Havana bound, at last!

[Simon Bolivar]

Just a line to say we are all packed & waiting for our taxi to take us to Brussels airport 0500 tomorrow morning.
I have spent the last 4yrs reading of others trips to Cuba & never really thought I would make it. Fortune has turned in my favour & Mrs Bolivar agreed to spend our 20th Wedding Anniversary 'honeymoon' in Cuba. Of course this is not lads trip we have to fit in romantic & evenings & 9 days in the 'all inclusive' at Varadero but I'll try to stuggle through that & enjoy the holiday as a whole.
Bad news to start with is that it's possible the Partagas factory has closed for re-furb after the Festival We'll try a visit on Monday just incase the shop is open at least. Anyway looking for a cab pof 50 Boli CG's & some Monte No2 Reserva. Fingers crossed, will let you all know how it went on our return.

[Superbrother]

Great stuff, hope you have a splendid time.

[bigbarneyhotdog]

Hope you both enjoy yourselves mate

[spirit_of_will]

Have a totally enjoyable and relaxing break... spent my honeymoon out there last Dec and loved every minute of it. My first Cuban was had in Havana after a chat with the barman at the Nacional! A trip round the Partagas factory and I'm seemingly hooked... bloody wish I knew then what I know now!

You'll love Havana... so much to see and take in. And Varadero is perfect for chilling out... gorgeous long stretch of beach - try and walk its length!

Enjoy!

[PoohBore]

I hope you have a fabulous time, I love the place. Try the shop in the playa Americas shopping centre. Lovely staff and they a nice selection of stuff. Where are you staying in varadero?

[travisbickle34]

Enjoy Mr Bolivar. I am ill with jealousy

[spooner]

Have a superb time, one of my must get to destinations for obvious reasons.....and again enjoy it...

[monkey66]

Have a great time Simon.

[J Cano]

Have a safe trip my friend. If it is not to much to ask could you bring me that Hoyo Humidor from the Habanos Auction. Thanks

[Eddie]

You must have persuasion techniques the Gestapo would be proud of. Have a good trip and congrats on 20 years!

[Moon Dancer]

Adi?s,se?or y la se?ora Bol?var

[SmokeyDave]

Superb, enjoy every minute, hopefully we will get there too one day.

[nicwing]

Despite everything that the Cuban lack of a communications system could throw at and the fact that I left my phone charger in Pinar del Rio, I managed to meet up with Simon and his lady wife at a cigar store in Old Havana on Monday afternoon. We had a great smoke and a beer and wandered the old town for a while before I took my leave.
I had an update text from them on Tuesday just before I left to say that they had landed in Vinales and had made it out to the Robaina farm so sounds like they were doing well.

Simon has some more pictures of our meet on his camera which I am sure he will post when he gets back but here for now are a couple of mine:

[cohibaIV]

Cool that you both meet up Nic..

Good to have you back in old cold Blighty too..

[Simon Bolivar]

SAM_2299.jpgSAM_2298.jpg
Well back in Blighty & back at work. Had an amzing trip. I am only offshore for a week this trip & things are hectic so I expect to wait until I get home, can marry up my pics with the best of the wife's & then I'll start a full report but just to reply to Nic, here is the photo my wife took of our brief but pleasant mini Havava herf.
I have a pre-rev Farach & Nic has a Hoyo Epi No 2 '99, both I believe matched the occasion.