For weeks, I wondered who she was—the mysterious woman whose graceful silhouette I often saw against the beautiful Havana sunset. She would stand along the Malecón, exuding sophistication as she smoked a cigar.
It was usually around the time the heat began to fade that young people and the young at heart ventured outside for a walk by the sea. Yet, of all the people there, she was the one I couldn’t take my eyes off.
Her appearance naturally drew everyone’s attention. While the rest of us wore shorts, loose T-shirts, and flip-flops or sneakers, she always wore long, flowing silk garments that gave her a Hollywood air. She also knew how to walk, and that only added to her mystique.
She seemed like someone who had lived a wonderful life and now had fascinating stories to tell. She had traveled to some of the most remarkable places in the world. Still, nothing could have prepared me for what I would learn about this Cuban woman—and from her.
Little did I know that the woman I had often encountered, who lived just a few blocks away, was a living legend. She had led an exciting, glamorous life and had invaluable advice to share. I could hardly imagine that I would become her friend, or how deeply she would influence me and lead me down a new path.
This is the story of how I met Lalin Frances and discovered the world of Cuban cigars.
My name is Marilyn. I am Italian, and I love to travel, meet fascinating people, and discover the stories and traditions of different places. People from all walks of life gather around a fine cigar, sharing good company and conversation. In the most eclectic corners of the world, where the extraordinary feels at home, I have found some of life’s most memorable experiences.
It was here that I met Lalin and began to discover my calling.
I remember that afternoon clearly. The light lent a sensual glow to everything, and the sea was calm and inviting. There she was again, slowly enjoying a cigar and gazing toward the horizon in a way no one else did. She seemed both lost in thought and completely at ease in her surroundings.
I didn’t want to let the opportunity pass me by. This time, I decided to overcome my shyness and break the ice with a simple comment.
I approached her casually, looking out at the water. She turned toward me gracefully and smiled. I smiled back. This was my chance.
“Lovely afternoon, isn’t it?” I asked, feeling self-conscious about my accent and perhaps a little embarrassed by the uncertainty in my manner. It stood in sharp contrast to her European-looking elegance and impeccable manners.
“As fine as they come,” she replied graciously.
A silence followed, and I began to feel awkward. Then I realized that she was simply taking her time, with the poise of an actress from the golden age of cinema. She continued:
“People come from all over the world to enjoy this weather and this peace. There is nothing more appealing in the world today. This is paradise.”
“Have you traveled much?” I asked, almost interrupting her.
“I’ve been everywhere. I used to be a performer. I retired five years ago, when I was fifty-three.”
That explained her graceful figure. She looked as if she were in her mid-forties. I realized I had just opened the lid of a very intriguing box.
Her stage name was Lalin Frances. From the 1950s through the early 1980s, she was a world-famous dancer and performer. She had left Cuba to share her talents with the world, traveling to faraway places such as Japan, Greece, Germany, France, and New Zealand.
She had lived in Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Italy, and Sweden. She had rubbed shoulders with Spanish and Belgian magnates. She had even been courted by King Farouk of Egypt, who gave her a twenty-thousand-dollar emerald pendant after watching one of her performances in London.
Her stories fascinated me. I had just met the “Cuban Marilyn,” and my life would never be the same.
We parted shortly afterward. A few days later, we met again. After a little conversation, she invited me to her home for coffee.
Her house was a cornucopia of wonderful aromas: coffee, cigars, and sweet rum. It was a large, colonial-style home decorated with natural touches—plants, flowers, and handmade baskets. For a moment, I felt as if I had stepped into the Cuban countryside.
As she lit a cigar from a box marked Montecristo, I asked her about her Cuban roots and cosmopolitan life: what had sparked her love of cigars, and how had she remained true to herself while performing under a stage name and traveling to so many places?
“I traveled so much that I was constantly among people of different races and cultures, with all kinds of accents and customs,” she said. “I soon realized that I needed something to connect me to my essence and my roots. Cigars were an obvious choice. I was born in the province of Pinar del Río, in a family with a long tradition of cigar making. I always made sure to carry Cuban cigars with me. To me, cigars represent my love for home and the land. The more I wanted to live authentically, the more I sought genuine flavor in everything. This little pleasure always took me back to the great moments in my life.”
She spoke softly and proudly. Her fascinating stories soon sparked my interest in Cuba, and especially in cigars. I began learning from this well-traveled, well-dressed woman: how to enjoy a cigar, what to look for, and how to appreciate its character. I learned the names and qualities of brands such as Cohiba and Bolívar, as well as the distinctive character of the people and the land behind them.
She taught me to be bold and to stay young in spirit through everyday habits: stay focused and know what you want, create beautiful surroundings, dress with taste, and pay attention to your own needs and passions.
Her advice inspired what began as a hobby, grew into an occupation, and eventually became a delightful obsession. At first, I thought smoking cigars would simply be a pastime—a pleasure to enjoy in good company. But my passion for their genuine, rich flavors soon reached beyond my free time. It became a symbol of what I wanted in business and in life: a product and an experience with substance, not just appearances, where women and men could feel at ease while enjoying something adventurous and distinctive.
I had found what I was looking for. I set out to become more confident and to cultivate an appreciation for the finest things. I trained myself to recognize new trends while keeping my eyes on tradition.
My search for exceptional cigars took me on journeys through the Caribbean and beyond. I visited Honduras and the Dominican Republic, among other destinations, learning about the region’s cigar traditions and the care involved in selecting and storing fine cigars. I also began building a collection of vintage and rare Cuban cigars, seeking out distinctive finds and learning the stories behind them. Each journey deepened my understanding of the craftsmanship, history, and character that make every cigar unique.
I came to believe that this pleasure—once associated with celebrities, politicians, and magnates—could be shared with a wider, discerning audience. I wanted to help people discover cigars that suited their tastes and to make the experience of choosing and enjoying a fine cigar welcoming and memorable.
I became determined to promote the finest handmade products of the Caribbean while preserving the traditions of the past and celebrating the cozy, smoke-filled rooms of today. I was ready to shape my own future and introduce many new cigar aficionados to this world. There had been no coincidences; one thing had led to another. Cuban cigars had changed my life.
Since then, I have strived for excellence in everything I do and in every choice I make. That’s why I created Cuban Cigar Online, a company steeped in memories from a Golden Era.
With the goal of bringing back World-Class Sophistication and Caribbean Flavor, and all that it represents, in a Modern-Life Cuban Cigars Store. I wanted to share carefully selected cigars, including vintage and rare finds, and help create a memorable experience for every customer, from choosing a cigar to enjoying it.
Best Regards,
Marilyn Spencer and the Amazing Team
With them, none of this would be possible.