Regarding those famous Havana cigars, Jim Lad...

They're still a big item in Cuba, specially for tourists, but the funny thing is that Fidel Castro himself publicly gave them up at least a decade ago (or maybe more) in order to encourage Cubans not to smoke. No one ever thought they'd see the day when Fidel stopped smoking cigars, but the times have changed. ;-)

A lot of the folks I went down with brought back a few Cuban cigars for their friends and family back in Canada. I like the smell of the things before they're lit...lovely...but after they're lit? Godawful!

All a matter of personal taste, I guess.