Colombia!
May 20, 2004 - Palmira, Colombia

I PROMISED MYSELF I WOULD BE GOOD. But one thing led to another and I ended up drinking half of the bottle of Aguardiente, pictured above center. And look what it did to my breath!!

Seriously , I did drink most of the bottle myself. Aguardiente is made from sugar cane, plentiful in much of South and Central America.  I've sampled it in other countries and it always seemed like the low budget, rot-gut, cheapest buzz you could buy, kind of liquor. But in Colombia it has some flavor and not just fire. A nice anise or licorice flavor. It is served in very tiny little shot glasses. Everyone encouraged me to have another tiny shot. An after all they were very small.  Even those I didn't speak with would smile and nod as if  to say  "Come on, down the hatch!" 

Just like cutting a large piece of cake into two and eating both of them; the result is the same but part of you feels better about yourself. At least until the next morning...

It  started out as a nice family gathering. Friends of friends.  I trusted my friends but was a little leery of their friends. The host was just a little too outgoing.  He wanted me to know that I was safe in his home. He said he made sure there were never any problems for his family. He pulled a shiny silver revolver out of the back of his jeans as his demonstration of security. Great!  I feel so secure! Can I leave now?