Exporting Of Items.

[Lapa]

Hum, what was that thing about everything being fair game as long as the referee didn't catch you

Marc

[Riley1965]

Technically, by the letter of the law...Yes it is illegalto purchase any Cuban Goods. Unfortunately this includes Orders and medals.

Doc

[Christophe]

The Cuban cigars are really the best of the world, even if some other places as St Domingo have recently made progresses. I only smoke cuban cigars, and my favorite brand is Cohiba, with their Lanceros. Hmmmmmmhh...

Ch.

[medals73]

And their medals . . .

. . . while I don't/can't/wouldn't dare have any . . .

they are pretty (images) . . . .

[Nota Bene]

... and to make matters worse, it is also illegal for a US citizen travelling abroad to buy Cuban goods.

Alexei

[Esteban_cool]

As far as I can tell, purchase is forbidden. But if someones gives you a cuban award or cigars as a gift?

[Nota Bene]

I don't think so. The law states that goods or services of Cuban origin may not be imported into the United States either directly or through third countries, so if somebody gives you cigars as a gift he will be breaking the law. I believe there is a loophole for Americans with Cuban visas, who can bring back Cuban goods valued at up to $100 for their own personal use or consumption only.

Alexei

[Kirchgoens]

Where's there's smoke, there's fire...

Once upone a time I was a confirmed cigar man, albeit practicing an acquired taste. But... then there was this time I was in Kuwait going to one of those contradictions one can only find on Arab Street when I went to one of those ice cream places on Gulf Road in Kuwait City where you can get sundaes and hookas. It was my first hooka. Call it the candy of smokes, but puffing apple flavored smoke/air is pretty cool, especially passed through cold water. So... That Cohiba is mighty fine, but sometimes the next morning you feel like Fido took a dump upon your tongue, whereas double-apple tastes great and doesn't visit the next morning as a canine fecal gift upon the gabber. "Ура" for that syrupy tobacky!

[Art]

JFK also loved cuban cigars, from What is the Link Between JFK and Cuban Cigars?

It could be seen as the ultimate representation of the saying, "Do as I say not as I do." In 1961, President John F. Kennedy (JFK) imposed a total trade embargo with Cuba. But before doing so, he made sure that he had taken care of his own desires. While the rest of America was denied their favorite Cuban cigars, JFK made sure he would not be going without.

The trade embargo with Cuba took place shortly after America tried to re-invade Cuba in 1961, known as the Bay of Pigs invasion. At the time Pierre Salinger was JFK's press secretary. Salinger was himself an avid cigar smoker and a fan in particular of Cuban cigars. JFK was also a smoker of Cuban cigars and called Salinger into his office on an extremely important task. President Kennedy required Salinger to find him at least 1000 H. Upmann Petit Upmann Cuban cigars. Upmanns are creamy, smooth Cuban cigars with something of a bite about them. JFK wanted 1000 of these Cuban cigars by the next morning.

Salinger was familiar with many cigar stores and made a frantic search that same evening. The next day he walked into the presidential office with around 1,200 Cuban cigars. As soon as JFK saw that he now had a fairly good stock, he opened a drawer and took out a document and quickly signed it. This document was an order banning all Cuban products into the USA. This trade embargo is still in existence to this day.

Although those Cuban cigars were not technically illegal, Salinger would in the future procure illegal Cuban cigars for the President. In 1962 Salinger traveled to Moscow to meet with the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. At the end of the meeting Khrushchev presented Salinger with 250 Cuban cigars. Salinger knew that taking these Cuban cigars back to the US was illegal. He also knew that as he had a special Presidential diplomatic passport there would be no problems at the US customs.

When Salinger handed the Cuban cigars over to JFK, the President was said to be shocked. He ordered Salinger to hand them over to the Chief of Customs. He also told Salinger to make sure that he got a receipt for them, as he no longer trusted Salinger in regards to cigars. When Salinger asked what JFK intended to do with the cigars, the reply was that he was going to destroy them. To which Salinger skeptically replied that he knew the president was going to destroy the cigars, "one by one."


Nothing is known if JFK had a similar desire for cuban ODM, but I'm sure many such contraband items travel in diplomatic pouches for any country.

[Pravda]

I would like to know there are any good spots to do Soviet order and medal shopping in Ukraine. I am especially interested any reliable dealers or stores in Kiev and Lviv. I would be greatful for any information.

Cheers,
Will