My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Costa Rica. I have to recommend it to anyone looking for a cigar friendly country where the $ is strong and the Americans are very welcome. While there I spent time with Enrico Callini the manager of the Habano distributor. He exclusively brings in Cuban cigars and distributes them to all the outlets carrying Cuban cigars. Class act. He let me go through his large humidor and stock up for my vacation time. Very generous guy.
We rented a 4 wheel drive Suburu and traveled the country, from the Pacific surfing beaches, to the rain forest, and checked out a working volcano. Tried catching the elusive rooster fish but struck out. Smoking Partagas 898s and Corona Seniors along the way.
I drove by a cigar store that had a sign that said "Roll your own". Flash back... I pulled over and met a guy named Pedro that rolls and sells his cigars from this shack on the side of the road. He immediately offers a me cigar, lights it, and puff puff. No prize. Too mild for my few remaining taste buds. He says no problem, I dump the cigar and he offers a maduro. Lovely, I bought a box. $3 each. Then he invites me to make my own cigar. I had a great time. The cigar was not pretty but I have a trophy. His email addy is cigar@costarricense.cr.
Costa Rica is a very liberal country. Jaco on the Pacific is like Daytona Beach during spring break. Prostitution is out in the open in San Jose and flourishing elsewhere. The roads vary from ok to where is the road? Pot holes a foot deep are not unusual. You learn to drive staring at the road ahead so you can avoid the pot holes.
Casinos are common. The food is great. Like I said everything there for a fine vacation.
Peter
We rented a 4 wheel drive Suburu and traveled the country, from the Pacific surfing beaches, to the rain forest, and checked out a working volcano. Tried catching the elusive rooster fish but struck out. Smoking Partagas 898s and Corona Seniors along the way.
I drove by a cigar store that had a sign that said "Roll your own". Flash back... I pulled over and met a guy named Pedro that rolls and sells his cigars from this shack on the side of the road. He immediately offers a me cigar, lights it, and puff puff. No prize. Too mild for my few remaining taste buds. He says no problem, I dump the cigar and he offers a maduro. Lovely, I bought a box. $3 each. Then he invites me to make my own cigar. I had a great time. The cigar was not pretty but I have a trophy. His email addy is cigar@costarricense.cr.
Costa Rica is a very liberal country. Jaco on the Pacific is like Daytona Beach during spring break. Prostitution is out in the open in San Jose and flourishing elsewhere. The roads vary from ok to where is the road? Pot holes a foot deep are not unusual. You learn to drive staring at the road ahead so you can avoid the pot holes.
Casinos are common. The food is great. Like I said everything there for a fine vacation.
Peter
La Fortuna is a cool little town.
