I recently did something that I do about once a year;  Iwent to a theater to see a movie.  This type of odyssey is only done when what I hope is a good movie is better viewed on a big screen.  At times this trip can be trying, especially when the movie house insists on submitting you to twenty minutes or more of coming attractions.  It is during that time that I lose hope for the movie industry as they seem to believe that childish and loud movies based on comic book characters is what the viewing public craves.  Perhaps they are correct; perhaps the mass viewing audience is made up of intellectually stunted individuals who believe that fireballs are real, and that the world can only be saved by magical powers exhibited by mutants.  At any rate, I digress; this year’s movie of choice was Ridley Scott’s Napoleon.

Why Napoleon?  Well, I like history and most of Mr. Scott’s movies. It was panned by a critic in the Wall Street Journal, but then the critic also did not like House of Gucci and All the Money in the World, two movies that I found interesting.  Then of course there were the reviews from French movie critics.  As you would expect, the idea of an Englishman daring to make a movie about a French national treasure goes far beyond the Pale. I believe that some Frenchmen believe that Napoleon lives in the heart of every French citizen and that he was a precursor to the EU, never mind the millions of deaths caused by his military adventures.  Fortunately, and I give the French credit, “wokeism” has not contaminated their lives nearly as badly as in the U.S.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie; the costumes were great, the battle scenes were exciting (note: Napoleon did not lead a charge at Waterloo), and despite a French critic writing that Napoleon as played was too dour (I don’t recall Napoleon being remembered as a jovial character), there were some rather funny moments in the movie. 

Now there are those purists who criticize the battle scene of Austerlitz and Waterloo, but we must remember that this is a MOVIE not HISTORY.  Given the amount of time that Napoleon held center stage in Europe, it would help if one knew some of the actual history to tie things together.  For example, at Waterloo when Field Marshal Blucher appears, it helps to know that he was Prussian and not just some chap coming over the hill. And who was that one French General always at Napoleon’s side during battles and at his abdication?  Oh, you mean Ney?  Minor point. Finally, Czar Alexander was not some fifteen-year-old boy as portrayed in the film.

Overall, the movie is a refreshing break from the juvenile junk put out by the movie industry.  The love scenes are a bit long but there are three good adventure scenes, plus I felt comfortable with Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon.  Would I see it again?  Sure, even on a home screen and for any history buffs, it is a fun movie to watch and debate with like-minded souls.

Go to any bookstore (remember those?) and go to the self-improvement section.  It is huge with titles all designed to make you believe you have found the secret of the ages, and you can have it for only $19.95.  Or Google self-help on the internet, and you will find more than 13,000 books listed on eBay, all promising to help you become more successful, confident, etc. Financial freedom, happiness, love, everything you have ever wanted will be yours if you only follow what is written on those sacred pages.  I have known individuals who have shelves filled with those types of books, most of which have not been read cover to cover and which are gathering dust day to day, year to year.

In the video linked below, we hear that most people have lust, not passion in their search for a goal.  That is an important distinction and one that a very successful and secure individual makes time and again. Over 18,000,000 people have heard his words, who knows how many have followed his advice. It really does not matter, for no one can force anyone to accept words of wisdom. But really, if you are one of those individuals who has a library of self-help books, invest a few minutes, and listen to what he has to say. 

Asking A Retired Shipping Billionaire If It Was Worth It – YouTube

I recently received a gift pack of four different Macanudo cigars and it provided an opportunity to have my very own taste test between two sets of two cigars.  I found a world of difference and thought you might find the results helpful. Note: I did not smoke the two cigars on the same day as it might have impacted my taste.

Cigar number one was the long standing Macanudo Hyde Park which is a 5.50 x 49 light colored cigar.  The wrapper is Connecticut, the binder is from Mexico and the filler a Dominican Republic/Mexico combination.  While it lit well and burned evenly, I found it to be a “hot” smoke right from the beginning and it had a harsh after taste.  It was a real surprise to me as the Hyde Park has been around for a long time so I might have just had an odd blend that was not quite right. Aside from the issue of being a “hot” smoke, I found the taste bland and uninteresting.

Cigar number two was from the Macanudo Cru Royale line; it was a Robusto 5 x50. Here was a pleasant looking cigar, darker in shade with an Ecuadorian wrapper, a binder from the Dominican Republic and a filler blend from Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.  This cigar was a much more pleasant smoke with a fuller flavor, an easy burn, and a bit of spice to add character.  The filler mixture really added so much to the taste. For a couple of dollars more, this cigar provided a better smoke and was much more interesting.

I hope this will help you the next time you are at your favorite cigar store looking for something new.  Enjoy!

So I made the reservations a year ago, never giving it a second thought and then suddenly, out of the blue, the Palace calls to let me know that “Charlie” (he loves it when I call him that; he always says, “Mr. Klazura, I love it when you call me that, it makes me feel so unroyal), has scheduled his coronation the very week I shall be in London.  Of course, I know why he did that and it was nice (I mean he wanted me to have a good time), but I insisted that I could not join him in the Royal Coach as really, it was his special day.

    OK, maybe it did not happen exactly that way, but somehow my favorite wife and I landed in London a couple of days before the coronation and it was wonderful to see the streets alive with the Union Jack, flowers, etc.  We dared not try to get close to the route (folks were camping out two nights in advance) but watching it on TV surrounded by Brits was a lot of fun.  And, while so many Brits were sleeping along the route, it made roaming through Harrods much easier. 

     London is always special and the five nights we were there went by very quickly.  What did we do?  The first AM I always have an appointment at Trumper in Mayfair for an old fashioned shave. Then onto Fortnum & Mason for a typical British breakfast.  It lets us know we are really in London.  Actually, we spent time as if we lived there as we felt quite comfortable with the city.  No need to hurry to certain exhibits, and we ate at some of our favorite haunts (the caviar and champage bar in Harrods is great for food and people watching and the Polish restaurant Ognisko is as great as ever).  The cigar bar at the Connaught was nice (although as is the case in the U.K., the measures are a wee-bit small).  See my review of the cigar room at the blog (www.andontheotherhand.com, dated 5/19/2023).

     Leaving London is a sweet sorrow but we had to catch our ride to the port where we embarked on our sixteen-night cruise on the Cunard Queen Victoria.

 Factoids

* In some parts of the U.K., there is only one doctor per 100,000 people

* Appox. 48% of pregnant women receive inadequate or no pr-natal care

But hey, their health care is free.

THE BALTIC CRUISE

16 Nights

After an initial day at sea, we landed in Gothenberg Sweden which is the second largest city in Sweden.  As expected of Sweden, the city was clean, orderly and not terribly interesting.  Sorry.  Haga, which is the celebrated old city is sleepy with many shops not opening until noon, and one can only stop at so many shops for coffee and a roll. This is a prime example of the advantage of a cruise; I have been there, seen it and can quickly cross it off my list of places to go back too.

     From Gothenberg, one more day of cruising (lots of reading, quiet, figuring out where to have lunch, etc.) we landed in Helsinki for an overnight stay.  Helsiski is spotless, not a bit of graffiti, litter, etc.  The locals speak excellent English, are bright and welcoming while they (at the seaside market), have very nice local crafts and small booths featuring reindeer sausage, moose meatballs, etc.  It is a nice town to walk around and we were fortunate as we had two wonderful sunny days with perfect weather.  The locals laughed every time I said it was a typical Helsinki day.  Being so far north, it did not get dark until about 10PM and the sun rose early, so the time for exploring is wonderful.  Overall, Helsinki makes one want to explore more of the country as it is welcoming and so civilized.  It shows what a homogenous nation with a strong work ethic and a strong sense of national identity (Finnish flags are everywhere and they appreciate their Russian neighbor for what it really is) can create.  Very enjoyable!  

Misc Tips for Helsinki

* If you want an excellent lunch with great service, try Bardot at Kluuvikatu 1

* For cigars, try the oldest cigar shop in Finland, Havanna Atta at Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu 6 (say that quickly 6 times)

     From Helsinki we sailed to Tallinn which has a wonderful old city surrounded by a wall that dates back to the 1400s.  They have preserved the old city quite nicely and there are several shops where you can purchase Soviet and German WWII helmets, medals, magazines, etc.  It makes you realize that the country was occupied from 1939 until 1989 under two brutal regimes and that is one reason why the populace is so strongly committed to being the left flank guard of NATO.  As you would expect, the streets can be narrow and winding and being of cobblestone, comfortable walking can be a challenge.  The city has some beautiful churches, including an Orthodox church which is quite pretty.  English is widely spoken and it would be a great base to explore more of the country, which is quite nice during the summer.  During the winter, ah no thank you!

     Sailing overnight at a slow seventeen-knots, we arrived in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. One thing that hits you as you drive into the center of the city is the wonderful architecture; the government buildings are stately, reflecting the wealth and historical culture of the nation.  A major power player in much of European history, Sweden decided after the Napeonic age to become neutral and it has benefited quite handsomely from that move.  

     Located by the King’s palace, the old city is a great warren of cobbled streets with smaller side streets that take you between buildings going back hundreds of years.  There are numerous coffee shops offering wonderful pastries and on a rainy cold day we were there, it was a joy to step into a shop and feel a warm welcome by the friendly staff.  The winters are cold, the springs are rainy and, as a local said, when the sun comes out, one feels guilty being indoors.  I would visit the city again in any of the seasons (even winter), but only if I was prepared psychologically for the protracted hours of darkness (during the winter) or sunlight (during the summer).  Just become a local!

     One of the best parts about a visit to Stockholm via ship is when you are leaving, you travel for 3-4 hours through a huge number of islands, small and large where the locals have built wonderful summer homes.  Some are inhabited all year long, but given the cold and ice of a typical winter, I wonder how those individuals survive what must be a very isolated existence.  Many of the islands are as close as fifty years off the ship and many fellow travelers are all but glued to the windows, watching the wonderful scenery and the beautiful inviting homes.

Klaipeda, Lithuania

Founded in the 13th century by the Livonian Knights, Memel as it was known by its German name was expanded by the Teutonic Knights into a major fortress stronghold.  It’s German majority was the premise for Hitler’s demand that pre-WWII Lithuania hand it over to Nazi Germany and it was mostly destroyed during the Soviet advance later in the war.  With the German population expelled by Stalin, Memel reverted to its Lithuanian name of Klaipeda.

      The town, the third largest in the country is a relatively new addition to be added by cruise lines so it is still relatively unspoiled.  For example, a heartly traditional lunch for two (two different soups, two different entries, bread and a half bottle of local wine) costs about $40 at Etno Dvaras which has been certified by the Culinary Heritage Fund.  But before you have that lunch, a hot chocolate and a couple of excellent chocolates at The Chocolate House ( Turgaus g. 2, near Theater Square) might be just the thing.  The hot chocolate is enough for two and you get to pick the special chocolates to enjoy with the drink. Wait for the prices to catch up to Tallinn!  Unlike Tallinn I did not find any WWII/occupation antique shops but then unlike Estonia, Lithuania does not have a large majority Russian population.  

     This is a pleasant stop which will take you back a few years to the period just after the fall of the Soviet Union.  It will make you want to visit more of the country.

Gdansk & Gdynia, Poland

Between 1919-1939, Gdansk was known as Danzig, an old trading city on the Baltic.  A protectorate of Poland, its mostly German citizens longed to be united with Germany.  With the rise of the Nazis in 1933, the city became a hot bed of political intrigue and, in response to the troubles, Poland started to build up Gdynia, about 20 km. away, as a rival ship construction port and shipping port.  It quickly surpassed Danzig in revenue, which infuriated the Germans even more.  At the start of WWII, after the fall of Poland, Gdynia took second place to Danzig but both cities were destroyed in the final year of the war.

     Today, Gdansk is part of Poland, the German population being expelled under orders of Stalin.  It has been beautifully rebuilt and the old Hanastic architecture is the gem of the city.  Gdynia was the home of the Solidarity movement which was a key element in the fall of, Communism in Poland.

     Gdansk is the more charming city, full of restaurants, and home of the museum of World War II, one of the best in the world.  Most museums on the war, such as the Imperial War Museum in London, deal more with the military aspect, while Gdansk deals with the human suffering of the war.  There are numerous exhibits of those who lived through the war, mostly as children or young adults.  It is a moving museum and well worth the visit.

     No visit to any Polish town or city is complete without a meal, but don’t let your eyes get you in trouble, for the servings are large and the food can be quite heavy.  We stopped at Pierogarnia u Dzika at Piwas 59/60 just off the water front.  We had four shots of vodka (outstanding), a serving of eight pirogi (four different fillings), grilled salmon, a glass of wine, then for dessert, and eight sweet pirogi (two different fruit fillings), all for $46.88!  Now that is a deal!  Forget dinner!

     My wife and I agree that Gdansk is worth a two-day visit and we shall begin to plan our trip to the Baltic area soon!  Nice people, plenty of history, great food and not as many tourists.  Enjoy!

Copenhagen

Each visit to that beautiful city reveals new treasures!  Walking around the opera house, one finds a mosaic on the ceiling of the port which welcomes autos to the theater.  The mosaic ceiling is made up of small tiles of gold, lapus, silver, etc. that show the detail the Danes have to create beautiful mouments to their culture.  Walking around the city on a sunny day one cannot help but feel uplifted; the city is orderly and clean.  Everyone obeys the rules, even the cyclists who stop at traffic lights and make way for those who walk (amazing!!). It is easy to understand why Denmark was very tough on deporting immigrants who ran afoul of Danish law, but one feels that they will not allow those who migrate to upset the harmony of their society.  In some ways, Copenhagen seems too good to be true but I have yet to find a fatal flaw in their system.  A visit to Copenhagen will make you wonder why your home town can’t (seem) to operate so smoothly.

General Thoughts on the Trip

The trip consisted of five nights in London and a sixteen night cruise on the Cunard’s Queen Victoria.  As previously mentioned, we are very comfortable in London, it can feel like home.  Enough said.

     One does need to be careful regarding a cruise to make sure it matches your goals, finances, family needs, etc. 

1) This particular cruise had mostly Brits who were in the late 70s and older, so definately not a cruise for someone with young children, teens, those who seek constant entertainment, etc.  Keep that in mind when looking for a cruise. Another thing to consider is your trying to understand what Brits are saying; more than once I would hear one Brit ask what another Brit was saying and they only lived about 40 miles apart!  It is true, we are two nations separated by a common language.

2) The food was very good, not as good as Oceania, but then Oceania charges a premium and advertises themselves as the finest food on the ocean.  Yet, I never had a bad meal and always had a great selection.    

3) The first time you go on a three week vacation you realize that two weeks simply ends just when you are going to really enjoy yourself.  I believe it is the same with a cruise.  Seven nights?  OK.  Ten or longer, now you will really get into cruising.  On this trip, many Brits I met had taken three around the world cruises and were booking other shorter cruises.  It is definately a way to leave the world behind (they were able to afford it as they are under the old UK pension plan which was more of a private retirement plan as opposed to the current plan which is much like our Social Security system).  

4) As usual, I found the most interesting individuals in the Churchill Cigar lounge; one author of two books who has interviewed numerous interesting historical figures and their families to bring to light little known historial facts, another a high manager in the British gas industry who shared some stories when he was working on a project founded by (then) Prince Charles and some of their conversations, etc.  Each evening after dinner, we headed up to the cigar lounge (I have the most accomdating and lovely wife) to talk with other passengers in a relaxed atmosphere.  Excellent!

OK, I am sure I have bored you enough but I hope you will have picked up some ideas on cruising, places to visit, etc. I hope you have a great summer and if you have any questions on cruising or even financial or insurance matters please feel free to reach out to me.  Thank you for your patience!

One of my favorite stops in London is the iconic Connaught hotel which is near the U.S. embassy. I remember the first time I stayed at the hotel as I decided to walk down the wide staircase rather than take the elevator.  The beautiful woodwork and paneling was home to paintings which could have been comfortable at many museums.  As I reached the ground floor, I noticed that all the males were well dressed and I immediately did an about face, rushed up the stairs and donned a sport coat and tie. To this day when in London, I take care to dress a step above the herd to better immerse myself in the feel of the city and its history.

Recently, I was pleased to find that the long-awaited cigar lounge has been opened in the hotel.  Years ago, one could go to the Coburg Bar, have a cigar, and discuss with the excellent staff the various whiskeys, scotches and other libations while imaging the time when some of the great statesmen of Great Britain enjoyed the same room.  Then came the wonders of the anti-smoking campaign and an activity that had been perfectly reasonable was suddenly a threat to humanity. It was a victory in the war on men. Oh well, such is “progress”.

Entering the hotel, I asked for directions to the cigar lounge, and was taken to a door in one of the bars which opened onto a well-lit, comfortable room which had a fantastic wall size window which looked out onto the street.  The choice of cigars was excellent with excellent Cubans at reasonable (for London and Cuban) prices.  The drink menu was acceptable but unfortunately the standard British measure for alcohol was followed so I might suggest that you save time and order a double.

It was a joy to sit in a well cushioned chair and look out onto the street, even though the day was dry and cool.  What fun it would be to be there when it was raining, and you could feel safely separated from the cold and damp!  And, during the evening, it is amusing to walk by the window from the outside to view the chosen few who have found a refuge from the slings and arrows of an increasingly silly world.

In the end, that room gave me hope that there are still those individuals who remember and desire some of the romantic visions we may have of the past.

In Helsinki, I was fortunate to find (thanks to my wife’s searching on the internet) the oldest cigar shop in Finland.  The name is Havanna Aitta and was founded in 1897.  This shop is clean, well-stocked with both Cuban and non-Cuban cigars at reasonable (for Europe) prices.  Located about three blocks from the port with its excellent open-air market, it is tucked in one of those old ornate buildings that Helsinki has taken great care to preserve.

They take pride in their product as exhibited by their expertise in describing their product, be it a cigar for casual walking or serious enjoyment with a find liquor.  When I asked them to snip a walking cigar, the staff found that they were not happy with the cut and immediately replaced the cigar so that the cut could be just perfect.

Friendly, professional and with a nice collection which will suit your individual need, I can recommend this shop to all.

Address:  Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu 6, 00130 Helsinki

Phone:  + 358 9 625583

Email: havanna.kauppa@gmail.com

Recently in Marrakech I was speaking to an individual from London and we were discussing an upcoming game he wanted to watch (he was an Arsenal fan). I mentioned that the El Phoenicio cigar bar was comfortable and had several large screen televisions which I am sure would be available to view the game.  He had this look on his face and he asked, “what is a cigar bar”.  I explained the concept to him and he was very interested although he did not enjoy the pleasures of a good cigar. I provided the address and his problem of where in the city to watch the game was settled.

Actually, El Phoenicio is in the new section of Marrakech at 6 Rue Hafid Ibrahim.  It is a comfortable establishment with a good selection of cigars at reasonable prices.  The Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro was about $30 while the Camacho Ecuador checked in at $15.  Unfortunately, there were no Cuban cigars as there seems to be a bit of a shortage in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.  But, the staff was helpful and courteous and we were welcomed to enjoy our pick in one of the seating areas in the well lit central area.  There was a good selection of liquors and a food list that was reasonable.  Unlike in the Medina (the old city) there was no attempt to hustle for more drinks or food so I was able to enjoy an excellent cigar in a zone of quiet which is rare in Marrakech.  It fortified me enough for me to walk the mile and a half back to the beautiful Riad Noir d’Ivoire my wife and I were staying.  Two comfortable and oases of calm in a whirlwind city.

What forces create a philosopher? Is it the way they are raised, or do they have a special innate talent like a composer?  How much does the real world impact their world view?  I remember a story from one of my philosophy professors who when we were discussing Kant’s idea of transcendental idealism, said that after an evening of feasting and drinking, Kant walked home in the rain carrying a birdcage over his head thinking it was an umbrella.  For all of his philosophy, Kant lived in the real world.

Philosophers like the rest of us must face reality.  My  personal favorite, Nietzsche suffered severe bouts of migraine’s, depression, and more but saw them as the price he had to pay for his struggles and his battle of the will. Yet other philosophers seemed, like many of us, to preach one way of life but to live another, more decadent, earthly life.

The attached article brings us the life of Giacomo Leopardi, a little known poet and philosopher whose life and outlook on life was difficult and to say the least, negative.  He somehow manages to make Schopenhauer look like an optimist as he sees life as alterations between boredom and suffering.  The only positive he found was that some art, not all of art, but a very narrow sliver of “genius” art could provide solace for his soul.

The product of a strict upbringing, his brilliant mind lead him to excessive study which in turn twisted his body so that any cardinal pleasure was denied to him.  Crippled, at the will of his tyrannical parents, he slipped further and further into a view of life that was devoid of any positiveness. Whereas Nietzsche stove to embrace the battle of life despite his view of the end, Leopardi accepted his view of life and imposed upon himself a mental austerity that lead to desolation.

I offer the attached article not for your pleasure, but perhaps as a reminder that when the world seems to be crashing in around your ears, your life offers you so much more if only you step forward to grasp it.

https://www.firstthings.com/article/2022/04/nihilism-for-the-ironhearted

Shortly before the pandemic, while in London, I ran into one of those rare London days of unending rain.  Tired of fighting the crowds, I took shelter in the Ritz Hotel, specifically in their cigar lounge.  Ah, what a relief! The room was quiet, beautifully decorated, and barely occupied.  The room attracts a certain type of individual, one who does not even bother to look up to inspect whoever enters.  I noticed that they were all males, well dressed (as you would expect at The Ritz), not a sneaker, hoodie or backpack in sight, my type of place.

Picking a nice seat near a curtained window where I could just hear those unfortunates stuck in the crowds and rain, I picked up the bar menu to inspect the excellent listing of cognacs, wines, whiskeys, scotch, etc. One of the staff approached to take my order and asked if I would like to choose a cigar; of course!  We went over the beautiful walk-in humidor, and I found an goodly selection of cigars, including those make in the Dominican Republic for The Ritz under their label. Fortunately, I was prepared for the “premium” price that would be charged for any cigar and I was certainly not disappointed.  Being a thrifty Polish American for the south side of Chicago, I do like to watch my pennies, but this was a special occasion.

Going back to my seat, I found my very tasty cognac waiting for me and the staff member took great pains to light my cigar.  It was an experience, one that would only have been better had I been wearing one of my smoking jackets. 

After a while, the young man from the staff asked if he could bother me with some questions on bringing Cuban cigars into the U.S. Of course!  We discussed the issue of inspections, the removal of bands, using boxes from non-Cuban brands, and so on for about fifteen minutes, then that having run its course, we both went our separate ways.

After an hour or so, my cigar was finished, and I motioned that was ready to leave and waited for the bill.  The same young man came over, provided the bill, and gave me a blue labeled “Coco” Ritz cigar.  He mentioned how he appreciated our conversation and hoped that I would enjoy the cigar in the future.  It was a very nice touch and I realized that the series, in the Churchill size had a price tag of one-hundred pounds, or about one-hundred sixty-five dollars.  Quite a nice gift!

I had that cigar in my “A” humidor for years, tending to it, leading it mellow and saving it for a special day.  Several very nice business deals have been completed but it still did not seem like the right time.  Finally, this January 2, the day after my birthday, I decided to smoke it.  It was to be a day of quiet: reading all day, not touching the computer, enjoy the rare day of California rain while safely sheltered in the library.

How was the cigar?  I am not a reviewer who will claim to taste a blend of cinnamon and birch bark in each draw, or marvel at hint of molasses that is in the first draw.  But it had an excellent white ash that was firm and had an even draw. It burned smoothly, not too quickly and did not require an extra light.  It was on the mild side and did provide with excellent plums of smoke that hung lazily until they drifted to the open window.  I must admit that I have enjoyed other cigars more both in terms of flavor and gauge, but it was fun to remember back to that enjoyable afternoon at The Ritz and know that I sampled their prize product and did not have to pay for the pleasure.

If you are a cigar smoker and do a bit of travel, finding a good cigar lounge can be a daunting task. Yes, there are shops that sell cigars, and a few may have a comfortable chair or two, but there always seems to be something missing.  So, we continue to hunt for that gem of a cigar lounge that seems to bring it all together.

One such gem is Cubana Creations Cigar Bar at 533 Toulouse St. in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  A nice selection of well cared for cigars is available and the bar features an excellent selection of liquid pleasures, including some that can be difficult to find.  Aside from the bar, there are two rooms with comfortable seating in a setting that allows one to enjoy a smoke, your drink of choice and have a pleasant conversation without having to shout as is so often the case in many bars in New Orleans.

Matthew manning the shop that day, has travelled the world and provided each new customer a nice overview of the club and its offerings.  After inquiring about my favorite cigars, he suggested a Bandolero Vanidosos 50, which was a new cigar for me.  I teamed it with A Remy Martin Tercet cognac, and it was a happy choice.  The Bandolero was mid-range in strength and the Remy very smooth, a great team.

CC is the only indoor cigar lounge in the French Quarter so there was a slow but steady influx of clients, all happy to be able to enjoy their pleasures in a location that was far enough away from the sometimes craziness on the street to be a nice place of shelter. 

I recommend Cuban Creations not because it is the only shop of its kind, but because it offers a good selection of cigars and liquors in a calm, well-tended manner.  A step above a neighbor shop, it offers good value with a personal touch.