Robaina's

Robaina's
Robaina's plantation

Friday 22 September 2017

Quai d’Orsay Corona (Box Date July 2015) my thoughts

                  Let me start by saying that this cigar brand was originally created by Cubatabaco in 1973 for the French state tobacco monopoly, SEITA, and blended with French tastes taken into consideration. It became commercially available in 1974. According to Wikipedia: The Quai d’Orsay is a quay in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, part of the left bank of the Seine, and the name of the street along it (SEITA's headquarters are also located on this street). There is limited production of only several vitolas which makes this a difficult cigar brand to find...unless you're in France. I came across this box by sheer luck while driving by El Aljibe restaurant in Havana, I asked my driver to go back so I could take a peak inside the cigar shop next door. Production has picked up a bit since 2005, they seem to be trying to revitalize the brand with a couple of new vitolas coming out soon: Quai d'Orsay No. 50 a  Petit Robusto @ 50 x 110 (4.3") and the  Quai d'Orsay No. 54 a Robusto @ 54 x 135 (5.3"). This Corona weighs in at 42 x 142 (5.6").
                    To begin with, the construction and appearance of the cigar I smoked was impeccable, hard to the touch and flawless. Once cut and lit the draw was perfect with flavours of creamy chocolate, nuts and wood, a good solid medium bodied smoke bordering on the strong. Initially the burn was a bit off but eventually it straightened itself out and stayed that way until the end.
                    By the time I got to around the 3/4" mark the cigar had settled down, it wasn't to be more than medium bodied but it was so chewy that it seemed bigger than what it was. Easy to smoke but maintaining a huge flavour profile that kept changing. The sweetness was always there but more of an undertone, wood and leather were the dominant tastes I could pick up now. The cigar had been peppery up to now but more so when I passed the first half with wood dominating and earth coming a close second....the sweetness seemed to dissipate. The last third of the cigar became stronger and by the time I reached the last quarter I decided to let it go shortly after. I had enjoyed this cigar so much I didn't want my memory of it to be these last bitter puffs.
                    I have smoked most of the cigars out of this box and the ones I gave away got the same reaction from the people who smoked them, there has not been a bad one yet. This cigar, as simple as it may be, has been one of the better cigars I've smoked lately and I will be on the hunt for more boxes when I'm back in Cuba. I suggest you at least try one to see if they're as appealing to you as they were to me.


















Thursday 21 September 2017

Casa de Don Luis Chacón (Museo de Arte Colonial) Plaza de La Catedral, Habana Vieja

             If you come to Havana, a visit to the Plaza de La Catedral is a must. A national monument since 1976 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, besides the church that the Square is named after there's a whole lot more to see in and around the Plaza. The house/museum, one of the oldest residences in the Plaza, is one of the sites. La Bodeguita del Medio (where the mojito was invented) is just 50 meters outside the Plaza but there's a lot more going on if one cares to explore. The Casa de Don Luis Chacon or what it's known as today, Museo de Arte Colonial, is on the opposite side of the Plaza in relation to the church. This majestic structure was built as a residence in 1720 by the 'then' three-time Military Governor of Cuba, Don Luis Chacon, who had married off his daughter to the first count of Casa Bayona. The house is typical of the architecture of the time with two floors and a central courtyard.
              Since then it has gone through some transformations, like many of the other large colonial mansions. After having been a house of the rich, by the 19th century it was the property of the College of Notaries, later the newspaper "La Discusión", acquired by the commercial firm "Arechabala" for its offices and finally in the 1930's it housed the Havana Club Bar and used by Graham Greene as a setting for a scene in the movie 'Our Man in Havana'. In 1963 the National Commission for Museums and Monuments rescued it from further changes and by 1969 it was inaugurated the Museum of Colonial Art. Today it houses a permanent exhibition showing furniture, decorative arts, architectural elements, latches and blacksmith elements, windows, doors, stained glass windows and much more. It also has a room for temporary exhibits on the ground floor where at the time of my last visit they were showing an artist's ceramic works. In some rooms they've even recreated a setting (a sitting room, a bedroom) so tourists can imagine what life would have been like centuries ago in Havana. The furniture is from the 17th-19th centuries and may not have necessarily been in this particular house but was from somewhere in the city at some time.
               There isn't much more information on this house but if you make your way to this Plaza it's worth a visit. There is no cost to enter and it shouldn't take too long to walk through and take a few pictures....about 15-30 minutes depending on the individual.





Calle San Ignacio No. 61
e/ Empedrado y O’Reilly
Plaza de la Catedral, Habana Vieja
Phone: 862 6440/862 6468
































Monday 18 September 2017

Luis Enrique Camejo (Cuban Artist) Havana

                      I've been seeing this artist's paintings hanging on walls all over Havana for a few years now. His painting style is like sketching but using a paintbrush rather than pencils or crayons with the subjects being city landscapes or scenes rather than depictions of something that needs interpretation, great for someone like myself who knows nothing about art.
                      The prize winning artist was born in Pinar del Rio on January 19, 1971, today he works and lives in Havana near La Esquina de Tejas in Havana’s Cerro district. He went to the Pinar del Río School of Art from 1982-86 before attending the National Art School in Havana (1986-90) and graduated from the Superior Art Institute of Havana (ISA) in 1996. He taught at the Superior Art Institute of Havana since his graduation in 1996 up until 2007. He has had the good fortune of showing his works all over Europe, the Americas and Cuba, winning several prizes along the way. Luis sold his first painting in 1991.
                      There wasn't that much information on this artist but his works are unmistakably his as you can see scrolling down the paintings which I've posted. I don't know of any other artists that depict the same themes that Luis does. I like his body of work, or at least that of which I've seen, I hope you do as well.



Studio: Calle Infanta #1459 e/ Universidad y Estevez,
             Cerro, La Habana
Phone: +53 (5) 276-4485  +53 (7) 883-7880  +53 (5) 272-2172
sergio@cubarte.cult.cu   camejoart.com




Central Park New York 2014


Bicicletas 2010


unknown


unknown


Untitled 2009


From Series 'Malecon' (Cadenas) 2009


From Series 'Malecon' 2011


From Series 'Panama' 2009


Untitled 2009


unknown


Estudios Para China Walk 2011


Estudios Para China Walk 2011


Untitled 2010


Untitled 2010


Shenzhen 2011


Vol.XIII no.3 2011


Estudio Para Tsunami no.1 2007


unknown


Untitled 2015


Vento


Untitled 2010