Road to Playa Jutias (Pinar del Rio)

               Jutias is a 4 square kilometer island connected to the mainland by a causeway belonging to the Archipelago de Los Colorados, a chain of small islands and keys along Cuba's north-western coast. About an hours drive from Vinales through the municipality of Minas Matahambre that's in Pinar del Rio province. Lots of hills and curves, were coming from somewhat of an elevated position in Vinales, eventually coming to a valley overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. We drive by rural areas, farms with scattered towns & abandoned mines and see more livestock than automobiles on the road along the way. At times the scenery was quite picturesque and sometimes a little monotonous but as always, interesting. I've driven over a causeway before when I stayed in Cayo Coco but it always amazes me this feat of engineering. Beautiful beaches that are a bit of a drive to get to but uncluttered with the usual hordes of tourists. Worth the drive if you're in Vinales as I was.

Estación Central del Ferrocarril (Havana's Main Railroad Station)

                 Looking at the state of the railroad system today you would never imagine that Cuba has had a rich history in this mode of transportation but it was one of the first countries in the world to get the train, even before Spain. The United States installed it in 1837 just a few years after they had it running in their own country, it served the interests of American Corporations. The original Central Railway Station used to be next to the Capitolio, right around where Parque de La Fraternidad is right now. The new one, or the one in discussion, was built in 1912 to replace it.
                 It has been a while since I entered this building but I remember it being dreary, bleak, few people walking around or waiting, very little activity. It's no Grand Central Station in New York, that's for sure. Having spoken to many Cubans through the years, after having visited the station, it makes sense for it to be the way it is. There are very few trains than are running today and very few people travel that way, over the last 10 years or so ridership has gone down about 50%. It's a shame that they couldn't get a few of the classics to run again and spruce up the ones that are running (sort of) now. Maybe some wise people from the US can do something about that. I have read somewhere that Cuba bought some old trains (from this last century in 2001) from France that are running well, they call them the 'Tren Francés' and run between Havana and Santiago. They're somewhat rundown and dirty but are pretty comfortable and air-conditioned costing 30cuc for a tourist for a one way trip. These cars were originally used for the Trans-Europe Express. However, it's been said that the air-conditioning was being removed and windows installed, that would be a bummer since I've been told the train breaks down often and you're left cooking in the sun if it happens during the day. In other words, train travel in Cuba is not what it used to be and not very comfortable even for Cubans. From what I've been led to believe, only Cubans that don't have the means travel in this manner, it would cost them 30 Cuban Pesos to take the trip to Santiago from Havana (that's $1.20 for 860km). Still, I would like to experience it for myself at least once in my life.
                 Be aware, I've read that Havana Central is under major renovations, it was closed this past summer and won't be re-opened until 2018. For now they're using the 'La Coubre' station. The Estación Central is considered a National Monument.

Below is a site with all the information one might need to travel by train in Cuba:
http://www.seat61.com/Cuba.htm#.VrTQpPkrLIU




401 Avenida de Bélgica
Havana

Punch Edición Regional Suiza 2015 (my thoughts)

                 Firstly I would like to thank Margrit Wandeler & Andreas Stachl for inviting me to an event that gave me the opportunity to try this cigar before it's official release in Switzerland. The two of them own a couple of cigar shops in Switzerland (La Corona Cigar Shop & Casa LaCorona) and we've become friends over the years as ours paths have crossed during the Partagas Encuentro. They were kind of enough to invite me to the La Guarida Rooftop Patio in Havana for a quasi official tasting of this cigar that hadn't been released yet....and I honestly don't know if it was finally released. But I can tell you what I thought of it.
                  The conditions for smoking this cigar were both great and not so great. Who wouldn't want to try a cigar on the roof of a building watching the sun go down over the Havana skyline? And there lies the rub....too many distractions, especially since I knew a lot of the people invited and it was a last chance to talk with them before they headed back to their corresponding countries. I did the best I could under the circumstances.
                   The cigar felt heavy, if that makes any sense. It was well packed and very hard to the touch. It had a smooth, oily, flawless wrapper that was darkish in colour. I was concerned that it might be a bit tight but the pre-light dispelled those thoughts. Once lit it was big off the start, the burn appeared to be good. Into the first half inch and it was still big and by the time it reached the first inch the flavours began to settle down with burnt wood premiating above it all. The cigar began to canoe and the strength pulled back a little to a medium to strong.
                   About halfway through this smoke and it begins to turn on me but smooths out shortly afterwards. I smoked about another quarter of this cigar before going on my way. By this time I was beginning to struggle with it anyway. I tried to light it the next morning and was able to get a few puffs in before i gave it up for good.
                   It was a wonderful cigar that very busy flavour wise (couldn't quite put my finger on it with all the confusion), definitely needs some time to age and settle down. In my opinion I believe this will turn into a much better smoke with a few years rest. Give it a try if you get the opportunity.