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Rips Journey to Cuba
rzaman
Posts: 2,650 ✭✭✭
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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Regular Cuban cigars
Aged Cubans:
Davidoff Chateau Lafite from 1969
Rafael Gonzalez from 2000
Cuaba Diademas from 2008
Trinidad Fundadores from 2003
Cuaba Exclusivo from 2003
Cuban Special releases:
X Edicion Festival del Habano from 2009
San Cristobal de La Habana. Released in 2004.
Very special Partagas release only 100 boxes. I got box number 035 of 100
Some very special 2010 release only for Partagas festival. These are not for sale
Some very special for 2012 release only for Partagas festival. There are not for sale
Famous Cuban band posters.
WELL DONE RIP!
awesome Rip!
Cuba has the reputation and fame to be the best cigar maker in the world. They have the perfect weather, balanced soil, temperature and the humidity to grow tobacco plants. In fact, the entire country is a natural humidor. People do not use humidor rather than lay there cigars inside the cigar box unless someone use air conditioner in their house. Few people can afford air conditioning system except few exceptions. One my goal was to discover and get familiar with the Cuban cigar culture.
The outsiders imagination about Cuba is- majority people are holding a cigar in hand. Unfortunately, most of the picture we see about Havana and Cuba also publish pictures like that. However, in reality it is opposite. Few Cubans smoke cigars and it is a habit for the old generation. The Cuban government used to distribute cigars as part of the rationing system. In the western world some of us might not be familiar what Rationing system" is.
Rationing system:
The Rationing in Cuba refers to the system of food distribution known in Cuba as the Libreta de Abastecimiento. The system establishes the rations each person is allowed to buy through that system, and the frequency of supplies. The vast majority of Cuban families rely, for their food intake, on the Libreta de Abastecimiento (literally, "Supplies booklet") distribution system, instated on March 12, 1962. The system establishes the rations each person is allowed to buy through the system, and the frequency of supplies. Most of these products are distributed at the local bodega (convenience store specialized in distributing these rations), and in the case of meat, poultry or fish, at the local carnicería (meat store). Other industrial products are also included in the libreta, such as cigarettes, cigars, matches and cooking fuels (liquified gas, alcohol, kerosene or even charcoal, depending on each persons means for cooking). Other products can also be distributed through this method, such as light bulbs and other home supplies.
Some products and prices displayed at a bodega (as of January 2011). Products included in the libreta vary according to age and gender. For example, children below 7 years old are provided 1 litre of milk per day, as are the elderly, the ill, and pregnant women. Adults above 65 years are entitled to different allowances, as well. Granting a special diet requires presentation of a medical certificate which confirms the health condition and what product requirements this condition has.
A Government office, specially created for this task, the OFICODA, distributes the libreta to all citizens each year, in the form of a small booklet. This booklet contains pages indicating the exact number and age groups of persons composing the family nucleus (typically, one booklet is released per family nucleus), as well as eventual dietary indications. A persons products are distributed only at the bodega that serves their area of official residence. A person cannot receive their products somewhere else, so each change of address requires returning to the OFICODA to update the booklet's data, and those living away from their registered addresses have to return to the previous area for their supplies.
Products distributed through the libreta mechanism are sold at subsidized prices, which have been kept more or less stable since its inception (the mean salary of a worker has varied very little since, as well. The libreta contains a page for every month, where the clerk marks what products were withdrawn, and in which quantities. Cubans are required to present the libreta each time they buy the rations.
At its inception, the rationing system included not only food products, but industrial products as well. Along with the libreta, a tear-off coupon booklet was distributed, whose purpose was to set the allowances for industrial products, mainly clothing, shoes, and home products, as well as rationing the toys sold to families with children (which were allowed 3 different toys per child per year, usually sold near or at January 6, the Three Kings Day, or Día de Reyes). After the demise of the Eastern Bloc in 1991, Cuba entered the "Special Period" and industrial products were no longer distributed through this system.
A specific set of laws regulate the functioning of the system, as well as establishing penalties for its misuse. Most irregularities deal with clerks not signing the products in the booklet, or signing them incorrectly, and weighting of the products distributed. Citizens could be legally liable if they don't promptly inform the local OFICODA of any changes in the composition of the family nucleus.[Source: Wikipedia. In fact I am going to update some updated information in Wikipedia]
Cuba has been changing but very slowly. Now a day there is also private bodegas where people can buy with their own money. However, the average salary in Cuba is $25-35 per month. It is not enough to maintain a standard daily life. Some people also exchange food with soap, cosmetics, cigars or whatever they can offer in exchange of goods. Lot of things happens underground. People who work for tourism industry, foreign organizations have more extra cash to afford better food and accessories. The other new trend is the remittance from the Cuban-Americans. The Cuban families who have access to this have a better life and created a different upper class in Cuba. As a result now they have a lot of new stores with foreign brands like Hush Puppies, United Colors of Benetton, pepe Jeans etc. I saw a leather jacket offering US$265 in a store. It is interesting. This also created an imbalance in the society.
However, at the same time I have to say Cuban medical system is pretty good. I cant recall seeing that many super skinny (Malnutrition) or mega- obesity in Havana and Pinar del Rio. People look pretty healthy, upbeat and happy. I do not care what the typical media says but Cuba is in much better shape than we realize. Though the gap between the rich and poor in the society is rising and as well as the corruption in the government. At the same time, I question myself how much morale right I have to question when the developed nations have the same issues. I give some credit to the Cubans for having a stable economic and social system under the current economic embargo. The time has come to question ourselves, is it a logical foreign policy? Are we titled towards the Cuban-American interest rather than our global and national interest? This is my personal opinion so please take it with a grain of salt. However, at the same time, I credit my government to give me the right to express my opinion where a Cuban cant. I cherish my freedom of speech which lacks in Cuba.
My other interesting observation is, though economically Cuba has been suffering for six decades but there are no slums in Havana. Though people live in a tiny place but they are all in concrete buildings with stable electric supply, running water and decent sanitation system. This is completely opposite of upcoming emerging economies like Russia, China, India and Brazil with billions of dollar economy. This impressed me the most about Cuba. However, the recent slow economic reform and the increasing gap between two classes are a real challenge in Cuba. There is a sad part of daily life. There is no real motivation to be creative or be a dreamer for a better life. Cuban people are nice as any other average people on earth but they are caught in between the political turmoil of the U.S. embargo and the current Communist Government. Both sides understand the reality but do not want to do anything about it. As a result the general Cubans are suffering. Though people seem happier and upbeat but something lacks in the society. I could have met some people and take some pictures of the reality but I didnt want to put anyone in trouble. I saw it and will keep it in my mind. However, my goal is to share you a balanced report about Cuba.
I apologize for so much talk and not present you the Cigar Aficionado kind of good life style Cuban report but I want to be honest with myself about my experience in Cuba.
Now back to the cigar culture in Cuba. In seven days of my stay, I saw only three Cubans smoking cigars and all of them are 50+. My friend there told me that recently the Cuban government stops distributing cigars to the general citizens through the rationing systems as part of the austerity measure. As a result less and less senior citizen can afford smoking cigars. The new generation either cannot afford or interested to smoke cigars. They smoke cigarettes a lot. Practically, almost every place is smoking zone but at the same time Havana is a very clean city. Clean as most of the major western cities.
There are two major currencies in Cuba, the currency peso for the locals and CUC for the foreigners. US$ 1 is equal to 1 CUC. Some locals buy Cuban cigars from the market with few cents which are the lowest grade. They cannot imagine smoking a true Habano. It is sad to see how the best cigars are all rolled for the foreigners which contradict their equal society system. I will write a separated post about the currency conversion. Just a quick note, Americans loss 13% value when they covert US$ to Cuban CUC.
Indeed, Cuba has many world class cigar lounges, stores to relax a fine Habano with great food and drinks. Though there is no signature Cohiba Atmosphere lounges. Almost every cigar lounge will offer you a wonderful cup of Cuban coffee with your cigar. FYI, Cuban coffee is excellent. Eevery lounge people are well trained and very friendly. I enjoyed most of them and my favorites Casa del habanos are in 5th Av., Hotel Melia Cohiba. The other places are in Hotel Saratoga coffee and cigar lounge and the Habana club (exclusively for the diplomats and higher officials and foreign dignitaries. Cuba also makes sea food very well. The Havana Club rum (Mestros or Maximo are definitely world class rum) as well as Santiago rum. The Cuban people, music and culture are exotic and beautiful. I have been traveling around the world since I was 13 and I have to admit that Cubans are one of the most happy and friendly people on earth.
Dear friends, thats all for today. I will add more information periodically about Cuba.
NOTE: I am still sorting my pictures. I will attach them here shortly and keep you updated.
Sure. Why not? After all, he won the Nobel Peace Prize, didn't he??