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OK so the weather wasn't great but everything else was excellent. I met up with DMV for some smoke and beers. Great seeing you again!

Yesterday was just plain awesome. We finished up early so I headed down to Ybor City to hit some of the local shops. First, I stopped in the shop that's operated by the Fuente family. I met Arturo and Arturo Jr and got a picture taken with them. I used a disposable so I hope the pics come out OK.

After that it was over to another shop where Robert Spoden was sponsoring a Bucanero smoker. I got to meet Robert and his wife and spent several hours talking with them. I tried the Don Douglas for the first time. It's a bit mild for my tastes but was still very flavorful. The Salsa was much more to my liking. I just had to pick up a box to bring home.

Following the smoker, Robert and his wife Cathy invited me out for dinner. We enjoyed wonderful conversation and delicious sushi at a little place near their home. It was truly a pleasure hanging out with them. It just reinforces my feelings of how the brotherhood of cigar smokers is like a big family. After a few minutes with Robert and his wife you just feel like you're spending time with longtime friends.

Thanks Robert. I look forward to seeing you both again.

Note to Slimboli, Cathy said to say hi to you

lol

Here's a cut and paste with some Fuente family info

For years, the "Charles the Great" building housed the full production of Fuente cigars, but as time passed it became more difficult to find skilled labor and in the early 1970's inflation was hurting the US economy. By this time, Carlos Jr., Carlos' eldest son, began assisting in the business as well. When producing cigars by hand became a lost art in Tampa, they decided to make some drastic changes and opened a factory in Nicaragua. Shortly afterwards the rebel Sandanistas burned the operation to the ground. Later, a second factory in Honduras was also demolished by a fire.

In 1980, Carlos Sr. opened Tabacalera A. Fuente y Compania in the Dominican Republic with seven employees. Soon afterward, the demand from loyal cigar customers necessitated the need for more workers and factories. Today, Tabacalera A. Fuente has over 2,500 employees and several factories in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

In 1994, Arturo Jr. officially retired from Arturo Fuente Cigar Factory, Inc. and its Tampa operations, but he now runs a cigar retail outlet and mail order business from the same historic
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Carlos Sr and Arturo Sr are the sons of the founder. Thier sons named Carlos and Arturo would be cousins. Carlos Jr runs the business/factories and Arturo Jr runs a retail business in Tampa.

No I didn't make it to the bowling alley. I was too busy talking with everyone at the smoker. I actually got there a little after 5:00 even though it was scheduled to start at 7:00. Robert was already set up so I was able to spend quite a bit of time talking with him before the crowd showed up. Before I knew it, it was 9:00 and we were leaving.