad Robustos,JL No1 and No2 and some cigars rolled for me while in Vinales.
I am glad I went over sooner rather than later.As I am sure you are aware, they are now letting flights into Cuba from LA and Miami, and there were around 60 flights into the country while i was there.The beginning of the end perhaps?
PS.I have posted some photographs on my home page.
)
"Come in here, dear Boy, have a cigar" ....Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) 
On behalf of mis amigos 
americanos... 
Castro already did a pretty good job of that 
magical penninsula.
Ray Jay
don TJ and the 
Coros
the love of my life 
is half american but some do have a way of shall we say being brash
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