The Party: Cuba Day 3

[El Presidente]

I was running around a little on the Party day. Please post your party Pics here on this thread

FOH Party Day was the Monday. I knew it was going to be a big day as it was to kick off at 12:30/1pm and head on until whenever.

I was up early having got back from the hospital with Nate around 2am that morning. I grabbed a couple of hours sleep, checked in on him (he was fine), jumped in the pool for a few laps and then went to my favourite table at the end of the garden overlooking the water with a pot of black coffee and a custom. I do this some mornings to catch the post dawn. Some days I have just arrived from a night out but it is always worthwhile when the weather is like this.

There was a lot to be done but our Mr Fix it "Machine" had it in hand. Caterers in at 11am. Rooms locked off. DJ at 12 and things would roll on. We were to have 60 people in total throughout the day. The number one concern was weather. All good on that front and we were lucky as it rained off and on for the rest of the week. Thank you Jesus

Before the party I had to get our group to the Partagas Divan to register for the following nights opening dinner. Our bus picked up the group from the Nacional and can I say...some were a little worse for wear after the 3 nights of bedlam

The Partagas Divan was bedlam with people from all over the world registering. Hamlet holds court and is worth his weight in gold. He ensures our group is registered albeit my suggestion that we register all on a separate piece of paper caused administrative bedlam.

"Hermano, Buddy, we need to stick to the system"

"Here is a suggestion ...staple the piece of paper with our 30 people to the back of your sheet"

Hermano, Buddy....do you think we have a staple!"

In the end it went pretty smoothly but after an hour at Partagas I got the team back on the bus for a trip to LCDH 5th and 16th that was only 5 minutes from my house. Carlos Robaina was a great host and I bought a bottle of Santiago 20 that we could share among us while enjoying a cigar.

It was nearing party time and so we headed back to the house at 12:45

I love Cuba....nothing was prepared

• The beers were hot. I had to explain that putting Ice on the bottom of coolers and beers on top was not the best way to do it.
• The DJ had just turned up. They started playing an hour later.
• The Caterers just turned up. Food delayed
• No glassware. No cold wine.

Between Machin, myself and the rest of the group (and thank you for that) we had it sorted out in quick order. Well....quickish.

We moved cold beers and wine from our own stocks upstairs and shot it downstairs. We made some emergency runs for more ice. I explained to the barmen what a slurry was. In the end we all got it done together.

The wonderful thing about the place we stay in is that the vista over the water and tranquility is an experience in itself. The salt water pool is glorious and that is where most of the guests headed.

We named the house the Australian Embassy. foxy was the honorary Aussie for the week!

45 minutes behind schedule and I was comfortable that we were in for a hell of an afternoon evening.

The Dj's started playing and I perused the scene. Ryan and Nate are in the pool. Both will remove a shirt at the earliest opportunity. It was "Peck Off" They were quickly joined by most of the crew on a glorious Havana afternoon. The booze was flowing, the canapes being served.

I went in to check the progress of the lunch. Even I was amazed.

Full Roast Pig

Fresh Caught Red Snapper

Prawns/shrimps

Chickens

No Duck

Lobster

Roast beef

Black beans and Rice

Multitude of fresh salads

Fresh Fruit Platters

By this time there were people streaming in, old friends and new. Everyone was mingling, laughing, enjoying the afternoon. i went to get some money from my room to pay for some more ice only to find it was occupied by a masseuse giving massages. So much for locking off the rooms ......still I had to applaud the ingenuity of my friends!

Lunch really was a tremendous feast and the hour was now nearing 4pm. I had a little treat in store and and while the guests were tucking into their mojito's, red wines and beers, I introduced one of the great Cuban Classical and Contemporary Guitarists in Luis Manuel Molina.

For the next hour you could hear a pin drop. In the warmth of a setting sun, overlooking the water, what played out was surreal. There are certain times you recall in your life as something truly special. This was one of those times. Thank you Senior Molina for the honour you bestowed upon us. Magic was made.

Twilight now and the salsa band kicked in. More guests arrived, people drank, laughed and danced. Some lobster tails cooked over coals were prepared under the palm trees.

Hamlet arrived after having pulled himself away from the Partagas Divan. He is a class act bringing with him 50 of his Salomones to hand out.

We ran out of beer. We went and got more and we partied on and on and on.

In the end, we all headed out. I have a shaky recollection of this part of the evening.

A massive thank you to one and all. Great parties are not just about good food and music but about great people sharing time together. It wouldn't have been the same without your magnificent company

I know we arrived home at 5 am or thereabouts.

Pulled pork roll, Swim in the pool. Coffee by the water. Reset. Today is another day.

Please post your party photos here.

[Jeremy Festa]

Sweeeeet

[Ramrod918]

Sounds like a wonderful time

[madandana]

A great day. Again I didn't even know there were issues, must have been quickly resolved. Machin kept Dana full of chilled white wine.

[Habana Mike]

Fantastic day for sure. Everything Rob said is spot on, though not mentioning the Legendario Rum and Foxy's Teeling Irish Whiskey.

Both outstanding in their own right though my advice is to go with one or the other, not both

Quick dip in the pool end of day, truly a tonic, and finished off the night after some drinks and dancing at Gato with a Media Noche on the veranda of the Nacional as the skies brightened.

Glorious!

[Bartolomeo]

Summarized pretty well, probably the highlight of my trip, what a day.....

[helix]

Pics.

[NJP]

I love it RA " Appluading the integrity of your friends".....what are mates for.

[OZCUBAN]

Great stuff guys the stuff of legend

[dobaman]

heres a few of mine

[Mr. Japan]

Glorious.

Beautiful.

Envious :-)

[amosnaim]

Sounds fantastic! next year I am joining too...

[IPORTER]

Top class review/stories and fantastic photos!!!! Well done to all!!!

[AbuAmelia]

All the pictures I have from the party have been pretty much posted, but I'll post them anyways.

[CaptainQuintero]

Looked increible!

How are these places held? Are they private residences you rent off individuals or state owned and you hire off them? They are pre embargo homes I'm guessing, not new?

[Hash]

mangifique.

[tmac77]

A great day Rob thanks for all your hospitality on the day. Great friends, laughter, food and camaraderie. Weather was great and the saltwater pool was a treat to swim in for a quick cool down.

A nice thanks out to Rob Fox who shared with all some nice UK regionals and some fantastic Teeling wiskey. The later of which was my breakfast. .............

[helix]

Good ones Glen.

[peanutpete]

Sounds like a fantastic time was had by one and all will have to try to get out there for next years fun and games

[tmac77]

Where is a pic of Keith passed out on the couch.... went and Keithed himself.

[Cigar Surgeon]

Where is a pic of Keith passed out on the couch.... went and Keithed himself.

Working on it. Photos should start trickling out over the next few days

[LLC]

I agree it was a great day and Rob out did himself with this great party. Top notch!

[GottaBeKD]

The amount of booze consumed was pretty impressive.

[El Presidente]

Looked increible!

How are these places held? Are they private residences you rent off individuals or state owned and you hire off them? They are pre embargo homes I'm guessing, not new?

Cap the house is owned privately and rented out. the state picks up 30% of rent or thereabouts. The property was held in the family pre-revolution.

[CaptainQuintero]

 

Cap the house is owned privately and rented out. the state picks up 30% of rent or thereabouts. The property was held in the family pre-revolution. 

Ah right thanks the nationalisation was a lot more complicated than just taking all the big homes and moving in new people then I guess! The way some texts read it seemed like all the big homes were given over to multiple families etc like some of the old cigar factories are inhabited now.

This is the hypocrisy of all revolutions I suppose.

It looks like a stunning place still!