Arrival. Beer. Intentions.

If the Pro Cigar Festival is on your bucket list (and it should be), you might just wonder just how it’s done? This week I’m going to share my schedule. Day by day. Beer by beer. Cigar by…wait, I really don’t want to add all those up…so just go with whatever you imagine on that one.

I typically fly in the Sunday before Pro Cigar officially starts. This year I was a day late…so I need to hit the ground running. Well…sort of.

Santiago does not need to announce itself. It knows why I am here.

You land and immediately feel it. The air is warm, heavy, and familiar. The social media posts light up with tags from D36 in Miami. The early arrivals are already popping up in various locations throughout the city. Pro Cigar has not officially started, but the week has absolutely begun.

Monday is not about making a statement. It is about making it to Friday.

Pool Time Anyone?

Bags were dropped in the room. Shoes changed. The pool becomes the first unofficial meeting space of the week. You can spot the veterans quickly. Calm. Measured. Already holding a Presidente.

The entire country has the amazing ability of keeping the beer stored 1 degree over freezing. I still can’t figure out how they do it and, like not wanting a magician to reveal the trick…I’m ok not knowing.

The conversations around the pool are casual. People are checking who made it in early, who brought friends for their first time, who is visiting which factory tomorrow (unofficially), and who quietly has something in the pipeline for later this year.

Every year I bring my swim suit. I don’t think I have ever gone IN the pool. But it is good to be prepared.

It is a relaxing afternoon followed by a quick 30 min nap. Don’t judge me here or I will pull this event over.

What about dinner?

Great meals will not be delayed even one more day.

My Monday evening is typically spent at Noah.

With a great view of the monument, it is like an odd foreshadowing of things to come. Well, actually things that WILL come (Thursday night’s dinner will up that hill).

Let’s be honest, an outdoor venue that serves good food AND you can smoke cigars? I’m in.

Monday is about settling in.

This is where you take a breath from the travel day.

By the end of the night, you are not exhausted (those night will come later).

Ok, one more thing…

Instead of sandbagging the week, I made the call to pop over for one after dinner at the new Arturo Fuente Cigar Club at the Hotel Santiago. I will do a more in-depth write-up later, but let me just say it is the cigar lounge that Santiago needed.

Before you even walk into the lounge, you are greeted by a great Fuente cigar shop, where you can find a great selection (and a few hard-to-find items).

The lounge itself is bright, energetic, and comfortable.

For me, if I wake up on Tuesday feeling fresh, I did Monday correctly.

Cigar Count: Responsible.
Hydration Level: Starting now. I’m going to need it.
Energy: Steady and under control.