Riga Black Balsam

Posted on March 16th, 2008 in BeBop, Ferrara, Food & Drink, Trips & Travel by michele

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.

Riga Black Balsam

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… :-D

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…

Riga Black Balsam in Ferrara

SUV - Stupid Useless Vehicle

Posted on February 3rd, 2008 in Brain, Ferrara by michele

A pickup truck may be the right car if you live in a farm, or up in the mountains. But in my part of Italy the highest “peak” we have is the embankment along the the Po river. Not really demanding.

All the same, every day we have more and more of those huge “cars” clogging the narrow streets of our beautiful, medieval city. And today I saw the top Stupid Useless Vehicle so far…

Hummer in Ferrara

Hey fella, do you need a bigger car to compensate for something else?

Another of human brain’s mysteries: how can so many people use so little of it?

Sunday Morning in Ferrara

Posted on November 11th, 2007 in Ferrara by michele

One of the things I love of my city, Ferrara, is what you find on a sunny but not too cold Sunday morning like today. Just get to the city centre and you’ll find the main square and the surrounding area quite crowded. But not a crowd in a hurry to get somewhere, nor making noise (and smell) with cars and scooter.

Sunday Morning in Ferrara

Everyone in the crowd is enjoying the sun and a little talk, or a strolling along with the children. An the peaceful invasion of vehicles consists in dozen of bicycles. In fact, it’s not at all a crowd in the usually negative meaning. It’s more the heart of the city pulsing at a pleasant, not too quick pace.

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