The Wonderful World of Cuban Cigars - Part 2
Posted on February 20, 2012 By Joseph
Whether you’ve smoke them or not, you’ve no doubt heard about Cuban cigars. Their fame is worldwide. In movies, television, novels and magazines, they epitomize the ultimate in luxury. They have a mystic based on their history, their quality, and thanks to the U.S. Embargo of Cuba, their illegal nature and cost. My Cuban grandfather immigrated to the United States after the Spanish-American war in the 1890s and worked blending tobacco for the Hav-A-Tampa cigar company in Tampa, Florida and, later, his own cigar factory in Miami. He was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba — the birthplace of Cuban cigars — so during my visit to Cuba in 2000, I made a point to sample a good assortment of puros, as well as visiting his homeland. This pod cast and several to come feature some of my experiences in Cuba, starting with my some Cuban cigar encounters.
It was quite an accomplishment for me to travel to Cuba considering the fact that none of my immediate family had every been to Cuba, even though we are all of Cuban ancestry. Italian-Americans can go to Italy, African-Americans can experience to Africa, why even Chinese Americans can travel to Communist China — the real evil empire — but, Cuban-Americans need to beg, plead and wheedle their way to the country of their ancestors. In 2000, during the Clinton administration, as a journalist I was able to visit Cuba while most United States citizens could not — legally. And yet, many of them went anyway. More than 50,000 U.S. citizens either found some round about way to legally go or simply ignored the insane almost 50-year-old U.S. boycott of Cuba. Fortunately after eight years of draconian policies during the Bush Administration where Americans were subject to $10,000 fines for traveling to Cuba, once again, there are many legal opportunities to travel to Cuba. It’s a wonderful country. As hoped, during my very short trip to Cuba I discovered many things. I learned Cuba is a fascinating country filled with contrasts and contradictions and that Cubans are warm and welcoming — and have suffered enough already! Yet, the most important thing I learned about “those” people is that they are just people. Like me — and you. People with wishes and dreams, hopes and fears. And I learned that I am neither Cuban nor American, I am just a man and that is what I have in common with all Cubans.
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The Wonderful World of Cuban Cigars - Part 2The Wonderful World of Cuban Cigars – Part 1
Posted on February 08, 2012 By Joseph
Whether you’ve smoke them or not, you’ve no doubt heard about Cuban cigars. Their fame is worldwide. In movies, television, novels and magazines, they epitomize the ultimate in luxury. They have a mystic based on their history, their quality, and thanks to the U.S. Embargo of Cuba, their illegal nature and cost. My Cuban grandfather immigrated to the United States after the Spanish-American war in the 1890s and worked blending tobacco for the Hav-A-Tampa cigar company in Tampa, Florida and, later, his own cigar factory in Miami. He was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba—the birthplace of Cuban cigars—so during my visit to Cuba in 2000, I made a point to sample a good assortment of puros, as well as visiting his homeland. This pod cast and several to come feature some of my experiences in Cuba, starting with my some Cuban cigar encounters.
It was quite an accomplishment for me to travel to Cuba considering the fact that none of my immediate family had every been to Cuba, even though we are all of Cuban ancestry. Italian-Americans can go to Italy, African-Americans can experience to Africa, why even Chinese Americans can travel to Communist China - the real evil empire - but, Cuban-Americans need to beg, plead and wheedle their way to the country of their ancestors. In 2000, during the Clinton administration, as a journalist I was able to visit Cuba while most United States citizens could not - legally. And yet, many of them went anyway. More than 50,000 U.S. citizens either found some round about way to legally go or simply ignored the insane almost 50-year-old U.S. boycott of Cuba. Fortunately after eight years of draconian policies during the Bush Administration where Americans were subject to $10,000 fines for traveling to Cuba, once again, there are many legal opportunities to travel to Cuba. It’s a wonderful country. As hoped, during my very short trip to Cuba I discovered many things. I learned Cuba is a fascinating country filled with contrasts and contradictions and that Cubans are warm and welcoming - and have suffered enough already! Yet, the most important thing I learned about “those” people is that they are just people. Like me — and you. People with wishes and dreams, hopes and fears. And I learned that I am neither Cuban nor American, I am just a man and that is what I have in common with all Cubans.
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The Wonderful World of Cuban Cigars – Part 1Fredericksburg, Texas
Posted on January 23, 2012 By Joseph
If it’s time for barbecue, German beer tasting, fine wine sampling and guitar pickin,’ you must be in Fredericksburg, Texas. From discovering its German roots to climbing Enchanted Rock to enjoying “Texas Roots Music” in this audio-documentary pod cast, Joseph takes a Longhorn State-sized helping of the many activities and attractions that welcome him in Texas Hill Country. Happy Traveling, y’all.
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Fredericksburg, TexasPTV at Sea
Posted on January 07, 2012 By Joseph
How can you support Public Television and Radio and still have a fabulous vacation? Well, Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope found out by joining PTV at Sea’s Mediterranean Cruise aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner. Joseph and Julie were able to meet more than 200 of their PBS viewers while cruising in style to extraordinary Mediterranean destinations like Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Malta; Taormina, Sicily and the Chianti Region of Italy. Watch for this exciting television episode which will air beginning June 2012 as part of Season 6 of Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope — one of 78 shows that will be airing on Public Television Stations throughout the United States and Canada. In the meantime, listen to Joseph’s interview with Artful Travelers’ founder Kevin Corcoran and go to www.PTVatSEA.com for more information. Happy Sailing!
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PTV at SeaChristmas Smoke
Posted on December 21, 2011 By Joseph
It’s almost Christmas and as much as I love my life in Topanga, California, at this time of year my thoughts invariably drift to my boyhood home in Miami, Florida. While Christmas was not big deal in my parents’ home, Christmas and, in particular Noche Buena (literally “Good Night” and aka Christmas Eve in Latin cultures) was a big opportunity for celebrating for my grandparents. There was always a huge Christmas tree, gifts, cousins, food, drinks and lots of hugs and kisses from lots of very happy adults. As I was growing up during the 1950s my grandparents lived on Ninth Street in downtown Miami. I just took a look at the site on Google Earth and where their and my aunt’s houses were is now pretty much a huge parking lot under the shadow of the Miami Heat’s American Airlines Arena. So, it goes. My grandmother or Abuelita ran a three-story rooming house for Jai alai players and other single men and next door my aunt or Tia did pretty much the same thing. My uncle was an ex-boxer and limo driver and my grandfather or Abuelito made Cuban cigars — using genuine, not yet forbidden by the ridiculous U.S. boycott of Cuba, Cuban tobacco — which leads me into my Christmas story. It’s called Christmas Smoke and it’s my tribute to my grandfather, my family, old Miami, and, of course, Christmas. You can hear it right here. I hope you enjoy it. Julie and I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. God bless us, every one!
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Christmas Smoke