Chateau Drew Estate!

.......We had 2 hours at Hotel Los Arcos to literally get rested, get dressed and ready to party. I had just turned on the hair straightener when electricity went off. Devon was like "What the hell", I on the other side started laughing. Yes... memories of my childhood in Albania were running quick through my head. I remebered playing domino with my family under candle lights. Some of you might think, "where do you come from?" but i cherish every moment and experience i have had in my country, those lightless hours would bring us closer and yes we used to spend a lot of time with family. But this didnt last long the electricity was back in less than 10 minutes and we were ready on time to get on the busses bringing us to the house of Drew Estate, where the first dinner would take place. The local Esteli girls who had been translating and coordinating the groups all day were out of their business outfits and in beautiful dresses, which added to their kind look even more. In no time we were at "Chateau" Drew Estate thats how i like to call it because the nice colorful decor and the breathtaking view of the hills reminded me of my first trip to South France.


Everyone had done such a great job setting up the place, so much that i would exchange fine dining any night at "Aujourd'hui" for a nice Nicaraguan dinner on this balcony by the pool. We were sitting in the table with Rocky Patel and the Famous Smoke shop crew, Victor (who was a great dancer:)) Al (who turned out to be originally from Albania, two of us on the same table was a great surprise) and Jeff( who was so nice and took care of us the whole trip). Thanks guys we had a great time:). Drinks were flowing, food was delicious and conversation just made everything better.


What made everything perfect that night were the local traditional dances and the charity auction. The liga privada pool with floating candles was a perfect set up for the colorful outfits and the Nicaraguan dancers. The music was fun and enjoyable and their movements flowless.

Towards the end of the night all the cigar makers were auctioning off products to raise money for the local elderly house which ended up being a great success. Thanks to "chef" Rocky Patel offering a home cooked lobster dinner for 10 which Dion and Pete made quite a generous donation for. But the rest of us did our share too.

The night ended with the festive music of Mariachi and delicious desert. Some people went back to the hotel, some of us continued cigar smoking and cigar talk later on the night at Chateau Drew Estate.



(Stay tuned for day 2 more fun stuff to come....)

1st day of the Tobacco festival Nicaragua

....After a quick breakfast at Hotel Barcelo, we were ready to go. Nick was nice enough to take us in his car so we could avoid the big bus travel to Esteli. (you probably wondering who is Nick... i will tell you later) I and Devon spent the next two hours talking about cigars and our industry with Dion (the mastermind behind the lovely Illusione Cigars) and Nick ( the tobacco buyer for Drew Estate who has those awesome Ligas that i love so much) Actually i am lying, I was talking Devon slept half way through. We entered the city of Esteli around 10 am, some would feel like they are in a completely new world, very different from where they came from. To me it felt like home. The stone roads, the barganing stands of fruits and clothes on both sides of the streets reminded me of my childhood in Albania. I loved Esteli since the first second i saw it. Now all i was looking for were the green endless tobacco fields. But that wouldnt happen quite yet.
Our first stop was Hotel Los Arcos, where all the first day meetings with different Nicaraguan and Tobacco industry officials would take place. Concidentally thats where we were staying at. We almost crashed to the cameramen while entering the hotel and i later learned that the man standing next to me sorrounded by the police had been the Vice President of the country(if i am not mistaken). That day i learned a lot about Nicaragua as a country and about the tobacco industry in particular. We heard spechees from leading cigar specialists and it was amazing learning the potential this country had and what it had to offer to the cigar industry of the world. I felt happy and privileged at the same time sitting next to all the people whose work and dedication brings us some of the best cigars we enjoy every day. Just to name a few and forgive me if i forget anyone, Don Pepin Garcia(with his daughter Janny and son Jaime), Orlando and George Padron, Rocky Patel, Steve Saka, Jonathan Drew, Pete Johnson and many more. After the day was topped of with a cocktail reception we had only 2 hours to get ready for the rest of the night...
(Coming up on the next blog Dinner and Fun at Chateau Drew Estate)

It started by convincing notes of Brandon's voice, i really didn't want to go but i was eventually convinced! Who wouldn't wanne smoke, drink and party with the who's who of the tobacco industry. You are wondering what the hell am I talking about, its my trip to the 1st Tobacco Festival in Nicaragua!
In the late hours of a Wednesday night, myself and Devon landed in Managua airport and from there to Hotel Barcelo. Even though we were tired we decided to have our first cigar and the first taste of Nicaraguan food at the hotel bar! Sitting by the pool on a patio overlooking the city of Managua the local Tona beer tasted so great.
We got a few hours of sleep before meeting with the Drew Estate Crew only to start the journey of what will become the most awesome three days of my life.....

(to be continued)