CUBA: HAVANA: ANNUAL CIGAR FESTIVAL скачать в хорошем качестве

CUBA: HAVANA: ANNUAL CIGAR FESTIVAL

(1 Mar 2000) Spanish/Nat Hundreds of cigar connoisseurs from around the world gathered in Havana for Cuba's second annual cigar festival. Over 800 participants from 49 countries have shown up for the five day festival including editors of cigar magazines, tobacco sellers and cigar lovers. Hundreds of cigar connoisseurs from around the world lit up behind the stone walls of a Spanish fortress. And smoke they did. Slim lancers by Cohiba. Long Churchills by Punch. A shortish cigar manufactured under the lesser known Cuban brand of Ramon Allones. Smokers were serenaded by 93-year-old Grammy award winner Compay Segundo of documentary 'Buena Vista Social Club' fame who arrived smoking a huge cigar. No stars were spotted among the hundreds of people gathered at the Monday night inauguration cocktail party, but many expect at least a few famous people will show before the Second International Habano Festival winds up Friday night. While the tobacco aficionados puffed away under a clear night sky, Segundo sang traditional Cuban songs. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) I'm 92 and I was 5 when I first lit my grandmothers cigar!' SUPER CAPTION: Compay Segundo, singer Participants will during the five-day event visit tobacco fields, cigar factories, and a trade fair. And nine new cigar brands are to make their debut at a final, formal dinner on Friday. Cuba's government-controlled tobacco industry already markets 34 brands, such as Romeo y Julieta, Partagas, Monte Cristo, and Hoyo de Monterrey. The festival is being held as the Cuban government says it is celebrating one of its best harvests in 20 years. Cuba exported 148 (m) million cigars last year, of which 128 (m) million were hand-rolled and 20 (m) million were machine-rolled. Western Europe is the largest market for Cuban cigars - accounting for 90 million cigars. The biggest potential market for Cuban cigars - the United States - remains closed because of a nearly 40-year-old U-S trade embargo. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...