There's a ton of pictures and video content, so I've also linked the original post (I hope that's alright).
Day 0, Tuesday. So long Old Man Winter.
When I first went on the Cigar Safari trip back in 2013, it wasnt long into the trip that I realized this could end up being a yearly vacation for me. By the time we boarded the bus on the last day, I was certain of it. So when Johnny Brooke posted the RedditCATs reunion Safari tickets in the summer of 2013, I purchased them on the first day without hesitation.
In 2013, when we did the Safari for the first time, we decided to layover in Houston instead of getting a hotel room. Although it was enjoyable meeting up with SpeedGeek from /r/cigars (who flew out just for the night to herf with us), ultimately we were up more than 40 hours and were exhausted by the time we finally got to bed in Granada, Nicaragua.
When we were planning the trip this time we realized the wise decision would be to land in Managua, Nicaragua a night early and ease into the trip.
Our flights departed at 8:30 in the morning in order to make our Nicaragua flight connection in Houston. It was not snowing and not particularly icy in Calgary but it was extremely cold. I had to make the decision that all Canadian travelers do when heading off to warmer climates. Do I freeze myself on the way to the airport and land dressed comfortably, or do I dress warmly and sweat until I can change. The lesson I learned from our last Safari was that it would be wiser to freeze momentarily and be comfortable for the entire day.
We headed off to the airport bright and early to beat the security lines. Unfortunately I immediately got hassled by the TSA person who somehow didnt know the TSA rules regarding soft flame lighters. She asserted that because it was refillable that somehow put it in a banned category for travel. Perhaps she was worried I would use the lighter, refill it with butane (which you arent allowed to carry on the plane) and then use the lighter again! I pointed out the appropriate rules regarding lighters but she wasnt going to budge off her position. Disinterested in fighting over a $2 lighter I acquiesced and passed through the rest of security without incident.
This is the face of someone about to experience the Cigar Safari for the first time.
We all caffeinated up on our favorite Starbucks beverage and boarded our United Airlines flight. The flight was fairly uneventful, just under 4 hours total flying time.
We had 3 hours between landing and our departure so we decided to spend it in a small restaurant filling our bellies with food and beer. Derek and Linda met up with us halfway in and we made introductions.
Eventually after a few beers and some food we boarded our flight to Nicaragua. Again the flight was uneventful. Total flying time to Managua was just over 3 hours. By the time we deplaned and made our way through customs it was about 7:30. Nicaraguan customs is actually extremely efficient. Both times that Ive entered and exited theyve been faster than Houston customs.
Before leaving the airport we decided to grab 3 bottles of Flor de Cana 18 to quench our evening thirst. The duty free store had a buy 2 get some sort of deal, and it seemed like the thing to do.
Derek and Linda located the shuttle to the Camino Real and we were on our way. The ride to the Camino Real only took a few minutes, as the Camino Real is visible from the airport and the close location is why we originally picked it.
Stepping out of the shuttle bus and into the Nicaraguan air just brought smile from ear to ear on my face. It had been too long since I was in Managua and all of the experience came flooding back. I was fairly relaxed and calm about the trip up until this point, but now the excitement of finally being back started to take over.
We headed into the hotel to check in, dropped our luggage in our respective rooms, and made our way to the pool patio to start smoking and drinking.
Bonus points to anyone who knows what Im smoking there.
We managed to put away 2 or 3 cigars as well as one of the bottles of Flor de Cana 18 before the night was done.
This bottle was empty by the time we were done the evening.
We did some interview videos ahead of time and one when we landed. The original idea was to do an interview video with everyone but I realized early on that we wouldn't have the time.
I woke up fairly early, which was not unexpected. I typically find when I travel to low altitude destinations that Im wide awake around 6am. I got up, sorted myself out and headed for my first breakfast of the Nicaraguan trip.
Fried cheese, rice and beans and tons of fruit to get my prepared for the long day.
After breakfast I settled back onto the patio for a tasty cigar and some coffee.
We did an interview with Derek.
After snapping more pictures, I packed up, checked out and we waited for Pedro and crew to show up.
Jessi ended up showing up before Pedro with Kenneth in tow. Jessi sat with us and waxed poetic about some of the upcoming projects hes working on. For those of you who dont know who Jessi is: Jessi runs Subculture Studios. In a later article Ill go into more detail on what Subculture Studios is and does for Drew Estate.
Kenneth talked about the video series hes doing for Drew Estate.
http://drewestate.com/cigar-safari-2014-botl-org/
http://drewestate.com/cigar-safari-2014-trip-2/
http://drewestate.com/cigar-safari-2014-trip-3-fogue-bates/
http://drewestate.com/cigar-safari-2014-trip-4-barrister-wooden-ind...
http://drewestate.com/cigar-safari-2014-trip-5-serious-cigars/
By the time I posted the last article, Kenneths video on our Safari will be out.
The bus arrived and we all gave Pedro a big hug. It was great to see him again. We also met Henry who was taking over from Pedro, with Pedro now in Miami and having done more than 100 Safaris to day.
We were going to get first crack at these babies!
We loaded up our luggage onto the bus and I lit up another cigar for the ride. We were heading to the airport to greet everyone as they landed.
Next up
Part 2: Day 1, Cigar Safari Reunion.
Link to post with pictures and videos: http://cigarfederation.com/profiles/blogs/event-drew-estate-redditcats-cigar-safari-2014-part-1
Day 0, Tuesday. So long Old Man Winter.
When I first went on the Cigar Safari trip back in 2013, it wasnt long into the trip that I realized this could end up being a yearly vacation for me. By the time we boarded the bus on the last day, I was certain of it. So when Johnny Brooke posted the RedditCATs reunion Safari tickets in the summer of 2013, I purchased them on the first day without hesitation.
In 2013, when we did the Safari for the first time, we decided to layover in Houston instead of getting a hotel room. Although it was enjoyable meeting up with SpeedGeek from /r/cigars (who flew out just for the night to herf with us), ultimately we were up more than 40 hours and were exhausted by the time we finally got to bed in Granada, Nicaragua.
When we were planning the trip this time we realized the wise decision would be to land in Managua, Nicaragua a night early and ease into the trip.
Our flights departed at 8:30 in the morning in order to make our Nicaragua flight connection in Houston. It was not snowing and not particularly icy in Calgary but it was extremely cold. I had to make the decision that all Canadian travelers do when heading off to warmer climates. Do I freeze myself on the way to the airport and land dressed comfortably, or do I dress warmly and sweat until I can change. The lesson I learned from our last Safari was that it would be wiser to freeze momentarily and be comfortable for the entire day.
We headed off to the airport bright and early to beat the security lines. Unfortunately I immediately got hassled by the TSA person who somehow didnt know the TSA rules regarding soft flame lighters. She asserted that because it was refillable that somehow put it in a banned category for travel. Perhaps she was worried I would use the lighter, refill it with butane (which you arent allowed to carry on the plane) and then use the lighter again! I pointed out the appropriate rules regarding lighters but she wasnt going to budge off her position. Disinterested in fighting over a $2 lighter I acquiesced and passed through the rest of security without incident.
This is the face of someone about to experience the Cigar Safari for the first time.
We all caffeinated up on our favorite Starbucks beverage and boarded our United Airlines flight. The flight was fairly uneventful, just under 4 hours total flying time.
We had 3 hours between landing and our departure so we decided to spend it in a small restaurant filling our bellies with food and beer. Derek and Linda met up with us halfway in and we made introductions.
Eventually after a few beers and some food we boarded our flight to Nicaragua. Again the flight was uneventful. Total flying time to Managua was just over 3 hours. By the time we deplaned and made our way through customs it was about 7:30. Nicaraguan customs is actually extremely efficient. Both times that Ive entered and exited theyve been faster than Houston customs.
Before leaving the airport we decided to grab 3 bottles of Flor de Cana 18 to quench our evening thirst. The duty free store had a buy 2 get some sort of deal, and it seemed like the thing to do.
Derek and Linda located the shuttle to the Camino Real and we were on our way. The ride to the Camino Real only took a few minutes, as the Camino Real is visible from the airport and the close location is why we originally picked it.
Stepping out of the shuttle bus and into the Nicaraguan air just brought smile from ear to ear on my face. It had been too long since I was in Managua and all of the experience came flooding back. I was fairly relaxed and calm about the trip up until this point, but now the excitement of finally being back started to take over.
We headed into the hotel to check in, dropped our luggage in our respective rooms, and made our way to the pool patio to start smoking and drinking.
Bonus points to anyone who knows what Im smoking there.
We managed to put away 2 or 3 cigars as well as one of the bottles of Flor de Cana 18 before the night was done.
This bottle was empty by the time we were done the evening.
We did some interview videos ahead of time and one when we landed. The original idea was to do an interview video with everyone but I realized early on that we wouldn't have the time.
I woke up fairly early, which was not unexpected. I typically find when I travel to low altitude destinations that Im wide awake around 6am. I got up, sorted myself out and headed for my first breakfast of the Nicaraguan trip.
Fried cheese, rice and beans and tons of fruit to get my prepared for the long day.
After breakfast I settled back onto the patio for a tasty cigar and some coffee.
We did an interview with Derek.
After snapping more pictures, I packed up, checked out and we waited for Pedro and crew to show up.
Jessi ended up showing up before Pedro with Kenneth in tow. Jessi sat with us and waxed poetic about some of the upcoming projects hes working on. For those of you who dont know who Jessi is: Jessi runs Subculture Studios. In a later article Ill go into more detail on what Subculture Studios is and does for Drew Estate.
Kenneth talked about the video series hes doing for Drew Estate.
http://drewestate.com/cigar-safari-2014-botl-org/
http://drewestate.com/cigar-safari-2014-trip-2/
http://drewestate.com/cigar-safari-2014-trip-3-fogue-bates/
http://drewestate.com/cigar-safari-2014-trip-4-barrister-wooden-ind...
http://drewestate.com/cigar-safari-2014-trip-5-serious-cigars/
By the time I posted the last article, Kenneths video on our Safari will be out.
The bus arrived and we all gave Pedro a big hug. It was great to see him again. We also met Henry who was taking over from Pedro, with Pedro now in Miami and having done more than 100 Safaris to day.
We were going to get first crack at these babies!
We loaded up our luggage onto the bus and I lit up another cigar for the ride. We were heading to the airport to greet everyone as they landed.
Next up
Part 2: Day 1, Cigar Safari Reunion.
Link to post with pictures and videos: http://cigarfederation.com/profiles/blogs/event-drew-estate-redditcats-cigar-safari-2014-part-1
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