Sorry fellas.....I hate to rub it in, but I lived in the "Great White North" for most of my life, so I feel for you, but.....
Down here in Florida we prepare for winter by putting on Socks....
AND BTW....some of our "local" cigars are quite exceptional...if you go to Tampa (Ybor City), or down on 8th Street in Miami, you will find a lot of "Mom & Pop" cigar operations. With such a large Cuban Ex-repatriate population, there are many small store-front Tabacaleras that produce small quantities of beautiful cigars. There's an old gentleman I buy from in Ybor who's hands (and face) look like tobacco leaves...he makes cigars that are truly works of art...he doesn't make many anymore, but I cherish every one.
Enjoy the "Crisp" weather....Or come on down to the Sunshine State....we can use the money after the Hurricanes
This message has been edited. Last edited by: rbihari,
"Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation." ~ Robert A. Heinlein (1907 - 1988)
airborne82; Sorry to hear about the snow...I lived in Chicago for 23 years.....I feel your pain
It's possible he worked at a number of tabacaleras around Tampa, he speaks very little English. His granddaughter is usually there, and does most of the talking/translating (my wife also speaks passable Spanish, so I'm usually the "monkey in the middle").
From what I gather, he came here in the '60s from Cuba, and has been making cigars his whole life. He's semi-retired, and only works at the store 1-2 days a week...it's just a small store-front family operation in the middle of Ybor City, with about three Senoras (and the old man) hand-rolling cigars....I found out about them from a couple of Cuban friends I used to work with. I usually call if I'm going to be in the area, and see if the old man (Mr. Rosado BTW)...will be in that day, I usually bring him (bribe him) with a bottle of Sandeman Port (he calls me Mr. Sandeman - he loves the stuff). It works.
I could sit and watch them make cigars all day....listening to Cuban music,(with tears running down their faces once in a while), smoking and making cigars (and drinking a little port),. The aroma in that place is worth the trip alone. There are many little shops like this in Ybor City, and in the Little Havana section in Miami (8th street)....some of them make truly exceptional cigars (and a few - that cater to the Touristas - make real dog-rockets !).
Sounds like you need to build a nice fire and have a cigar....I just came in from enjoying a nice Fuente Hemingway by the pool (oops, sorry, I guess I'm rubbing it in some more).. Enjoy.
BTW..I just noticed your handle...I was with the 173d Airborne (and 1stCav)- VietNam 1968..."All the Way !!"
This message has been edited. Last edited by: rbihari,
"Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation." ~ Robert A. Heinlein (1907 - 1988)
Maybe we'll get some snow here in the Seattle area this year. Usually it snows for two days, everything shuts-down and then we all head to the mountians for skiing, woo.
rbihari, was down in Ybor city 2 years ago. Smoked quite a few "local"cigars. I forget the name af this one shop, but you walk in and one side of the building is his personal cigars and the other side of the shop has "other"cigars, AF, Macanudo, partagas, ect... There is a wall that separates the two. Also went to Columbia and bought a 3 pack of robusto (Rafeal y Gonzalez I think) in a little wooden box. The old guy that was rolling them signed the box. Was a really cool town.
Now back to the weather, what will it cost to have you send up some of that nice warm weather?
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""GO BUCKEYES!"
Posts: 601 | Location: My House | Registered: August 29, 2002
'You should have saw me on my back porch this morning trying to enjoy my morning smoke and coffee; all wrapped up with fingers getting numb,but damn I enjoy My Saturday Morning Smoke!!!'
"My dog has no nose! How does it smell? Awful!!! (Monty Python)
Posts: 1171 | Location: Bronx,New York | Registered: May 08, 2002
It was cold here in Phoenix today -- probably around 60 degrees, and windy. I spent most of the day sitting outside while my son was in a chess game. It warmed up to about 68 and the sun came out, then we came home and played football in the park down the street. I do miss the snow of Denver sometimes, but it is nice here!
Saul D.B.C. Member #0002 B.A.S.E. #0015 <(0)> B.A.S.E. Minister of Niggling Details.
rbihari, I know about your warm weather & swimming my sister in-law called earlier to rub it in again if my kids were not in college I would be right there.
I usually spend a week 3 times a year in the Tampa/Clearwater area and visit Ybor often love them Cuban sandwiches.
my brother in law was with the 173rd in 1970-71 39th scout dog platoon/ and my brother was also with the 82nd both of us a few years later than you.
Airborne all the way
Posts: 492 | Location: south of Boston | Registered: November 04, 2003
One thing I love about being in Tennessee for school is no more shoveling out the car. A few years ago, we got about 8-10 inches of snow, people here were shoveling out their cars with dirt shovels and cardboard boxes. I just put my car in reverse, and pulled out after about 10 seconds of rocking the car back and forth. You should have seen their faces. Priceless.
------------------------ I went to a cigar store, the man behind the counter asked me, "What kind of cigars do you like?" I answered, "It's a Boys." --Mitch Hedberg
Posts: 530 | Location: Albany, New York | Registered: January 21, 2004
I really feel for you folks up there with Winter coming on. If it only lasted a month or so, it would be bearable, but I lived in Chicago/NY (only one year - that too much!)/Wash DC. for most of my life, and winter just seemed to last forever...especially Chicago. Long about March, I was a total basket-case.
If I could figure out a way to box/sell the Florida weather up to you, I would be rich (or they would make it illegal) If you only go to the "Tourist Areas" of Ybor City, it can be a little lame (just like if you only go to Disneyworld in Orlando, you are missing out on the real Florida)..The best places in Ybor are the small ethnic neighborhoods, you have to get off the beaten path and explore a bit, there are all kinds of little cigar shops as you described in the area.
If you are in the Miami area, got to Little Havana (8th street)...you will be in cigar heaven, Cigar shops everywhere, you can smell tobacco and cigar smoke (and Cuban coffee) aromas everywhere- (if you don't speak Spanish, you will be at a di-advantage- but everyone is very friendly...great place), Damn, I think I just talked myself into making another trip down there.
airborne82... Welcome home Bro..Airborne follows the blood...My Dad was a Fallschirmjäger (I was born in Austria), and my Father-in-law (deceased) was with the 82nd during Korea. ...He used to love cigars as well, I miss the man, he had some great/funny stories to tell.
BTW...I know what you mean about the Cuban Sandwiches...the Cuban coffee is my favorite though, nothing else like it.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: rbihari,
"Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation." ~ Robert A. Heinlein (1907 - 1988)
I'm not ready for this weather yet.
