I'm Back, & long winded

[Rubix^3]

Ok all. I have been gone for about a week and I wanted to share a bit of my trip to the great north. It is a bit long, but I have tried to keep it pertinent, and have also broken the story into paragraphs for GlockG23.

Just got back from a trip to Lethbridge, Canada for my wife's sisters wedding. It was nice, but too busy and noisy for it to qualify as a vacation. My wife and I shared a large cottage with some of her extended family. At any given time there were like 4 families and 6 raucous children running about. I get along well with my wife's family, but sometimes too much is too much. I knew that the consolation would be the sampling of a fine cuban cigar, of which I had looked forward to for some time.

The weekend was so busy, we could not get time to find a cigar shop the first 2 days, but fortunately I brought along several Oliva Vs in a traveldor for emergency use. The second night I was finally able to slip away for a smoke with my sister-in-law's husband Chris and our mutual friend Ben from Massachusetts. We went out to the side of the cabin which overlooked a beautiful and expansive hilly countryside. As the sun was setting, we cut the cigars, and began to herf joyfully, not knowing what horror was taking place in the distance.

No sooner had we lit our cigars, than we were interrupted by the sounds of a drunk guy, a teenager walking up towards us from the open hills. He was mumbling and yelling incoherently and we just looked at one another dumbfounded. Then we noticed some more kids out on a hilltop in the distance. We figured they were out drinking or smoking pot, and looked on mostly disinterested. They seemed harmless.

Then I saw something that made my heart sink. Two of the boys were picking up and dragging a body from the tall grass and I saw immediately that it was a young girl and that her clothes were hanging off of her. Chris ran in immediately and called the police, while Ben and I accessed the situation. We went and got a closer view and two of the boys saw us and ran up to us yelling. They said they had been drinking and that the girl was the one boy's sister and "couldn't hold her liquor." Chris returned and announced that he had contacted the police. The kids were furious, and one of them said he had a warrant. Then they ran back to where the girl and the other boys were and all the boys ran off leaving the girl in the grass.

Ben, Chris, and I ran towards the girl to help her. She tried to get away and slid down the hillside on her behind. I approached her slowly and let her know I wanted to help and that the police were on the way. We were going to help her back up to the road nearby, but she resisted and told us to get away. She seemed pretty messed up on drugs, I doubt just alcohol, but she was conscious and sitting up on her own, so we went back to the top of the hill to wait for the police, and kept an eye on her.

For the love of God, the Canadian police did not arrive! We called them a second time. As we waited, two of the boys (the one who claimed to be the brother) returned frantically because they didn't see the girl and they thought we took her. I was worried. I thought at any moment a gun was gonna be pulled and we didn't have a single weapon on us. I approached the two boys and told them to calm down, explained the situation and showed them where the girl was still sitting. We looked up the road for the police, but they were not there.

The boys went down to the girl and carried her up the hill, one on her right the other on her left. They brought her to us, I think because they wanted a ride. We were in a tough spot. It had been, I do not exaggerate; 30 minutes and the cops weren't there. (In the USA this would not have happened!)
They told us the story again about how she was their sister visiting them and that they lived in the apartments up the street. She did not resist them at all, and what was deeply disturbing was that her shirt and bra were hanging off of her exposing her breasts. After what those guys did to her, she was more willing to go with them than to accept our help. It was a desperate situation, but there was nothing we could do. The two boys and the girl staggered up the street several blocks till they got to the apartment.

By this time, Chris and Ben's wives had returned and were anxious to go home so they left me there alone with a heavy heart and 3 burned out Oliva Vs on the ground. Shortly thereafter, a cop finally arrived. I waved at him and he came over. He was a very friendly guy and we talked a while about the ordeal. He told me that this happens all the time and that after I gave him the description, he thought he knew who some of the boys might have been--he said he "had some doors to knock on".

Any more cigar "whoa-is-me" seems awfully selfish and inappropriate after that story, but I feel obligated to share the rest of the story--the part about the cubans!

Two days later was the next opportunity for us to share cigars again and this time we were gonna make it count. We were able to slip away in the time between the wedding and the reception to finally score some cubans. I knew they were gonna be expensive, but holy friggin nanny-state tax sonofa! The cheapest cuban in the humi was a 16$ p.o.s. fonseca. For some comparison with U.S. prices on non-cubans, and a good laugh, they had RP Vinatage 1990 Toros for 27$ each. I wanted to try a Partagas 898 but they were 37$, so I got a Bolivar corona for about 29$.

We get to the reception which is in this natural park and it is amazing. Beer, wine, grilled kabobs, beautiful weather. Couldn't be better. After fulfilling our arduous social responsibilities, we head off to a wooden playground, just like the bad kids we are. We cut our cigars and bring them to fire, intoxicated with anticipation. Ben and Chris joined by our friend Erik ooh and ahh over how good their cigars are (they all got the fonseca); nutty, toasty, mild, but loaded with flavor. Oh boy, I can't wait. I take a couple pulls of the Bolivar, and....nothin! Friggin' plugged! I try my damnedest to get the thing to work, but to no avail. Like a kick in the junk. One of life's greatest disappointments.

I suppose the weight of my regret about this cigar experience, in the face of the event with those teenagers is in some way an opportunity for introspection. Am I selfish and self-centered. How often do I take for granted what I have both materially, but especially immaterially, like family. Perhaps therein lies a moral lesson. Damned if I have learned it yet.

-Eric

[joncaputo]

Holy cow!? Are you for real?

[madurolover]

Hate to hear about the girl and the cigars.

Wonder why the "sister" had her clothes torn off?

Did you try a poker of some kind on the cigar?

[Sweet_Cigars]

Very entertaining story. I was GLUED once I started reading it. Sorry about the cigar misfortune.

[Baldyisme]

Holy cow dude, been in Canada since 1980 and never heard nor experience anything close to what you experienced. The police in Calgary and most small towns I've been to has been as quick and responsive as any US city I've been to. Not that I've had much dealing with the police. Having said that, Lethbridge is a goofy town.

As for the cigar, hate to tell you this...but we told you so. Now you believe us? Sorry that after all of that the cigar was plugged. Too bad you did not have time to make it to Calgary. Maybe next time?

[Rubix^3]

Originally Posted by Baldyisme

Holy cow dude, been in Canada since 1980 and never heard nor experience anything close to what you experienced. The police in Calgary and most small towns I've been to has been as quick and responsive as any US city I've been to. Not that I've had much dealing with the police. Having said that, Lethbridge is a goofy town.

As for the cigar, hate to tell you this...but we told you so. Now you believe us? Sorry that after all of that the cigar was plugged. Too bad you did not have time to make it to Calgary. Maybe next time?

Yeah, you told me it was gonna be steep but jeesh! Anyway, now that we have family in Calgary, we will likely be back to visit one day. At least then it will be a vacation.

As per the police, I left out part of the story due to not wanting to get into race issues, but the kids were natives, and the police gave me a long story about all the problems the have with them. It seemed terribly apathetic to me. On both counts actually, because the boys immediately played the victim-race card when they approached us, telling us they were just "savages" and "thats why they were like this". Retelling the story now...I am still deeply troubled. I guess the US is not the only place with race/reparations issues.

[Rubix^3]

Originally Posted by madurolover

Hate to hear about the girl and the cigars.

Wonder why the "sister" had her clothes torn off?

Did you try a poker of some kind on the cigar?

yeah, i considered trying to run something through it, but the back half was packed tighter than my suitcase. Hopeless.

I forgot to mention, I did go back the next day and get a refund. I put the burned out cigar in a baggie and slapped it on the counter. No apologies from the clerks. They were gonna replace it but the other Bolivars felt too tight to the shopkeeper, so he felt a couple Partagas--same thing. He slams the door and tells me Cubans are the biggest pieces of shi# and I shouldn't bother. They have to figure out how to put credit back on my card because they have a new machine or something. Guy in front of me in line had 3 R&Js totaling 120$! Needless to say, a disappointing experience. I feel sorry for our Canadian bros who have to suffer those ridiculous taxes. Sure, we have SCHIP, but now I feel thankful!

[Jack Straw]

Wow. Sad about the kids, and not really anything you could do. And sorry about the bolivar.

[Baldyisme]

It's not that bad once you know (and have been burnt a few times.) Do as the Americans do, order online.

Unfortunately the story about the girl now makes more sense. Defending our police, unless they're tribal police, their hands are tied. Most tribes here insists on having their own police force to deal with these issues but a lot of time they can't, won't or simply don't care. It really is sad for a once proud people.

Unfortunately America does not have a monopoly on racism. Having said that, as a Canadian with Chinese-Cambodian heritage, I'm proud to say that I've personally have experienced very little racism. Canada is a great country and I'm proud to be a Canadian even if cigar prices at our B&M sucks.

[AspiringGent]

Well, it's nice to know Canada left you with such a good impression... Lethbridge is definitely one of "those" areas.

[Rubix^3]

By only telling the "traumatic" parts of my trip, I do give an unfair impression...I would like to say that Canada is a beautiful Country, and the people were very warm indeed. In fact, when I mentioned here on puff that i was going for a visit, Canadian botls Tarks and Baldyisme responded generously with offerings of hospitality. Sorry I couldn't make the time to trade or herf with you guys. Next time.

[Tarks]

Originally Posted by Rubix^3

yeah, i considered trying to run something through it, but the back half was packed tighter than my suitcase. Hopeless.

I forgot to mention, I did go back the next day and get a refund. I put the burned out cigar in a baggie and slapped it on the counter. No apologies from the clerks. They were gonna replace it but the other Bolivars felt too tight to the shopkeeper, so he felt a couple Partagas--same thing. He slams the door and tells me Cubans are the biggest pieces of shi# and I shouldn't bother. They have to figure out how to put credit back on my card because they have a new machine or something. Guy in front of me in line had 3 R&Js totaling 120$! Needless to say, a disappointing experience. I feel sorry for our Canadian bros who have to suffer those ridiculous taxes. Sure, we have SCHIP, but now I feel thankful!

Yup, and that is why we don't buy from B&M's!!! Muahahahaha!

[Tarks]

Hey Eric, sorry to here about your bad experience in Canada. That really sucks. Ya, we have the same issue's as you do in the US, just smaller numbers.

PS, I wasn't looking to trade just wanted to give you a few cc's. To bad. Maybe next time.

[tx_tuff]

Just crazy! Damn I hope your next trip is a lot more fun!