Now onto to my second guilty pleasure after a Costa Rican coffee or with, for that matter, Costa Rican cigars.

Depending on whom you believe, Cuba, Nicaragua or Costa Rica all make the world’s finest cigars. I tend to believe that based on price and selection, you won’t find a better cigar than one from the fields and farms of Costa Rica. Many small towns have a local cigar store, where you can witness the process of hand rolling of the cigars complete with a grandmother in the corner enjoying her own cigar with a big grin on her face. Just like Costa Rican coffee, there is a ritual to the selection, the preparation, the lighting and enjoyment of a cigar. Each cigar rewards in a different way.

I am smoking a nice BH Puro made by a one man producer, Byron Hernandez who produces (exclusively) for Los Suenos Resort near Jaco. I find his Robusto Puros are not harsh on the throat, burn well and have a wonderful smoke that warms the room. Of course, I am usually a solo smoker and I would never offend someone who does not smoke or who is sensitive to it.

Other makers of cigars include such names as Adrian, Don Juan, Don Benigno and many offer a wide assortment of mild to strong smoke, small to torpedo and the Churchill size which can really make things hard to see in a room. I like the Robusto and I pay under $3 US per cigar and I get free delivery from Mike from the website at www.costaricacigarstore.com. He delivers my cigars when the two of us meet up at Mac’s Bar in Sabana. By the way, Mike will ship to you anywhere in the world and he goes the distance to let you try some great cigars.

So there we have it, an introductory lesson on my second guilty pleasure, Costa Rican cigars that accompany the pleasure of living in a green paradise. If you decide to make the trip to Costa Rica, drop by and see me, the coffee is always on and there’s always a new cigar to try. The light is on in the window.

Pura Vida.