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Toothache? Drink Some Rakija.

By Ronald Ackermann -

October 27, 2015

Did you know that rakija is the cure for everything?

If I’ve taken anything away from my trip to Serbia last week it is just that.

Toothache? Drink some rakija.
Stomachache? Drink some rakija.
Sore throat? Drink some rakija.
Depressed? Drink some rakija.
Anxious? Drink some rakija.
Baby can’t sleep? Give them a few drops and then drink some rakija yourself.
Just had a break up? Drink some rakija. Duh.
Insert any problem here. Solution: Drink some rakija.

When and How Should You Drink Rakija?

During my walking tour of Belgrade, our guide informed us that it is very common, especially for the men of older generations, to drink rakija every morning when you first wake up before eating anything. Typically, you should only drink it by sipping it slowly, but in this instance it can be acceptable to shot it. This has been medically proven to ensure a long and healthy life. I assure you.

Interestingly rakija is also good to drink before a meal, as it will heal with digestion as well as after a meal and of course with friends in the evening to get the party started! Essentially, at any point of the day it is not only socially acceptable to drink, but it is encouraged!

What is Rakija Exactly?

So what is this mysterious little drink that has been a staple of not only the Serbian, but also other Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro) diet for generations?

Rakija is essentially a fruit brandy that is made by the distillation of fermented fruits. It is considered a strong drink, with an average alcohol content of 40%, though you can find much stronger ones if they are homemade (a common tradition in the region).

There are also many different types of rakija, with the most popular variety typically made from plums (šljivovica), which have been domestically produced for almost 800 years and remain a very important product of the region, but you can also find them made of apricot (kajsijevača), quince (dunjevača), grape (lozovača) and with herbs (travarica).

Plums for rakija. Taken by brankomaster via Flickr.

End result: serbian rakija. From the public domain. — End result: Serbian rakija. From the public domain.

Many times, it is also served in a čokanjče, a small glass which has a smaller opening at the top. This is for a few reasons. The first is that after a few rakijas, you may start to get a bit drunk and very active with your hands when you speak. The second reason is so that you can bring your rakija to the dance floor. The smaller opening ensures that you won’t spill the precious drink!

Drinking glass fro rakija known as "čokanjče". Taken by N.E. Solórzano via Flickr. — Drinking glass for rakija known as “čokanjče”. Taken by N.E. Solórzano via Flickr.

When visiting Serbia, or any other Balkan country for that matter, expect to be offered a lot of rakija. Don’t let this opportunity go to waste! It’s actually really delicious, especially when you have a high quality version like the one we did at my friends Serbian wedding!

[Wikipedia]

A wedding in Niš

By Ronald Ackermann -

October 23, 2015

Wedding party, Niš — I just had to include this one.

Every once in a while you get the chance to take part in a truly unique, wonderful experience.

Boarding the plane in Hamburg! Bon voyage!

In my case, this happened on October 10, 2015, when my good friend had her wedding in her hometown, the southern Serbian city of Niš. Eight of us friends were lucky enough to make the trip from Germany to take part in her day of celebration.

Leading up to the trip, we weren’t sure what to expect. We had heard that weddings in Serbia, especially in the south can get pretty crazy, with tons of food, drink, dancing and especially many guests (our friend invited about 250). Of course, that only made us more excited!

So we made the journey, arriving in Niš a few days before the wedding. Me and the other girl traveling with us were invited to join in a tradition where the bride and her friends make wreaths from fresh flowers to hang on both the bride’s family’s door and the groom’s family’s door. These wreaths stay up for one year, so that the neighbors and others will know that there is a newlywed in the family.

While making the wreath, we learned there were little rules involved such as the red string we were using to secure the flowers to the metal ring couldn’t be cut, instead just continuously wrapped around. Also, the bride couldn’t help (thankfully she was there to serve us rakija and Turkish coffee!). We also had to finish the groom’s family’s wreath and hang both before it turned dark.

Finished! The groom's family's wreath, Niš. — Finished! The groom’s family’s wreath.

Over the course of the wreath-making process we learned about some more wedding customs and very importantly, steps to the traditional Serbian folk dance called the Kolo, that are common at all Serbian weddings.

Then the day of the wedding came. We were all so excited! I went to get my hair done at a salon for 4 euros! Not joking. I may fly back on a weekly basis at that price.

When we arrived at the wedding, both the bride and the groom’s family greeted us. The sisters are first and traditionally they pin a small flower on your clothes. My friend decided to do something a little different and made these little stickers that could later be turned into a magnet so we could always remember the special day. In return, you are supposed to give the sisters money (around 100 Dinar or 1 Euro).

We took our place at the table as guests started to arrive. Our waiter promptly greeted us, asking what we would like to drink. Uhm, rakija, duh!

As the wedding continued, I thought there were a lot of similarities to ones I had been to in the U.S., such as the bride throws the bouquet…

The bride throwing the wreath. — The bride throwing the bouquet. Courtesy of the wedding photographer INStudio.

And then everyone started to dance.

Essentially throughout the whole wedding guests of all ages were dancing to the traditional Kolo which has different steps depending on the song (good thing we practiced a little before hand).

Learning the Kolo. Courtesy of the wedding photographer INStudio.

Getting better! Courtesy of the wedding photographer INStudio.

All ages! Courtesy of the wedding photographer INStudio.

What also was different was the incredible amount of food. I could have been completely full on our appetizer plate!

The appetizer. Per person. I'm full just looking at it. — The appetizer. Per person. I’m full just looking at it.

But then another course came, followed by another, more drinks and, of course, the cake.

The wedding cake with sparklers! Courtesy of the wedding photographer INStudio.

Cutting the wedding cake. Courtesy of the wedding photographer INStudio.

Everyone was so incredibly friendly, warm and welcoming. We were the only group of non-Serbians there and even though, for example, we didn’t know the steps to the dance, we were welcomed into the circle and the guests on each side took the time to show us exactly how the steps go, until we had it down (even this little one)!

Dancing at the wedding. Courtesy of the wedding photographer INStudio.

Dancing at the wedding, she's showing me up. — Dancing at the wedding, she’s showing me up. Courtesy of the wedding photographer INStudio.

I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed the wedding. Not only because my friend was such a beautiful bride or we had so much fun dancing and meeting new people and trying new foods and drinks, but because it was such a unique experience to get to see such a great celebration in a totally new culture.

I just had to include this one. — I just had to include this one of the wedding party. Courtesy of the wedding photographer INStudio.

Thank you so much for including me in your special day!

Special thanks to Kory for being such a superb editor.

My favorite small European cities (#10-5)

By Ronald Ackermann -

October 20, 2015

City street in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Taken by Kirstie.

Europe is full of magical cities to be discovered!

Although I love visiting world famous cities such as Paris, Madrid or Berlin, there is something special about smaller, more local and charming small cities. You can easily explore them in a short period of time as well as the prices tend to be a bit lower and the locals a bit friendlier.

Here are my 5 of my 10 favorites thus far:

Heidelberg, Germany

Nestled into the Rhine Rift Valley along the River Neckar in southwest Germany, Heidelberg is a really charming small city. With lots of winding, small stone streets in the Baroque style Old Town, you could spend the afternoon wandering around stopping for coffee at one of the many cafes or simply just enjoying the romantic atmosphere. Heidelberg is also famous for the Heidelberg Castle, which stands over the city, with great views of the landscape.

The Heidelberg Hauptstrasse (main street). Taken by Nelson Minar via Flickr.

View of Heidelberg from the Heidelberg Castle, Germany.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

If I’ve ever been anywhere that looks like it’s straight out of a postcard it’s Ljubliana, Slovenia. The old city center features a mix of architectural styles, and the older buildings are kept up in great condition. The Ljubljanica River also runs through the old city center, creating a really cool, calming feeling over the city. It is a popular Erasmus destination for students, so expect there also to be a great nightlife!

Shoes hanging in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Taken by Kirstie.

River in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Taken by Kirstie.

City street in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Taken by Kirstie.

Lagos, Portugal

Right on the Algarve coast of southern Portugal, Lagos is more of a town than a city with only 22,000 inhabitants. Despite its small size, Lagos attracts tons of visitors in the warm weather for its beautiful beaches, many cliffs and caverns as well as the many bars, restaurants and especially nightlife. As well, it has a huge historical significance for not only Portugal but for Europe in general, as it was a vital port and, at one point, center of the European Slave Trade.

Cliffs in Lagos from boat, Lagos, Portugal

Boats at the bottom of the cliffs, Lagos, Portugal

Niš, Serbia

After attending an amazing wedding for a friend from Niš last weekend, I may be a little bias, but in any case, it is a really great city to visit! You can easily walk around the city center in a few hours, and visit some of the main sites such as the Niš Fortress or Tinker’s Alley. As one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and Europe, it is full of history too! Make sure to visit one of the “kafanas” or traditional restaurants where you can try common foods, drink some “rakija” (a fruity brandy popular in the Balkans) and listen to traditional live music. We went to this really cool one Nislijska Mehana during our trip there.

Niš skyline. Taken by Monika via Flickr.

Nislijska Mehana in Niš with live music.

Annecy, France

With charming small stone streets, mountains in the backdrop, turquoise crystal clear canals intersecting the city and draining into a beautiful lake, Annecy is nothing short of a fairytale. It is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the Alps” and I wouldn’t disagree! It’s a really popular destination in the warmer weather, when you can take advantage of water activities such as swimming, sailing, water-skiing and diving as well as cycling and mountain exploration.