Sampling the local drink and cuisine is one of many enjoyments of travel, although perhaps ‘experience’ is a more appropriate word when it comes to describing the local firewater. Throughout my travels, both as a tour leader and as a tourist, I have always been game to give the local drink a try. Indeed, my ability to down cheap neat vodka without gasping, alleviated a potentially uncomfortable situation in a backstreet bar in Warsaw.
The Berlin Wall had come down not long ago, and travelling in Poland had become less restricted. Not wanting to visit the usual tourist haunts, my friend and I wandered naively through Warsaw’s back streets. After various conversations with passers-by which involved much hand waving and pointing, and some very raised eyebrows, we eventually located a tiny ‘locals’ bar. It was getting cold and against our better judgement we descended the stairs and opened the door into a smoke-filled bar. The place went silent. Swarthy looking men and tarty looking women glowered suspiciously at us and the phrase ‘stranger in town’ immediately sprung to mind. But undeterred, we strode purposely to the bar, and after a quick glance of what people were drinking, we ordered vodka.
The barman racked up a couple of glasses and reached far below the bar; I had a feeling we were getting the ‘not-so-very-good’ stuff. With a face as expressionless as the floor, he poured us generous measures of clear liquid from a bottle, which I think had the word vodka on it. Only then did he let slip a slight smirk as he pushed the glasses to us.
Raising the glass to my lips, I poured the entire measure into my mouth, held my breath and swallowed. Maybe it’s a gene left over from my distant Scandinavian roots (I am from Yorkshire stock), but I’ve always had a leaning towards vodka and considered myself a reasonable drinker of the liquid. But this? This really was the proverbial rocket fuel; as I gulped and suppressed the strong gag reflex, I also somehow managed to also keep my face as straight and as I put the empty glass back on the bar, I looked the barman straight in the eye.
He smiled and the whole bar erupted. Much back slapping ensued, the atmosphere became distinctly jovial and the better vodka was lined up. I can’t quite remember what happened after that, how we conversed or how we got home, but my hazy recollection is we had a good time.
Being able to knock back highly potent alcoholic drinks ‘in one’ is probably not a skill to include on the CV, but it definitely has its uses!
You can read about another of my travel escapades in the travel anthology, From the Grand Canyon to Great Wall, the best, the worst and most ridiculous stories from the road. It’s in numerous ebook formats and you can even get a hard copy! Visit http://www.slenkdeellc.com/Grand2Great.php
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