Well since I was still pretty much sick, me and the wife went to Ybor to at least shop for gars. I had wanted to make it to Tampa Sweethearts while there, but they closed at 1:00pm on Saturday and I missed out on a bundle of apprentice rolled goodness. I did manage to locate a few cigars I have not smoked but were on my to do list.

I had started to feel better towards the end of last week so I smoked this pretty banded gar on 5-14-09 Maximus, Diamond Crown This is one that I picked up while in Ybor. Very well built stick, but unfortunitly my sinuses did not let me enjoy it. I will definitely give it another try.

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Michael
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5-15-09

Still sick but I could not resist trying another one of my Ybor purchases (I bought a few of these because I have been looking for them for awhile locally with no luck till now).

Olivas' Master Blend #3 Even though I was still not feeling perfect, the cigar tasted wonderful. Full flavor and lots of smoke. so glad I have more of these to try when I am not sick.

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What a great looking cigar these things are.


I was feeling alot better today (5-18-09), and had planned on smoking an ESG to celebrate...but it was way to rainy to waste. Looks like the rain will be here all week.

Thanks everyone who has enjoyed this thread. Perhaps I can give better reviews in the future. There is always tomorrow!

Michael
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Great photos. Really enjoying your adventures in tobacco! That Diamond Crown looks like a beast.
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Try the Padron 1926 Maduros,they are a real treat as well.
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Michael, I'm lovin' this thread and your pictures.
It almost makes me want to go out and get a job.:-)

PS, I found the Professor Sila that Cigars International sells to be very similar to the La Fontana. They can be had cheap. Famous smokeshop
http://www.famous-smoke.com seems to have the best prices on La Fontanas that I could find.
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Picked a couple of them up, as well as a couple more ESGs at Tampa Humi the other day :-) ...going to wait till I am feeling 100% before smoking one though. :-)
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The only place I have found local to me that sells La Fontana's is "The News Stand" on Fletcher Ave. Unfortunitly they are a periodicals first store...they have a small humi section with mostly Fuente smokes. I usually have to rehidrate the cigars I get before smoking them. (I only go there for the La Fonatana's)

I will have to try the Professor Sila. Thanks.

Michael
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What a tough life.... :-)
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Awesome..keep em coming brother!
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Very nice - Keep going!
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5-20-09

Rainy day so I ran down to a local B&M to pick up some PAMs. My wife recieved her rebate card for a phone she bought and gave it to me for smokes...this is what I left with, plus a little extra out of pocket...damn things are pricey but hard to pass up.

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Could not resist smoking this Ashton ESG after my lunch. Sucker kept eyeballing me every time I looked into the humi. It was just as good as my earlier review of it.

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Hope to smoke some new stuff this week, with a little surprise to boot.

Michael
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I just read through this whole thread and I enjoyed it very much, a lot of the cigars you are trying are on my list to try, thanks for the reviews!
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Gotta love those PALM PILOTS...I see you have a first edition.
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Those will set you straight,I get a ton coffee and cocoa from those :-)
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As many of us are! Great pics, great thread! Thank you!
:-)
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:-):-):-)

great pictures
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Just went through this entire thread, enjoyed every bit of it! Great job Mike.


Ooo, you are very lucky you don't live here then. As they say.. 50% of our health care funds goes towards curing sinus infections that come from trying to pronounce French vowels. (the other half being hockey injuries:-))

Looking forward to more from this thread!

MH
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More nice pictures! Those PAM do look very good! :-)
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Thanks my friend. The Canada comment was mostly based on the weather. I would rather sweat than freeze any day. :-)
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5-21-09

We are still getting alot of well needed rain here, but it does not help construction much. This lake was not here a couple days ago.

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I only left the house with one stick this morning because I figured I would have plenty of time at lunch to visit a local B&M. My morning pick was another favorite of mine that I smoke alot of. Oliva Series O. I love everything about this cigar. It screams cigar just looking at it. Full bodied, thick ring guage, lots of smoke, and tastes great. I love the finish on these things.

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Damn thing looks huge at that angle...looks like a prop for Linda Lovelace.

I would not hesitate buying a box of these things...if I only had more storage room.

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I origanally bought this torch for my wife to make creame bru lae. (however you spell it. Works much better for toasting my cigars.

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