Aromatic greetings from frigid Winnipeg! (and a short life story)

[Lexxxus]

Very happy to have found this wonderful forum!

Been smoking cigars for about 20 years and being Canadian I have had the luxury of a constant supply of Cubans... (just got back from a week in Varadero and brought home 4 nice boxes of 25)

Geographically Winnipeg is smack-dab in the centre of Canada and about 90 miles N. of the US border (ND & MN) We are in the grip of one of the coldest winters here in a long time and the airport is a pretty busy place!

Thanks to those "Pluto-like" winters, I take at least one winter getaway yearly have been visiting Cuba since the mid 90's and that's allowed me to enjoy many different brands and sizes over the years.

My size preference lies anywhere between robusto and churchills with my fave smokes; Cohiba Ciglo III and up, Partagas #4, RyJ short Churchs, Monte #1's and Trinidad Fundadores.

I was a cigarette smoker for many years (Lucky plains were my vice) but had the wisdom to quit that about 7 years back and in fact did not smoke a single stogie during the first 2 years of shaking the cigs. While I missed them, I think I needed to do that.

I enjoy cigars more than ever now and am good for about 10-15 a month (a few more in the warmer months) Summer barbeques and games of golf being my favorite setting for lighting one up. Poker nights and when enjoying a nice pour of Scotch or Congac are other favorite scenario!

My first bona fide cigar experience came about 20 years ago when in Mexico (after dinner at one of the best restaurants in Acapulco) buddy met some high-roller from Montreal who took a shine to us fellow Canucks and bought all the high-end sticks the cigar girl had (and then sent her for more) I remember being amazed with the fact he spent several hundred dollars on about 15 or 20 sticks that he shared with us and his entourage. My first light was a Cohiba Esplendido followed later by a nice RyJ torpedo... What a great experience! (I kept the bands for years) Needless to say, I've been hooked since then.

Anything but a snob I still consider myself a novice smoker and love the culture and history of the cigar.

I'm a dyed in the wool collector (lighters, ashtrays, watches, books, diecast race cars, comics, trading cards and art) so it's only natural that I've grown to collect cigars. No massive collection but a couple hundred on hand at most times. I would love one day to get a place with a wine-cellar / humidor as "the grape" is another passion of mine. I use a few different humidors and a cooler for my boxes. (Actully in the market for a new 150-200 stick unit of reasonable quality and great value... will have to reseach the many great posts here for that!)

Even after I quit cigarettes I continued to collect lighters and have a about 60 new / unstruck Zippos and about 30 other lighters (about 20 Colibris, couple Dunhills, a Dupont and a few vintage Japanese Marumans from the late 70's and the dawn of the electronic lighter.

Sorry for not posting to the "Newbie" section earlier, but I've been like a kid in a candy store with this site!

Mentioned this on "Questions" I'm taking my first tip to the DR (Sosua area) next week and am seeking any advice from people who have travelled the Sosua area. Tips? Shops? Brands? (someone told me that most DR stuff is made offshore and little of quality is sold in the country itself. Too bad if that's the case)

Anyhoo... expect to see more of me on this great forum!

[SIZE=4]Lx[/SIZE]
[SIZE=1]www.myspace.com/300kph[/SIZE]

[TonySmith]

Welcome, and you're right there's a lot of knowledge here.

[68TriShield]

Welcome!
Enjoy your trip to the DR.My only suggestion is to bring your own cigars because buying them in country will only piss you off

[kjpman]

Welcome to the jungle, from someone just to the South of you (Grand Forks)! I second on the damn cold winter we are stuck in!!!!!





...kjpman

[IslandRick]

Welcome to CS. Theres a lot of nice folks here. Have fun!

Rick

[str8edg]

Welcome to the jungle from a little north of you in Nunavut.

There is much to learn and many teachers here, I am sure you will have a good time.

[Darrell]

That was a great intro, one of the best I've read.

[SilverFox]

Another Canadian..............good to see a fellow Canuck

Welcome aboard.

[nozero]

Excellent intro!

[GWN]

Welcome.

[Headcrash]

Great intro. I spent the first 27 years of my life in Winnipeg so I know what you are talking about when it comes to the winters. Glad to have you around here. CS is a great place.

When I come back for a visit in the summer maybe we can get together a little HERF!

[Old Sailor]

Welcome to the Jungle!

[stevefrench]

Welcome to Club Stogie.

[Tim D.]

A very nice introduction. I'm sure that many of us here in the USA envy your cigars choices, but I don't know if it's worth putting up with those winters! Welcome to the jungle!

[DragonMan]

Welcome to Club Stogie!!