The Quest For a Coveted Cigar, Part 2

Day 2. Today we search for the manufacturer. The top of the cigar chain. The Dons.

We passed through toll booth after toll booth. Uncle Chito stopped to ask the tricycle taxi driver and sidewalk vendors for directions. Hours later, in hot, humid tropical weather with no air conditioning in our transpo, our sweat and bleary eyes paid off.

Uuuuuum, are you sure it's down there?

Another security guard?! At least he's carrying a pistol, and not an M-16.

Hah, the Indian! We must be on the right trail, Chief 5-Star.

Indeed we were. See for yourself:

This is where the Antonio Gimenez comes from.

Cigar press.

Thank you, Gabriel, for giving us a tour of your factory.

Oh, but it doesn't end there. That was the first cigar. Now for the second...

We must be close. There's another security guard.

Whaaah? Are you sure this is the right address? It's an empty building...

Very hot on the trail. Another security guard. Oh, and he's opening the 14' gate for us!

Yes! [fist pump] At long last, the pot of gold at the end of a hot, humid, zigzag rainbow.

Be gentle with those 5-Star. That is the pride of the Philippines, the Don Juan Urquijo (DJU).

Whewh! How about some sustenance.

Lunch at Josephine's Restaurant.

Overlooking the Taal Volcano.

And on the drive home...

Streetside b-ball.

And the very last, yes LAST stop for the day: a restaurant at "the big circle monument". Seriously, that is the direction we got.

The picture doesn't show it, but the red, blue and yellow path is a circle painted around the statue on the pedestal.

Yours Truly was so pooped, I didn't bother to photograph 5-Star's meeting with Alan.

Ugh, recounting this experience exhausted me!

I'm gonna lie down now.

Don't wake me.

G'night...