A Woman is Only Woman, But a Good Cigar is a Smoke by wysiwig
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Description
From “The Betrothed” by Rudyard Kipling
What visit to Cuba would be complete without a visit to a cigar factory? There was a persistent legend in pre-revolutionary Cuba that the best cigars were made by rolling the leaves on the bare thighs of young women. While we saw many young women (and some young men) working in the factory there was not a bare thigh to be seen.
Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures. The people in charge were afraid their trade secrets would be exposed. What secrets I could not see as the making of cigars is fairly straight forward. The leaves are pressed between two sheets of wood to flatten them. Then the leaves are layered, the number depending on the size of the cigar, and tightly hand rolled. Vegetable based glue is applied to keep it all together and both ends are trimmed.
Once we got to the store on the ground floor we were able to take all the pictures we wanted and buy all the cigars we could carry. I should say they and not we since I hate tobacco. The United States allows importation of cigars and/or rum with a value up to $100 US but through the miracle of the customized sales receipt the cigar lovers in our group were able to satisfy their disgusting habit.
Since the cigar factory is owned by the government there was the obligatory revolutionary poster. This one says “The powerful and victorious revolution goes on”. Yeah, I don’t think Cubans take it seriously either.
By the way, for those who might be offended by Kipling’s line, it is part of a satirical poem. In it a young man’s fiancé tells him he must choose between her or his beloved cigars. He chooses the cigars.
(I put this image under 'Pin-ups' because, you know, the Castro brothers.)
Comments (8)
anahata.c
terrific narrative. And I pretty much assumed the title wasn't the opinion of the writer, or of you. (You know, I'm sure, Freud's famous line when asked if his cigar was a phallic symbol---"sometimes a good cigar is just a good cigar...") My boss, when I was in retail years ago, told us that the Havana cigars were rolled on the bare thighs of young women, and we believed him. (I was in my early 20s.) I appreciate your story about the cigar factory. I hate cigars as well, having grown up around them: They left a pall in the room the thickness of molasses. But I gotta tell you---I'm repeating myself on this---I tasted a fine Havana cigar not too long ago, and while I don't smoke, o m g...the taste was like silk. It was smooooooth. I can understand why someone who likes cigars would want some of those. But I agree that it's one nasty habit, and it stays in furniture, carpeting, drapes, ugh. And my dad didn't smoke smooth Havana's, believe me: more like those 5 cent jobs that gave "stogie" a bad name...
Love the shots of the cigars and the box-top---all those gold seals...and the top shot I assume is the entry? I wonder how Havanans feel about having americans take tours of their places, all of a sudden. Do they like it? Do they feel invaded, cynical? It's a bright classical entrance, in any case, not one I'd associate with a cigar factory (if that's one). And I like that you included the revolutionary poster, and your thoughts about that. Another wonderful montage of images, tales and anecdotes. A real delight, Mark.
wysiwig
I got the impression the workers are fairly used to visitors. They mostly ignored us and concentrated on work or running off for their break time. We had a supervisor talk to us and answer questions.
MrsRatbag
A wonderful entry into your travelogue! Entertaining narrative, superb shots all!
Mulltipass
There is nothing better then a fine Cuban cigar!!! as a US citizen my only way I could get one was to travel to Canada and sneak them back into the US.
auntietk
Somehow I have an image in my mind of a big room with high, high ceilings. The light streams in through tall windows, dust motes illuminated and swirling. There are rows and rows of wooden tables, and at each table are two women rolling cigars. There must be fifty or sixty women working in that room. The light glints off the dull patina of the wood. Near the center, next to a window, sits another woman, reading aloud to the workers.
I must have read that somewhere, but the image is clear, and very real.
wysiwig
Amazing! I never noticed you there. One person per table and music instead of a reader. But that was just the day we were there.
beachzz
This is a most interesting story--more than I ever knew about cigars. I have heard about the "thigh" story, though--quite an image!! How did you get to Cuba; isn't there still a ban on travel there from the US?
wysiwig
Americans may travel to Cuba under several exceptions specified by the U.S. government. One is 'educational' or 'people-to-people'. I went under that loophole with a tour group for ten days.
durleybeachbum
So strange that only last night on a documentary on TV someone quoted that line! I SO enjoyed your narrative and the comments it generated. I gave up rolling (and smoking) cigarettes as my millenium project but sadly not before the habit had injured my lungs.
Cyve
Fantastic shots my friend !!!
kgb224
Stunning captures and collage my friend. God bless.