More in Cuba
The Future of Cuba
I returned to the United States from Cuba in late September, and, for the first time in more than two years, I felt a sense of optimism. In Cuba, shortages had still been apparent …
Old Havanas
The cigar's wrapper has an opulent dark brown color; its texture is silky and flawless. A large band, slightly yellowing and oily like the surface of an old painting, encircles it …
Cuban Davidoffs
Last September, Edward Sahakian, the owner of Davidoff of London, received an inquiry from a local accountant on behalf of his Hong Kong client for a large stock of Cuban Davidoff …
Cuban Baseball
The pitcher for the local team is throwing a perfect game--no hits, no walks--through three innings. His Pinar del Rio teammates have jumped all over the opposition, Los Agropecua…
The Montecristo War
Members of Spain's political elite might be in for a surprise the next time they ask for the humidor at one of their preferred Madrid restaurants such as the Paradis, just around …
Hotel Nacional, Havana
In the warm Cuban twilight, the silhouette of a man can be seen wading in the pool of the Hotel Nacional and smoking a long, pungent cigar. Forty years ago, it could have been …
Cuba's Cohiba
It might have been a scene out of Bizet's Carmen. Dozens of women sat in rows of brown, oily, wooden desks in small, dark, musty rooms in the El Laguito factory on the outskirts …
Great Moments: Kennedy, Cuba and Cigars
Cigars have been a part of my life. My smoking habit began in my youth, helped me write my own adult history, and now, cigars are in my dreams. Even though the world is rising …
Melia Varadero, Varadero, Cuba
Cuba's Varadero has always been known for its exquisite white, sandy beaches and clear, light blue sea, but the hotels available until recently had very little in common with the …