Stogy Smoke and the City
Posted on May 15, 2007
Filed Under Uncategorized |
Like a lot of people, I use the term “stogy” as a fairly catchall term referring to any cigar. However, according to Dictionary.com, the actually definition of “stogy” is:
1. a long, slender, roughly made, inexpensive cigar
I had a stogy this evening, let me tell you. I decided that tonight would be my first real walk of the summer, and I felt that taking a nice Churchill with me would be appropriate. Not quite ready to attempt the Punch that’s sitting in my humidor, I instead pulled out the Guantanamera (like the song) that I had been given at the Tropicana. I’m glad it was free, because it was a poor quality cigar.
I had never heard of Guantanamera cigars before, and assumed that they were a cheap brand since they were giving them away for free to every male who entered the club. Another tip off was the fact that the cap wasn’t closed. Finally, the fact that it came in a plastic tube, instead of a more conventional cedar-lined aluminum tube. Still, I figured I’d try it eventually.
Today, I finally tried it, and it was fairly awful. A mild cigar, it hardly had any flavour at all in the beginning. Later on, it simply tasted like smoke. There was no complexity to it. Just smoke and bitterness. I think I got halfway through before deciding that it wasn’t going to get any better and gave up on it. I have since discovered that Guantanameras are machine-rolled, rather than hand-rolled, and are considered an “economical choice.”
The cigar may have been terrible, but the walk certainly wasn’t. I headed south toward the river, slowly making my way through the many quiet streets between 104 and Jasper. When I reached the walking path at 100 Avenue, I started west. I only ended up going a few blocks before stopping at the lookout at 100 Ave and 118 Street.
I stood there for a long while, smoking my terrible stogy, and looking out over River Valley Road and the Victoria Golf Course. It was a nice moment, sitting there listening to the cars pass below, and watching the golfers down in the valley. It was very peaceful–meditative, almost. I think I may have found a new “thinking spot.”
It was strange, too, because I didn’t realize until today that HUB Mall was visible from the north side of the river. I’m sure I’ve stood at that lookout before, but I’ve never been there alone. Being by myself, contemplating the city, I was able to see things from a new angle.
On the walk back, there were joggers…lots of joggers. Some had iPods, some didn’t. Some were smiling, some looked pained. One looked downright ragged. Some were hyper-feminine, others hyper-masculine. Some were ambiguously androgynous. They were all joggers, though. Individuals, but part of a pack. They were you and me, really, except in much better shape.
And so I headed home, mind full of pictures, wishing I hadn’t forgotten my camera on the desk. I’ll be talking that walk again, I’m sure. Next time, I’ll remember the picturetaker.
Author’s note: As mentioned, I did not have my camera with me. The image above was taken about two years ago as part of a photo essay I made of downtown Edmonton.
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