Saturday Errands

Nothing compares to paying a visit to a fine tobacco shop. I could spend hours enveloped in the luxurious aroma of the cedar humidor filled with cigars and fine tobaccos.

It's not every day that I have the opportunity to visit one of these purveyors of life's pleasures. However, across the street from my barber shop, there is a retailer of wine, spirits and fine cigars. Occasionally, after stopping in for a hair cut on a Saturday morning, I'll make my way across the street to stock up on the evenings' entertainment.

Half of the enjoyment of visiting an establishment such as this is derived from browsing....Fine wines from around the world, crystal clear gins, vodkas. It is much like spending time in a museum filled with the artwork of the worlds creators of spirits. Each bottle designed and produced with care and creativity. The liquid contents crafted over the centuries by artisans of joy and diversion.

Spirits having been selected, I make my way to the humidor. Sliding open the door, I enter the tropical environment and I am immediately transported to the shores of distant lands. The Caribean, South and Central America, Africa. I think of all of the exotic locales where this fine array of tobaccos were created by masters of their art. My senses are surrounded by the aroma of sweet, spicey tobaccos and the sharp, crisp aroma of cedar. The constant, gentle whir of the humidifier blocking out all noise from the outside world.

I spend untold moments browsing and rebrowsing the different brands of cigars. Each one decorated with it's own specially designed labels, cedar boxes and artwork. I pick up some of my regular favorites, Montesinos, Dunhill's and Fuentes as well as several untried but attractive cigars.

I hate to leave the humidor......