El Presidente Posted September 18, 2007 Posted September 18, 2007 Welcome back Pictures of the maid would be welcome :-D
Jbailey Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 Looks and sounds like you had a great trip. I would go nuts in that store if I could ever get there.
Jimmy2 Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 Glad you had a great time.:-) One day i hope i can enjoy the things you have seen and done there:-( .
Ginseng Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 Wow, Thank you for the photo-travelogue! That store looked well stocked. And they had aged goods too? Wow. Was your impression that the storage conditions reflected what we in the cooler climes regard as optimal? That is, 70F or cooler and humidity well controlled (65% or lower?) Wilkey
Mel39 Posted September 19, 2007 Author Posted September 19, 2007 » is, 70F or cooler and humidity well controlled (65% or lower?) » » Wilkey Sorry Wilkey, didn't check measurements but one big problem would've been the frequent power cuts. One day, the air-con was off for several hours. Would think relative-humidity would be quite high as I was told it was in the 90s outside the store. Mel39
Mel39 Posted September 19, 2007 Author Posted September 19, 2007 » What shop was that? It was the onsite store at the Hotel Atlantico, Guadalavaca. Mel39
bassman Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 I was in Guadalavaca in 2001. did you ride the steam train at Rafael Freyre?
jwm8592 Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 Well done Mel, looks like you had a great time.
Mel39 Posted September 19, 2007 Author Posted September 19, 2007 » I was in Guadalavaca in 2001. did you ride the steam train at Rafael » Freyre? 'fraid not bassman. Just didn't do any trips as it was too hot. The cool of the Habanos shop was just too inviting. I spent many an hour there, buying a single stick and enjoying a cup of coffee with a shot of Havana Club Ron Siepte Años at 80cents a pop. Coincidently, the maid has said I could stay with her if I return and she lives in Rafael Freyre, so next time maybe. I didn't visit the cigar factory at Holguin either. I think they churn out the local smokes, Selectos there. They must be pretty cheap as my maid gave me a 25 bundle to take home with me. Pretty nondesript really although very fresh. Cheers, Mel39
Mel39 Posted September 20, 2007 Author Posted September 20, 2007 » I hope you tipped her well ! I did indeed. At one point I wondered if that was the only reason she wanted me but as the days went by it proved not to be the case. I also tipped well in the bars and restaurants as I knew that the staff were badly paid and relied on tips to supplement their income. Mel39
CoryOllis Posted September 27, 2007 Posted September 27, 2007 » » I hope you tipped her well ! » » I did indeed. » At one point I wondered if that was the only reason she wanted me but as » the days went by it proved not to be the case. » I also tipped well in the bars and restaurants as I knew that the staff » were badly paid and relied on tips to supplement their income. » » Mel39 Outstanding! Both the post and your generosity.
mgillett Posted September 28, 2007 Posted September 28, 2007 Nice pics Mel. Sounds like a trip for the future. When I first opened this thread I though I was looking at a picture of Rodney Marsh... To me, the resemblence in the first picture is uncanny...
Mel39 Posted November 15, 2008 Author Posted November 15, 2008 Back after two weeks on Cuba. Won't get into politics but have to say that the Cubans I met (all working for the vast Atlantico, Guadalavaca complex) seemed contented with their lot. Whilst accepting the odd Peso, they bent over backwards to please and were generous with their reciprocation. (Especially my maid);-) Guadalavaca is very much off the beaten track and I didn't venture outside the complex. It was just too hot for me to do trips and excursions. If I return it would probably be to Valdavero or nearer Havana which I did not visit. It was too far and too expensive. I spent a lot of my fortnight in the well stocked Official Habanos Store with walk-in Humi and comfortable Divan. I came away with around 200 cigars and no questions asked. I paid around the $US200 mark for a box. A good deal was the Cohiba Pyramides selection for 47.50 CUCS. A box of Bolivar Gigantes from 2002 cost me $240. Credit Card sales are calculated in $US. Just a few pics to give some idea of the onsite store. Mel39 Chillin' in the Divan The counter Store Manager Pose with a Siggie in front of the well stocked walk-in Humi
Mel39 Posted November 15, 2008 Author Posted November 15, 2008 » Welcome back » » Pictures of the maid would be welcome :-D Your wish is my command O Prez. No norty ones but bear in mind she was 46 and I'm 68 next month and she did have some bottle. (Cockney rhyming slang=bottle and glass) Mel39
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now