Rip’s Journey to Cuba

I have been thinking how to organize and start this thread. Finally, I decided to start whatever came to my mind. I am starting this with some of the Cuban cigars I brought during my trip. I will add more information step by step.

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rzaman

I collected many cigars related items during my trip in Cuba but I was unable to bring everything with me for various reasons. Today I received another Limited Edition Montecristo Silver lining Humidor Salomónes No. 2.

This masterpiece was created from a collaboration between Habanos S.A. & Humidif which is a premier in the industry. 300 of these are available worldwide and this is number 209/300. This comes in an eye catching black leather bag. This humidor is fully lined with Spanish cedar wood, top silver lining and finished with creative artistic touch. I am very proud of it and can’t wait to receive the rest of the three humidors.

bbass2

wow!

mr.wendell1979

Very Wow!

The Kid

rzaman:
Thanks Rudy. You can compare with West and East Berlin in certain extends but please also remember that the Cubans have some internet access and they meet many foreigners. It is also the 21st century and the weakness of capitalism also has been exposed. I would say, they are caught in-between.

Well, the civil rights is questionable in my standard. However, civil right has different meaning to different people. At the same, my feeling is average Cubans would like to have little more freedom.

Prostitution is widely visible and commonly acceptable. This is one of the reason why many European travel to Cuba frequently.
The Kid:
Interesting article,, Dont know why but it reminds me of the differences that existed between West and East Berlin when the wall was up!!!,, I know this may sound like an off the wall question, but what are their civil rights like,, and or is prostitution prevalant in Cuba???Thanks for the photos and insight.

Thanks, and nice pick ups!!!!!!

jeep edson

holy crap rip. what a beauty. can't wait to see what the other humis look like. were these the ones you had to have built?

reggie713

that is one great looking humi!

jj20030

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1almB9zxX4

JDH

I LOVE THIS DISCUSSION!!!!! I LOVE THESE PICTURES!!!! I LOVE THESE STORIES!!!

BUT MOST OF ALL I LOVE IT THAT RIP IS HARING ALL THIS STUFF WITH US!!!!!!!!

rzaman

Thanks David and all. I will share whatever I learned from the trip. It is also a lot of fun to see the opinions.

JDH:
I LOVE THIS DISCUSSION!!!!! I LOVE THESE PICTURES!!!! I LOVE THESE STORIES!!!

BUT MOST OF ALL I LOVE IT THAT RIP IS HARING ALL THIS STUFF WITH US!!!!!!!!

rzaman

LOL...that's funny JJ...thanks!

jj20030:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1almB9zxX4

rzaman

Jeep, this is not custom made. This is one of the original. My friend from Casa del Habano sent this to me. I appreciate your kind words.

jeep edson:
holy crap rip. what a beauty. can't wait to see what the other humis look like. were these the ones you had to have built?

jliu

Rip. I love you. will you marry me?

marineatbn03

jliu:
Rip. I love you. will you marry me?

Can we be a threesome? Seriously Rip, very amazing stuff. I look forward to seeing what you put up next more than Jiunn looks forward to the newest Anime.

Vision

Wow.... This thread is sexier then the Daily Hottie thread

Martel

want...that...humi
very nice, man, very nice

catfishbluezz

Why do they come with a bag? Is it customary to transport your humi with a carrying bag? Is it a status or fashion symbol of sorts? I'm just trying to rationalize as it seems carrying around a humi would be rather cumbersome, and they are stationary items.

twistedstem

very nice gear there brother.glad you had a safe trip.thank you for sharing these pics and your experiences with us!

Bigshizza

Rip, those are some great pictures!! Love the architecture and style, just wonderful to be able to see it. Do you have any idea where the greatest numbers of tourists come from? I worked with a gal from Poland and she talked about her friends flying out of Canada since they had Polish visas. Does the government attempt to market to any particular European country that sends the most tourists? Thanks.

rzaman

I believe to make it more attractive they put them in a bag. I do not think it is practical to walk around with a 100 counts humidor in a bag LOL.

catfishbluezz:
Why do they come with a bag? Is it customary to transport your humi with a carrying bag? Is it a status or fashion symbol of sorts? I'm just trying to rationalize as it seems carrying around a humi would be rather cumbersome, and they are stationary items.

rzaman

Your welcome V.

twistedstem:
very nice gear there brother.glad you had a safe trip.thank you for sharing these pics and your experiences with us!

rzaman

Now I am scared-: )

marineatbn03:
jliu:
Rip. I love you. will you marry me?
Can we be a threesome? Seriously Rip, very amazing stuff. I look forward to seeing what you put up next more than Jiunn looks forward to the newest Anime.

rzaman

Most of the foreign tourists are from Canada and Europe. Cuban government traget the Canadians, Swiss, Spanish, English and the former Eastern European countries. However, they are open to all because they need the hard currencies. They even do not mind to provide visa to the Americans in a third country.

Bigshizza:
Rip, those are some great pictures!! Love the architecture and style, just wonderful to be able to see it. Do you have any idea where the greatest numbers of tourists come from? I worked with a gal from Poland and she talked about her friends flying out of Canada since they had Polish visas. Does the government attempt to market to any particular European country that sends the most tourists? Thanks.

rzaman

Cigar Aficionado Cuba issue’s cover page has beautiful picture of Hotel Saratoga’s coffee & drinks lounge. Saratoga also offers the best pizza in town. During my trip to Cuba I wanted to spend some time there. The hotel also has a roof top swimming pool, great view of the old Havana and the pizza parlor. I end up going there several times to meet many interesting people.

Hotel Saratoga, a relatively new addition to Old Havana’s hotel scene, is a stylish and luxurious establishment, which combines charming early 19th century elements with an inventive and tasteful modern décor and excellent facilities. It is must visit place if you visit Havana.

Indeed, the cover page bar looks beautiful but the cigar quality sucks. They have Paratagas Series D no. 4 and some Cohiba Siglo VI- overpriced dry- in my standard bad cigars. However, the coffee, fingerfoods and drinks quality is excellent as well as service.

The rooftop swimming pool area is classic and very relaxing. You can have a full close view of El Capitolio, or National Capitol Building in Havana, Cuba until after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, and is now home to the Cuban Academy of Sciences. Its design and name recall the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., but it is only superficially similar. Completed in 1929, it was the tallest building in Havana until the 1950s and houses the world's third largest indoor statue. The site the new building on 1 April 1926. Construction was overseen by the U.S. firm of Purdy and Henderson.te were based in the building. When the Communist Regime abolished and disbanded the Congress in 1959, the building lost its purpose as the House of the People. Later it ended up as the headquarters of the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment. The main floor (which is on the first storey) is open to visitors and many of the rooms are used to host conferences and meetings. The neoclassical building has some resemblance to the U.S. Capitol, although according to Raynieri the inspiration for the cupola came from the Panthéon in Paris. [Source: Wikipedia]

There is also a clear view of the Gran Teatro de La Habana (Spanish "Great Theatre of Havana") is located in the Paseo del Prado in Havana, Cuba. It is located in a building known as the Palace of the Galician Centre which served as a place of social reunion for the Galician immigrants in Havana. The theatre has been home of the Cuban National Ballet and, on its main stage, of the International Ballet Festival of Havana. It facilities include theatres, a concert hall, conference rooms, and a video screening room, as well as an art gallery, a choral center, and several rehearsal halls for danzarias groups and dance companies. It was officially opened in 1838, although its first presentation occurred on November 1837. [Source: Wikipedia]

I was lucky to enjoy a ballerina show of world famous Cuban Ballerina Lizt Alfonso. I had a VIP invitation through a friend. Before the show, I was invited to her private guest room and talked half an hour with her and her husband. She is very passionate about her artistic skills. I was honored to spend some time with her over a cigar and couple cups of Cuban coffee Cordadito. This is one of my highlighted memories in Cuba. I also met another veteran world famous ballerina Alicia Alfonco in Robina’s tobacco farm. I will discuss about it some other time.

Usually, she and her dance group perform couple times a year in different part of Cuba and rest of the time she travels around the world. I want to mention something interesting here. Now a day’s ballerina is an entertainment element for the elegant society but in Cuba it is different. Though many high government officials, diplomats came to enjoy the show but Cuba is socialist nation so the average citizens also attend in a huge volume. Though I was wearing tuxedo and enjoy the show from a VIP box but it was very nice to see many average Cuban came to enjoy the show with plain cloth. I told my friend, I wish you told me this earlier so I could have seat next to average Cubans and talk to them. It is more fun to be with real people rather than the so-called VIPs. I was fascinated to see the equality in Cuba. Something is still good about socialism.

Here is her website if you want to know more about Litz Alfonco:

http://www.liztalfonso.com/?page=Lizt

Cuba is a very cultured country with rich history, food and music. One of my hobby is also to collect art within my limited ability. I was able to collect some wonderful Cuban paintings and décor during my trip.

There is also a nice view of Paratagas cigar factory from the Saragota roof.

Here are some pictures of Hotel Saragota. I took these pictures in different days.

0patience

Absolutely beautiful pictures. You sure you're not a professional photographer?
What camera are you using? Those pictures are amazing.

jeep edson

great stuff rip. love the old cars. was it a car show or something or are there just alot of older classic style cars around.

rzaman

Thanks Tony. I am an amateur photographer. I take pictures mostly for fun. I use Nikon D800E with an additional powerful macro lens.

0patience:
Absolutely beautiful pictures. You sure you're not a professional photographer?
What camera are you using? Those pictures are amazing.

rzaman

Thanks Jeep. Cuba has many old cars from 1050s. They are all over the city and the country. Now a days some new model cars are also entering to the country. However, Havana still has 60s classical feel.

jeep edson:
great stuff rip. love the old cars. was it a car show or something or are there just alot of older classic style cars around.

robertgreen30

rzaman:
Thanks Jeep. Cuba has many old cars from 1050s. They are all over the city and the country. Now a days some new model cars are also entering to the country. However, Havana still has 60s classical feel.
jeep edson:
great stuff rip. love the old cars. was it a car show or something or are there just alot of older classic style cars around.

tRip they had cars from 1050's lol they beat the germans to making cars. Great pics, just messing with ya with the year

0patience

rzaman:
Thanks Tony. I am an amateur photographer. I take pictures mostly for fun. I use Nikon D800E with an additional powerful macro lens.
0patience:
Absolutely beautiful pictures. You sure you're not a professional photographer?
What camera are you using? Those pictures are amazing.

You never cease to amaze me. Your artistic view on pictures is amazing.
Add to that your writings, simply amazing.

rzaman

Just came back from Cuba. I am very pleased to have another memorable trip with a lot of cigar personalities, artists and other Cuban people. I took thousands of pictures of culture & people of Cuba. I will post them one by one.

I got more cigars but need some time to take pictures. One of the best collections from this trip is a very Rare and Limited Edition Partagas classic looking humidor. They only made 80 and I collected 22nd one. The unique part of this humidor represents the entire Partagas cigar building architecture which was originally built in 1845. The other collection is 25 years aged Santiago de Cuba rum. This is simply a gem. Anyway, I am also so happy to finally be back home.