A Sign of the Times...

I was recently in Switzerland and Germany on a business trip. I enjoy traveling and absorbing a little non-American culture when I can.

I arrived in Switzerland’s Capital, Bern, on a Sunday, only to find that nothing was open… so I retired to my hotel for some much needed R&R before the grueling week ahead of me began. As I walked into the Hotel I was caught off guard. There was a distinguished gentleman, elegantly dressed who had walked in just before me. He forgot to extinguish his cigar, and I found myself almost wanting to stop him and remind him that he was indoors, as to spare him the embarrassment of being confronted in the lobby of the hotel. But, no such confrontation occurred. To my right, another gentleman was enjoying a pipe and a pilsner. And beyond him at the bar, 2 women smoking cigarettes and sipping martinis. I was dumfounded. Finally- someplace where civilized people could enjoy civilized things without being interrupted by over-bearing laws telling a business owner what legal behavior he or she may permit within their premises.

So, after a little nap and a shower, I decided to find a local cigar store and pick up a few cigars to enjoy while I was in town. Of course, since I was out of the United States, Havana cigars were mixed into the assortment in the humidor. I picked out a few robustos, fired one up, and strolled back to my hotel. After an impressive dinner, we retired back into the bar for a cigar and cognac- my memories were immediately stimulated to the days of sitting at Rothmann’s steakhouse in midtown Manhattan after devouring their bone in rib steak, and firing up a great cigar at the meal’s conclusion. It was such a treat- and still is in those unique opportunities that still offer such an experience.

A few days later I wound up just outside Munich, Germany. On my walk to dinner, I passed a familiar looking logo in yellow, white and black that read “COHIBA’R”. I thought, “this is perfect” to myself. After dinner, I immediately retraced my steps with a few friends to check out this cigar bar. With my Churchill already blazing, we headed up the stairs, through the door, and to an awaiting booth. The music was hot, and the place was packed. As I raised my puro to my lips for another puff, I felt a hand on my wrist and another on my shoulder followed by very deliberate speech in German. Fortunately I was with some German-speaking folks who quickly apologized and explained to me that the State of Bavaria had recently passed a smoking ban, and the “COHIBA’R” was not exempt. It was illegal to smoke inside the cigar bar.

We decided to leave, and enjoy our cigars in the brisk German air while we walked back to the hotel to check in (our rooms weren’t ready when we arrived). As we strolled into the lobby with the final quarters of our stogies, we no sooner felt the warmth of the room’s heat then we were given an about-face back into the cold. There was no smoking permitted in the hotel either.

Now, I am in favor of offering smoking and non-smoking sections in restaurants, as well as limiting smoking in certain public areas. I can’t enjoy a cigar if I know other people around me are being bothered, which is why I choose to go to places that encourage people to enjoy a smoke- letting non-smokers know that this place is not for them. But it was interesting to me, that once I was given the chance to enjoy cigars freely as I was in Switzerland, I didn’t take well to having that privilege taken away from me when I arrived in Germany- despite the fact that there is practically NOWHERE to smoke back home in New York.

Alas, I’m back in non-smoking New York, just like nothing ever happened… but, I will do my best to keep fresh the fond recollections of enjoying cigars in a civilized, comfortable place as they were once intended to be enjoyed, until such an experience is available to me again.

Michael Herklots

1/23/08

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