Posted on 02/27/2006 9:34:02 PM PST by NormsRevenge
HAVANA (AFP) - More than a thousand cigar lovers from 60 countries ringed the center of the cigar universe in Havana, comparing notes and celebrating Cuba's finest smokes.
Distributors, specialists and simple aficionados packed opening day of the Eighth Habanos Festival, an annual event sponsored by Habanos, a global distributor of the esteemed Cuban cigar.
British actor Joseph Fiennes was among a hundred celebrities on hand for the festivities, dedicated this year to Habanos' leading brand, Cohiba.
The presence of the 36-year-old actor at the event, who played the lead of Will Shakespeare in the 1998 film comedy "Shakespeare in Love," coincided with an opening performance based on the Bard's "Romeo and Juliet" at the Havana Grand Theater.
The performance of "Shakespeare and His Masks" by the Cuba National Ballet marked the 131st anniversary of the Romeo y Julieta brand.
"We dedicate this festival to the emblematic brands of premium Cuban cigars" which total 34 brands of pure, hand-rolled tobacco, said Enrique Babot, marketing director of Habanos SA, the Spanish-Cuban-French company that virtually holds a monopoly on Cuban cigars.
The festival will present newcomers to the Habanos stable in 2006 -- among them Top Cohiba -- and includes a trade fair, an auction of humidors and visits to tobacco fields and factories. The annual event ends with a gala dinner Friday.
Cigars sorted according to their color and size. More than a thousand cigar lovers from 60 countries ringed the center of the cigar universe in Havana, comparing notes and celebrating Cuba's finest smokes.(AFP/File/Niurka Barroso)
As soon as Castro dies, Cuba is going to see a lot of greenbacks flooding their country.
That is assuming that Cuba goes capitalist. There's always the possibility that Hugo Chavez, Venezuela, is planning on annexing Cuba when Castro kicks the bucket.
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That is a very nice jacket....8>)
Now Johnny, I know we are at the Cuban Cigar store, but we're not buying anything here because it's illegal, immoral and we hate cuba, so stop asking.
Just look and be quiet!
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I was gonna go, but I found out I'd be seated next to Jimmy Carter on the plane. |
You are exactly correct. Cuba will be the richest country in the Caribbean by a wide margin. Gambling, girls, weather, beaches, food, cigars, history -- just like the early part of the 20 century, Cuba will be "THE" place to be for the rich and famous. Bring democracy on! I need Cohiba's...
Jerry : I got some Cubans for George's wedding . They were more than I wanted to pay for but what the hell !
Kramer : Oh yeah baby . (spit , spit) What are these ? " Perducto de Peru " Jerry , if you think these are Cubans you have another thing coming .
Jerry : Peru ! I paid $300 bucks for these . I could have bought a house in Peru for $300 bucks !
Kramer : You got ripped buddy .
Jerry : I got to pay this Todd Gack guy $300 bucks just so he has some excuse to see Elaine again without asking her out .
Kramer : That's a nice name . Todd Gack . What is that Dutch ?
I got some Cubans... but I use them to roll crepes.
On camping trips the first night the girls in the group would smoke Swisher Sweets. They get nasty about half way through.
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They get nasty just thinking about buying them. |
"Uh, Monica, I think you STILL don't quite get how a cigar works."
A worker carries freshly picked tobacco leaves to pile them in a field in the western province of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006. The 8th edition of the International Cigar Festival, attended by hundreds of cigar aficionados from 60 countries, includes visits to plantations and cigar factories.(AP Photo/ Javier Galeano)
Cuban women select Cohiba cigars at the El Laguito cigar factory in Havana,Cuba,Thursday, March 2,2006. The 8th edition of the International Cigar Festival, attended by hundreds of cigar aficionados from 60 countries, includes visits to plantations and cigar factories. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
It's been maybe 15yrs since the good stuff came out of Cuba and the storms are not helping it's future. Today the Dominican Republic is producing some great sticks. I've been trying products yet to be released from Mejico and would bet on them getting their foot in the door and being noticed. JR continues to carry "protections" on some desired lines, I wonder what happens when those controls end?
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