Brotherhood of the Leaf.
- Thread starter Jfire
- Start date
rick12string
Caught in the Crossfire
Well said Justin. I'm glad you guys had such a great time. Just reading this post brings a smile to my face. I just wish I could have been there to share the experience with such a fine group of brothers.
Sounds like you all had a great time. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and memories. Oh BTW, did I mention how jealous I am of all of you great BOTL's that made the trip? Hoping one day I can make it down to Nica. Look forward to hearing more of the antics that went on.
Soundwave13
BoM Feb 2010
Tatua-hey-hey!
Double-fisted salute!
Stripper story-time.
Juan take us back to the hotel, now!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rumbus pit stop, Matt's witt, Justin getting his Esteli fireman shirt, Jere doing Clinton impressions, Dan's constant ear-to-ear grin, Mitch being prepared for EVERYTHING, Jason, Brian & Jere's bright red sunburn, Danilo getting stared at by all the blushing ladies, hunting for Ryan after he wandered off in the market, Brain getting pick-pocketed & Justin catchin it, Mitch & I exploring, Pete can't handle the ice-cream, Janny watching the soap-opera every chance she got, Dan learning how to de-stem a tobacco leaf, my obsession with cowboy hats, fried plantains, hermica & more fried plantains and hermica, the long quiet road back to Managua with burnt tongues.
A truly amazing time with some amazing people. Viva la BOTL!
Double-fisted salute!
Stripper story-time.
Juan take us back to the hotel, now!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rumbus pit stop, Matt's witt, Justin getting his Esteli fireman shirt, Jere doing Clinton impressions, Dan's constant ear-to-ear grin, Mitch being prepared for EVERYTHING, Jason, Brian & Jere's bright red sunburn, Danilo getting stared at by all the blushing ladies, hunting for Ryan after he wandered off in the market, Brain getting pick-pocketed & Justin catchin it, Mitch & I exploring, Pete can't handle the ice-cream, Janny watching the soap-opera every chance she got, Dan learning how to de-stem a tobacco leaf, my obsession with cowboy hats, fried plantains, hermica & more fried plantains and hermica, the long quiet road back to Managua with burnt tongues.
A truly amazing time with some amazing people. Viva la BOTL!
If you are old enough to remember the corner store with all of the handmade candy as a kid - then imagine living in the store as a guest for a couple of days. That's what it was like to be hosted by Pete and the Garcias in Esteli. Not only did they share 'how' everything is made - from the farms to the drying rooms (as Pete said 'They will tell you anything you want to know because they are confident that no one can do it as good as them') - but a quick request from Pete and out came a different tray of candy, wrapped in paper from the drying room, with about perfect timing from when the last stick was finished. (Except for me - who tended to finish my Churchills while everyone else was still half way through their Robustos)
So, just being there and having that opportunity is quite enough - and I'm lucky enough to have done that before. But what makes a trip like this unforgettable is the company that you share it with. It seems that everyone's memories are filled with things that others did or said, as this is what forms a true memory - a shared experience - seeing a thing through your own eyes and those around you.
I might have remembered Ceviche - the cold dish of fish that we had as an appetizer the first night - but I'll never forget it because Danilo explained the entire process to me and wrote down a recipe for me before we left the restaurant that night.
I might have just passed the firehall walking the streets of Esteli without even noticing it, except Justin disappeared from the group for a while because he wandered in with a few others to check it out and ask for a shirt or patch to take back. I wouldn't have known that that was actually a tradition with fireman all over if I hadn't run into Justin in the hallway at the hotel when they brought a shirt over and there was a language barrier while waiting for Danilo to come interpret.
Not simply the tobacco related experiences, but pretty much everything that came up - was amplified by being in a diverse and passionate group. I jokingly thought that there was someone in this group that knew something about just about anything - and I think that was close to true.
What we didn't know about tobacco and the processes that go into making the best sticks - we were exposed to. What we thought we knew was either verified or correctly explained. What we didn't catch the first time it was explained was brought up at one of the many tables we sat around and recounted the days' experiences.
There simply is no better way to learn more than to surround yourself with great people who care enough about those around them to share their knowledge and their wealth. So it goes for those on the trip and those who hosted us.
Thanks to everyone for sharing stories, sticks and sometimes sarcasm. lol (just had to use some alliteration)
Thanks to Aunt Janny (inside joke - her nephews are named Jeremy and Justin) for interpreting for us and for fulfilling my request to get vanilla ice cream so I could have it while smoking a fresh NHC stick - an episode that turned into a 20 minute ordering ordeal - ending with the biggest eyes ever when I said "can we go ride ponies now?" When she asked Pete about it - he said "yeah - and cotton candy".
So, as you can imagine - it really was like being 5 again - at the corner store - surrounded by every imaginable confection - full of wonder at what you might have next - and what you might learn.
So, just being there and having that opportunity is quite enough - and I'm lucky enough to have done that before. But what makes a trip like this unforgettable is the company that you share it with. It seems that everyone's memories are filled with things that others did or said, as this is what forms a true memory - a shared experience - seeing a thing through your own eyes and those around you.
I might have remembered Ceviche - the cold dish of fish that we had as an appetizer the first night - but I'll never forget it because Danilo explained the entire process to me and wrote down a recipe for me before we left the restaurant that night.
I might have just passed the firehall walking the streets of Esteli without even noticing it, except Justin disappeared from the group for a while because he wandered in with a few others to check it out and ask for a shirt or patch to take back. I wouldn't have known that that was actually a tradition with fireman all over if I hadn't run into Justin in the hallway at the hotel when they brought a shirt over and there was a language barrier while waiting for Danilo to come interpret.
Not simply the tobacco related experiences, but pretty much everything that came up - was amplified by being in a diverse and passionate group. I jokingly thought that there was someone in this group that knew something about just about anything - and I think that was close to true.
What we didn't know about tobacco and the processes that go into making the best sticks - we were exposed to. What we thought we knew was either verified or correctly explained. What we didn't catch the first time it was explained was brought up at one of the many tables we sat around and recounted the days' experiences.
There simply is no better way to learn more than to surround yourself with great people who care enough about those around them to share their knowledge and their wealth. So it goes for those on the trip and those who hosted us.
Thanks to everyone for sharing stories, sticks and sometimes sarcasm. lol (just had to use some alliteration)
Thanks to Aunt Janny (inside joke - her nephews are named Jeremy and Justin) for interpreting for us and for fulfilling my request to get vanilla ice cream so I could have it while smoking a fresh NHC stick - an episode that turned into a 20 minute ordering ordeal - ending with the biggest eyes ever when I said "can we go ride ponies now?" When she asked Pete about it - he said "yeah - and cotton candy".
So, as you can imagine - it really was like being 5 again - at the corner store - surrounded by every imaginable confection - full of wonder at what you might have next - and what you might learn.
Panicbound
Dankster
Very impressive stories...I am happy for all of you.
Jfire
BoM 9/9' 9/11' 8/12'
Never have I listened to so much Marley since I've been back home!
Sitting on the rooftop next to Jdub watching the rest of the group take in Petes stories of days gone by.
With this song in the backround, slight mist coming down, smoke of diff blends mixing in the air and rum/Pecti/cactus juice being poured to no avail!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7K0Dp2M2fE"]YouTube- bob marley-everything's gonna be alright[/ame]
Sitting on the rooftop next to Jdub watching the rest of the group take in Petes stories of days gone by.
With this song in the backround, slight mist coming down, smoke of diff blends mixing in the air and rum/Pecti/cactus juice being poured to no avail!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7K0Dp2M2fE"]YouTube- bob marley-everything's gonna be alright[/ame]
I'm so happy you guys all had a great time. It sounds like you all had an experience of a lifetime and are all true brothers! Glad to be here and to know you guys!
LongDuckDong
Wat's happenin hot stuff?
Nicely put Justin. Can't wait for future trip.
Shaun
Shaun
Let's go!:smokingme
AlohaStyle
BoM Sept '12 & Aug '13
Awesome post guys! I haven't had much time since on BOTL since we all left Esteli so I didn't see this until now... very cool reading all the thoughts and experiences!
I agree with everything you all said and this experience wouldn't even be close to the same if it wasn't without a good group of people! People coming from all over the country not knowing each other, but yet we all left with lasting friendships.
- I remember Pete graciously saying he would host a group of BOTL back in October (for real?!? LOL)
- I remember tons of emails going back and forth within the group, feeling like I was getting to know everyone before we even left
- I remember meeting everyone all at once coming out of the airport security, feeling the BOTL love
- I remember a jam packed "Rum Bus" going to Esteli, but who cares, it was a blast!
- Not even knowing the Garcia family would be there, I remember the tremendous generosity of Pepin, Jaime and Janny making us feel like family and giving us free reign of the My Father factory and conference room. I will never forget how well they treated us.
- I remember Janny being such a sweetheart for putting up with a bunch of gringos never leaving our side
- I remember Danilo being a great friend putting up with a bunch of gringos too... helping all of us translate with Pepin, shop owners, you name it. Thanks man
- I remember being thankful to be included in the first BOTL Nicaragua trip and everyone made the trip special
- I remember walking into Pepin Garcia's home like we were all family
- I remember Pete telling stories about when he was younger and... oh wait, never mind! LOL
- I remember Matt and Dan being keepers of the never ending cigar bundles
- I remember Pepin's face bringing in the BOTL shaped cigar being glad that we all approved so much of his work
- I remember Pepin showing us what would be for "lunch" the next day
- I remember everyone sitting around the farmhouse eating lunch, drinking beers and smoking cigars and Pepin being the gracious host, waiting until the very end to eat
- I remember Pete Johnson coming out of the club at the very end of the night even though he went back to the hotel a few hours earlier! LOL
- I will always remember this trip and people, thanks again Pete for making it happen!
I agree with everything you all said and this experience wouldn't even be close to the same if it wasn't without a good group of people! People coming from all over the country not knowing each other, but yet we all left with lasting friendships.
- I remember Pete graciously saying he would host a group of BOTL back in October (for real?!? LOL)
- I remember tons of emails going back and forth within the group, feeling like I was getting to know everyone before we even left
- I remember meeting everyone all at once coming out of the airport security, feeling the BOTL love
- I remember a jam packed "Rum Bus" going to Esteli, but who cares, it was a blast!
- Not even knowing the Garcia family would be there, I remember the tremendous generosity of Pepin, Jaime and Janny making us feel like family and giving us free reign of the My Father factory and conference room. I will never forget how well they treated us.
- I remember Janny being such a sweetheart for putting up with a bunch of gringos never leaving our side
- I remember Danilo being a great friend putting up with a bunch of gringos too... helping all of us translate with Pepin, shop owners, you name it. Thanks man
- I remember being thankful to be included in the first BOTL Nicaragua trip and everyone made the trip special
- I remember walking into Pepin Garcia's home like we were all family
- I remember Pete telling stories about when he was younger and... oh wait, never mind! LOL
- I remember Matt and Dan being keepers of the never ending cigar bundles
- I remember Pepin's face bringing in the BOTL shaped cigar being glad that we all approved so much of his work
- I remember Pepin showing us what would be for "lunch" the next day
- I remember everyone sitting around the farmhouse eating lunch, drinking beers and smoking cigars and Pepin being the gracious host, waiting until the very end to eat
- I remember Pete Johnson coming out of the club at the very end of the night even though he went back to the hotel a few hours earlier! LOL
- I will always remember this trip and people, thanks again Pete for making it happen!
