Another beer on the (BeBop) counter
A quick stop at the BeBop Live Music Club last Wednesday night, just to say hello to friends. Pink Floyd Tribute playing, and this time I can give you a taste of the live music at the BeBop 
Riga Black Balsam
Riga Black Balsam is an interesting liquor I’ve come across abroad but also a few times in Italy. First contact with this strange stuff took place in Riga (Latvia), while touring the Baltic Republics.
As reported by wikipedia, “according to legend, Empress Catherine the Great of Russia, became ill during a visit to Latvia, but was cured after drinking Riga Black Balsam”. What wikipedia doesn’t detail is that looks like Catherine left Riga in a hurry, the very same day, probably to avoid being given a second shot of the stuff… 
I brought a bottle back from that trip, but it’s long gone. I’ve been lucky enough to find a bottle in a hotel once, and another one at the BeBop in Florence. But no luck in trying to buy a new one here in Italy…
And then a few weeks ago a friend, through some colleague from Lithuania, managed to bring me a bottle! (Thanks again!)
Last night I’ve therefore been able to organize a big surprise for friends that were in Riga with me: a shot of Balsam in the middle of Ferrara…
