I hit Miami while on Vacation & some cigar factories

[mrreindeer]

Hey guys, I just thought I'd post some pics from my recent trip to Miami before we attended a wedding in Aruba!

Some nifty factories to check out.... La Gloria Cubana, Don Pepin and a couple others we didn't get to. We also hit up Padron but it's more a nice office, like, really nice office, where you can only buy boxes and sit and take in some of the great history.

And nope, no Tatuaje Blacks or Franks to be had at Pepin's store. Oh, and you can't go see their factory either. But LGC was cool!



The following pics are from La Gloria Cubana:

[mrreindeer]

We'll try that again...



At La Gloria Cubana:

[mrreindeer]

Outside LGC:






Outside LGC with Don Pepin Cigars in the background:

[mrreindeer]

Self explanatory:





The pregnant mrsreindeer & mrreindeer:



The famous Padron hammer:

[mrreindeer]

Padron Chicken:





And a cigar street vendor in Aruba:

[baddddmonkey]

Awesome thread and pics. However, I really have no idea...what's famous about the Padron hammer? I don't know much history about cigars or their makers, I just smoke 'em!

[SMOKE20]

That is very very cool thanks for sharing

[mrreindeer]

Thanks guys & here ya go Ben!

January 01, 2008
By José Orlando Padrón The Little HammerA Story

In 1962, I arrived in Miami, an unknown city in a foreign land. I had to start from zero. At first, I received $60 monthly, as government aid given to Cuban refugees. I was thirty-six years old, strong, and in good health. Every time I cashed that check, I felt like a burden on the country that had taken me in. For many days, I looked for a job and did not find one. Every night, I went home and thought of the future. I was determined to do something so that I could support my family.

One day, Raul Fernandez, a friend who worked in the Cuban Refugee Office asked if I had any carpentry skills. I said I did. He gave me a gift – a small hammer – which he asked me to put to good use. The hammer made me feel I had the necessary tool to become self-sufficient and not depend on a government hand-out. During the days, I worked as a gardener. At nights, I did carpentry with the hammer.

My dream was to save enough money to open a factory to make great cigars, like the ones we used to smoke in Cuba. Through a lot of sacrifice and hard work, I managed to save $600 - money I made working with the hammer. With that, I made my dream come true and opened Padrón Cigars in 1964.

I still have the hammer as a reminder of how it all started. More than forty years later…The hammer is still here and so is Padrón Cigars, the brand the hammer helped build.

José O. Padrón

[Rubix^3]

Great pics of what looks like a wonderful trip. Best to you and the mrs. on your upcoming new addition.

p.s.
I couldn't help but notice your profile pic; a mexican petroglyph, also the logo of the German industrial band Einsterzende Neubauten. very nice.

[Rodeo]

I love that story! Reaffirms everything good about America

[Cletus]

Originally Posted by Rodeo

I love that story! Reaffirms everything good about America

+1

A very interesting story I never knew about Padrón.


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[Cigar Man Andy]

Very nice David.

[tx_tuff]

I want to do that so bad, take a few dyas doing. Hoping in the next couple years.

[mc2712]

Man that is awesome, thanks for sharing the pics.

[hornitosmonster]

Very Cool...Thanks for sharing the pictures