If we happen to say that Claude Robert Ellner is one of those Hemingway-spirited guys who roams the world with a cigar in his mouth and a zillion adventures under his belt, nothing will be closer to the truth. If we add that he’s the German ambassador to Cuba, then that assertion becomes twice as much puzzling and curious. He lives the best of both worlds, one staring at the other. The embassy office and the bottom floor of the residence he calls home since his assignment in Havana convey the sober and official tones of a diplomat. However, the upper floor displays dozens of trophies and heads on the walls, including a huge bear, that speak volumes of his skills as a hunter. There’s a multitude of artifacts that, as he says, “come with me wherever I go.” This is the intimate place where the other Claude finds shelter and enjoys his passion for Cuban cigars. Let’s hear it from the diplomat and the cigar smoker himself: “It’s possible to talk about a new chapter in the relations between Cuba and Germany, and I’m happy to make my own contribution to take those ties to a higher level. We have a long way to go in terms of political, cultural, commercial and technological cooperation. We’re working hard in all sectors in which Germany can help Cuba, but we can also learn a lot in here. “As many as 30,000 to 40,000 Cubans studied or worked in the former GDR, an incredible potential for our cultural projections. In terms of information technology, Cuba has an edge due to the educational level of the Cuban people. Renewable energy, the struggle against global warming and desertification are other fields in which Germany is strong, and here we find the political willingness to cope with those problems, but under tropical conditions, like wind-powered energy in a country hit by hurricanes. “Over 100,000 German tourists visited Cuba last year, though there was a dip in those numbers. Competition is on the rise in the Caribbean, and the Dominican Republic is a case in point. If we work harder we’ll soon grab 200,000 German visitors a year for Cuba,” ambassador Ellner points out. Holding a billowing Cohiba in his hand, our friend Claude explains that Habanos are pricey, fancy items in Germany. In 2006, Cuba exported €9 million worth of cigars to Berlin, and €8.4 million only in the first six months of 2007. And the Habano Houses have played a major role in these sale volumes. “Every time I travel to Germany I learn about a new Habano House opening there. People love those refined places where they can also find Cuban rum, coffee and culture overall. “We love world-class brands like Cohiba and Montecristo. Robainas are coveted, too. I had the privilege of sitting down with Don Alejandro Robaina and he showed me how to hand-roll a cigar. He also showed me a picture of him handing over a case of his celebrated Habanos to Germany’s former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a great lover of Habanos. “I’ve been smoking cigars since I was 30. I couldn’t always afford the Cuban brands, so I tried other cigars. But every time someone gave a Habano I knew that was a very special gift because they are simply peerless, something that can’t be copycatted. Now whenever I arrive in Germany the first thing my friends ask me is if I brought them some Cuban cigars. “Smoking is a pleasure that takes time. After a good meal, in the circle of your friends. I’m one of the cigar-loving ambassadors. I came to Cuba in May last year, so this is going to be my first Habano Festival. I’ve heard that’s a very famous and very good event, so I hope to get an invitation.”