Features
Tighten the Screws
President John F. Kennedy is said to have instructed his press secretary, Pierre Salinger, to go out and buy as many Cuban cigars as he could get his hands on. Salinger returned …
Economic War Against Cuba
It's enough to read the autobiographies of ex-U.S. presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon to find proof that within weeks of the triumph of the Cuban revolution, the …
Field of Dreams: Pinar del Rio
It's late February and the fields of the Vuelta Abajo, Cuba's prime tobacco growing region, are in the throes of harvest. From the town of Consulacion del Sur to the village of …
Whose Embargo Is It, Anyway?
From a business perspective, the restrictions and prohibitions regarding commerce with Cuba are neither cost-effective nor time-effective. According to the New York City-based …
A Brief History of Cuba
A mere 500 years ago, Christopher Columbus first visited Cuba, pronounced it "the loveliest land ever beheld by human eyes" and discovered tobacco for the Old World. But you must …
Brave Old World: Havana's Old City
Worlds collide on Calle Obispo, the main street of Old Havana. A spiffy new store sells compact discs and souvenirs, dollars only, please, and no locals allowed. In the dingy shop …
Hit the Beach
Both as geographic fact and as cultural image, Cuba comes closest to the United States on the white sand beaches of Varadero. The rapidly growing resort occupies a narrow …
Dining a la Cuba
Havana is certainly not a place to go for a gourmet getaway, but you can eat surprisingly well if you know where to go and what to order. Despite major obstacles in obtaining …
The Pilgrimage
The small man at the front of the expansive room speaks over the antiquated intercom, reading a story from Granma , the official party newspaper of Cuba. His voice crackles …
Totally Shirtatious
The rickshaw driver lugs his fare through the streets of Havana and draws up to a nightclub. The portly tourist climbs out, sidestepping the shadowy figure with the bulging …
Havana on Nine Cigars a Day
I'm headed to Havana. I was invited. Fully hosted. Two birds with one stone. The 30th anniversary of Cohiba cigars, and, more importantly--if there is a thing more important than …
Night Moves
It's a sultry Cuban night. Wearing little more than towering sequin headdresses, dozens of women swagger and spin to ear-deafening salsa music. Multicolored lights emphasize the …
Rum Rundown
"I'll make anything you like," promises Nicolas, who has tended bar for nine years at La Bodeguita del Medio. "But everyone here wants mojitos." The slim young man …
Smokin' Shops: Cigar Merchants
It wasn't that long ago that a man of fashion procured his suits in London, shoes in Milan, shirts and ties in Paris and cigars in Havana. While many of today's savvy gentlemen …
Tee Time: Club de Golf Habana
Havana, 1948. It is easy to imagine the Brits sitting on the veranda above the green, sipping their gin and tonics while waiting for the next group to putt out. They have been …
Your Home in Havana
To get an indication of Cuba's booming hotel market, consider that Havana now has a small inn catering to cigar aficionados. Cuba's capital now offers accommodations for just …
Reelin' Them In
It was some time past noon when the beast took the hook and the squeal of the fishing reel drafted the entire crew into action. Our small expedition had been out just a few hours, …
Cigars
Cuba's Cigar Summit
Cigar Lovers the World Over Descended Upon Havana in February to Celebrate the Past, Present and Future of Cuban Cigars
More than Mambo
With the Easing of Some U.S. Restrictions, Top Cuban Musicians and Artists are Bringing Their Talents North
Places to Puff
In Havana, One Can Smoke Just About Anywhere, But A Few Time-Honored Haunts Guarantee A Memorable Experience
The Many Faces of Cuba
The Nation's Most Influential People Range from Political Leaders Such as Raúl Castro to Athletes, Musicians and Writers
Unforgettable Cuba
Unforgettable Cuba Caught in a Time Warp, the Island Serves Up Yesteryear's Treasures to Visitors While its Residents Struggle On
Ratings from this Issue
Up Front
Time to Talk
It is true that because of politics, Cuba and Cubans have been off-limits to Americans for nearly 40 years. There was a time when the embargo that closed off the island just 90 …