Havana and cigar factory

After a good night's sleep (opting for ear plugs with the busy, noisy streets below) we got up, showered and headed for breakfast. Oh my gosh, how much choice we had in the breakfast dining buffet was unbelievable, cereals, fruit, every bread you could wish for, cooked breakfasts, potatoes, fish, cold meats, cheese, fish dishes, cakes and a whole lot more. 

Jumping in a taxi right outside the hotel we got to see our local surroundings in the light for the first time, the journey took about 10 minutes to the Cigar Factory and after being dropped off we found out it was the wrong factory but luckily the one we needed was just around the corner. Once in our English speaking guide started the tour by saying no photos were allowed to my horror :( but to make things worse I would have to leave my much loved camera in a room, how safe was this room I wandered for the whole tour. 

The tour only cost 10pesos (£6.50) which took us around a working cigar factory. Hundreds and hundreds of men and women rolling the famous leaves into cigars. Each person is expected to roll 100 cigars a day receiving a bonus if they make more. It was quite a surprise to see people smoking on the job, imagine the health and safety police allowing that in the UK. Each worker has 9 months of training before being able to make the finest cigars in the world, we got to see the classes in which they are trained. The rooms in which the cigars are selected for quality control and packing are strictly off limits to enter but can be viewed from a distance, it is here you see the scale of the operation. The hard sell was towards the end of the tour, they allowed you to sample the goods hoping for you to purchase the cigars... we didn't. 

After the tour we decided to find our way back to old Havana on foot, about a 3 mile walk saw us mixing it with the local and vibrant culture in this economically challenged city. The roads are wrecked, the houses are falling down, the cars are old and the people are poor but at no point did I feel unsafe. The locals are all friendly and chatty but admittedly they want your business somehow or another.

Finding our way back to our hotel we continued towards the historic area which houses the capital building and museums, we wanted to find the cigar factory building which is being refurbished on the off chance there maybe a shop selling them cheaper than on the tour. This is where we had some fun, after ignoring all the hustlers up until this point I decide approach a taxi man to ask for directions. He was friendly and tried to help but with the language barrier is was almost impossible,  anyway after hearing me mention cigar a couple of times he suggests I come and visit his house where he can give me a good deal. What the heck I think, let's see where he wants to take us. After a short walk and a dodgy flight of stairs we are in his living room bartering for cigars, 10 cohiba cigars for £30 later and I've got a good deal whether they are real or fake on the basis I'm allowed to take them home. After all this excitement we decide to find a bar for a drink. Sloppy Joes is where we decide to get a beer which turns out to be an American style bar selling authentic Coca Cola (how I don't know). Two beers, a serrano and cheese baguette for me and Claire opting for the mini burger which actually was 3 mini burgers, lunch was done. After a few more photographs taken of old cars we head back to the hotel for a swim but the rainy season had other plans for us so we end up having a quick nap to recharge our batteries for the night ahead.

Opting to have dinner in the hotel as we were pushed for time gave us enough of a window for just a main course, Claire having spaghetti and myself tuna. A taxi was booked with the concierge for 9:30 to get us to the club for 10:00. A 20 minute trip in the modern car from outside our hotel saw us at the doors of the famous Club Tropicana for an evening of entertainment. Now I am not normally one for shows and this type of dancing funfair but it was recommended not to miss this particular event and I'm glad I didn't. A few cocktails to wet the appetite and I relaxed into the musical spirit.
Young fit men and women paraded in front of us only inches away. The shear strength and stamina of these dancers is beyond belief.  A full two hours of dancing each individual must only have 30 seconds in between performances to get changed into another spectacular outfit. (Each person seemed to join every dance at some point).

Being utter lightweights Claire and I did not even touch the free bottle of rum they gave us but did enjoy the free champagne and cocktails (we took the rum with us on our way out). 

During the show finale some of the girls dancing picked on certain individuals in the crowd to go up on stage. Would I be dragged up? Of course! There I was dancing like a plonker with slr around my neck, embarrassing but all good fun.

As soon as the show ended we got back into the pre booked return taxi and headed straight to bed after all the excitement. 


Extras ----> Cigar Press and Tropicana treats and strength---->