great locations to smoke

[Ken Gargett]

for me, the balcony at fraser island or in a punt at las salinas in cuba coming back in after a big day's fishing are the two best places on earth for a good cigar. but one other place has always stayed with me. 

a few years ago, i stayed with friends at quinta do crasto - truly one of the most marvelous places in all europe, let alone portugal or the Douro Valley. and terrific wines. one arvo, i remember heading up one of the hills of the estate to where they did some entertaining - as per the photo. i spent the arvo, having a swim in the infinity pool, smoking an SLR DC, enjoying a drink and reading (Lord of the Rings for the upmteenth time, if i recall).

this is a photo i recently came across of the estate when doing other stuff on the net. to be honest, it really does not capture the view.

the other highlight of that trip was a vintage port tasting back to 1847 - only instead of a tiny sip, they had opened several bottles of it and others back into the 1800's - three of us got to stay to "help clean up". we were nearly four hours late for dinner as we did our best to work through all the opened bottles. but i do remember being approached by an old gent at the dinner, when he heard what we'd been drinking. he wanted to know how it was. it had been made by his grandmother (great-grandmother?). i told him it was spectacular.

good, he said, 'i'm down to my last three bottles'. different world. 

anyone have special places? 

 

[Fugu]

OT: love the Roquette's wines, as most Douro Boys' wines (Meao, Dona Maria in partic.). Once been really great value.

[Akela3rd]

Great Tower, Lake District, UK.
Whilst sitting by this

[CaptainQuintero]

When I'm home I'm lucky to live in the middle of a little valley, I'm the opposite of a city person so it's perfect for me. Just have a wander through the woods and hills with a cigar and having the butterflies floating around as you walk past them

[DrunkenMonkey]

Great post Ken.

Just last week I was visiting my brother in Switzerland, who I very rarely see anymore. We took the train to Epesses, on the north shore of Lake Geneva.  Spent the afternoon sitting in the backyard terrace of a very kind man who was the proprietor of a winery, in the shade of a huge tree on a hot day, with cold bottles of very simple, refreshing white wine, and smoking Sir Winstons. The hours spent talking with my brother was the priceless part, but the view, cigars, and wine were also all very nice. Here's the view:

[PatrickEwing]

Ah nice, Ken. My now fiancée (T minus 26 days wife) and I went to Portugal last summer where I proposed. We both really enjoy port, but in hindsight I'm kicking myself at all the opportunities I missed through ignorance at the time. In any event, I got down on the knee at The Yeatman hotel in Vila Nova de Gaia (highly recommend!!) and then we did a small tour at the big names the next day. We then shot up (well, crawled in the old trains) to Pinhao and stayed an amazing B&B. I'm loathe to give out the name but all you guys and gals are alright so it's a must visit if you ever stay in the area: Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros. It's simple, but relaxation and hospitality at it's finest. Terrific meals each night, a fresh carafe of port each day and Molly the dog is always hanging by the pool. This was the site of one of my epiphany cigars, a Partagas P2 tubo. 

A few pics of the environs, but like Ken said, it's hard to do it justice. Also, I can't find the port in the last pic in North America, but the staff at O Paparico in Porto left us that bottle when I told them of the engagement. Great tawny. Highly recommend that restaurant as well - food and service were all class. 

[garbandz]

lovin' these pics.........more,please.

[Miller1985]

No pics at the moment, but I live smack dab in the middle of nowhere. Ok so it's not that rural, but it's nowhere near a city. My front porch is my favorite spot. I can reflect on the day past, or the day to come on a Saturday morning. It's not fancy, but it's my happy place. 

[Danimalia]

These pictures are incredible.

[guideright]

Great thread! Beautfiful spots!