Socialism's Upside...

[GarMan]

Yes...  Socialism has an upside.  It really does.  In Spain, I can purchase Montecristo #2 cigars for 10.50 Euros.  Everywhere else in Europe seems to be charging 30-40 Euros.  Similarly, I can find Trinidads for 13 Euros in Spain, while they sell for 25-35 Euros elsewhere. 

Of course, there's a BIG downside to this shining star of Socialism.  In order to accomplish this, the Spanish gubmet adopted strict price controls on imported goods.  Along with this, they raised tobacco taxes and meddled in wage limits for certain professions and employment agreements.  My first day in Madrid, I had plans to visit some of the most popular cigar shops.  Many of these businesses have been around for 30-40 years and were passed down from generation to generation of family members... NOT ANYMORE.  They're gone.  As recently as 2005, these shops were listed in several online reviews.  I had even read a review on a travel site that mentioned a neighborhood with cigar shops on every corner.  Of the top 5 I had planned to visit, all of them were closed.  I never made it to the North side of Madrid, but there are no more cigar shops in central Madrid. 

I could still find cigars, but they were sold in tobacco stores in these shopping centers throughout Madrid, el Cortez Ingles.  Unfortunately, their selection wasn't very broad, but they still had a nice collection, and the price was right.  Overall, I was really disappointed.  I heard that Spain had some of the best prices, and while that may be true, the cigar culture is dead.  You couldn't even find cigars in nightclubs or higher end restaurants.  What a shame... 

[Tarheel]

Yes...  Socialism has an upside.  It really does.  In Spain, I can purchase Montecristo #2 cigars for 10.50 Euros.  Everywhere else in Europe seems to be charging 30-40 Euros.  Similarly, I can find Trinidads for 13 Euros in Spain, while they sell for 25-35 Euros elsewhere. 

Of course, there's a BIG downside to this shining star of Socialism.  In order to accomplish this, the Spanish gubmet adopted strict price controls on imported goods.  Along with this, they raised tobacco taxes and meddled in wage limits for certain professions and employment agreements.  My first day in Madrid, I had plans to visit some of the most popular cigar shops.  Many of these businesses have been around for 30-40 years and were passed down from generation to generation of family members... NOT ANYMORE.  They're gone.  As recently as 2005, these shops were listed in several online reviews.  I had even read a review on a travel site that mentioned a neighborhood with cigar shops on every corner.  Of the top 5 I had planned to visit, all of them were closed.  I never made it to the North side of Madrid, but there are no more cigar shops in central Madrid. 

I could still find cigars, but they were sold in tobacco stores in these shopping centers throughout Madrid, el Cortez Ingles.  Unfortunately, their selection wasn't very broad, but they still had a nice collection, and the price was right.  Overall, I was really disappointed.  I heard that Spain had some of the best prices, and while that may be true, the cigar culture is dead.  You couldn't even find cigars in nightclubs or higher end restaurants.  What a shame... 

This could be a preview of what's in store for us when The Obama takes over here.  He and the Democrats socialists who control Congress will finally get that new S-CHIP law passed which will effectively destroy cigar sales in the U.S.

[AUTiger1]

This could be a preview of what's in store for us when The Obama takes over here. He and the Democrats socialists who control Congress will finally get that new S-CHIP law passed which will effectively destroy cigar sales in the U.S.

   I would be in a world of hurt if I couldn't sit out on the patio, smoke a cigar and have a nice tall glass of Maker's Mark.

[Tarheel]

  I would be in a world of hurt if I couldn't sit out on the patio, some a cigar and have a nice tall glass of Maker's Mark.

Don't let Kaos know that you do that...he'll go ape shit bananas and get on an anti-smoking rant again...of course that would give me an excuse to rant about the smoke nazis again.  (I'm just kidding!)