JOYS OF SAMBUCA
Ahhh Sambuca
During our years at Borga Nari there was one drink that became an institution for us.
It got us through some crazy times, this is a letter I wrote to friends in Australia after one such adventure.
Don’t ask, bad news I’m afraid.
Sam set off this morning after our first snow to Gambasca to get the chains for the camper van via our red Ferrari bobsled (a whole other story). So far so good. He fitted the chains and had a few practice tries on the driveway, then set off to the shops on his own (Thank God).
He managed to make it down the mountain, got to the shops, got half way back up the mountain and the chain on one wheel broke and he started to slide out all over the place.
There was a choice of slipping over the edge of a steep mountain road or sliding into a rock wall.
He chose the wall.
By this time it’s starting to get dark, he’s been gone the whole day and I’m starting to panic thinking who the hell can I ring and how am I going to tell them what’s wrong? Soon it’s pitch black and freezing cold outside, the phone rings and he tells me about the broken chain and that he is going to try to walk up the mountain.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, still no Sam.
Luckily someone came past that lives above us and has chains on his 4 wheel drive and bought Sam and his bottle of sambuca home! So now the camper is stuck on mountain with all our supplies and one broken chain. Sam has to try to find a car, get the van off the mountain, and get the groceries up here as we are now out of everything including nappies!!!
Did I mention he is in a deep dark depression about the whole thing and got drunk on the Sambuca for the first time in his life and has gone to bed early not knowing what the next day is going to bring. He wasn’t cheered by my saying “Oh well at least you’re alive and the van is okay”
Hopefully things will work out, I’m sure the locals will help us out and stay tuned for the next exciting episode of “Days of our lives in Gambasca“
Boy was I glad to see him walk in the door last night.
I don’t think Sam even wants to swear in Italian at the moment, he’s at the what the hell are we doing here stage! At least all the email’s cheered him up and he only has a bad headache not a full on hangover. He has set off on foot in the snow to Gambasca to try to get a bus to Saluzzo and find a car, (wearing Luca’s beanie) and dressed like a lumberjack.
Now we know why all the locals kept asking if we were ready for winter. Just didn’t expect it so soon.
He only bought one bottle of Sambuca up with him and left the other 5 bottles in the van so maybe we’ll find him blotto and frozen to the bottle????
I figure if I get really stuck for the emergency language I’ll ring his mum and get her to call someone over here. Also hunted out my basic Italian phrase book but nothing quite sums up the situation! We also now know to keep a torch and some extra clothes in the van for long night time walks in the freezing snow.
“sing with me “
There were 6 sambuca bottles sitting on the wall,
6 sambuca bottles sitting on the wall,
and then we drank one, and now we’re really pissed….
that there’s only 5 sambuca bottles left sitting on the walllllllll.
saaaammmmmmmy the woooogg and my piss pot wife xx
and the gang x
This story wouldn’t be half so good without the Sambucca, like if he’d gone for some Lavazza, or Heinz sauce.
Oh I’d have killed him for sure if he’d come back only with the Lavazza lol xx
Hi Lisa, I live in Townsville, Australia and a whole group of friends (all with Wedding Anniversaries in December, go out for a celebratory dinner every year. This year it is to a wine bar/restaurant on 9th December. Two of the group always celebrate with a Sambucca with coffee beans floating in it. Loving your posts.
Jan that’s so kind thank you! How funny you all share your anniversary in December. What a lovely time to get married. Perhaps you’ll have to join them in a Sambucca.
ciao for now
Lisa x
Hey, I’ ve never tasted that stuff but it sounds good. I get that this story was from when you lived in a different part of Italy? Duh.. Sorry. But the house you are now buying is in Liguria and maybe it won’t snow there? I live where we have plenty of snow but, I tell you, I am tired of the Winters here. That story is very familiar. Just the other night somebody came round the curve going up our road and slid off sideways on the snow and ice on the road right in front of our driveway.Hubby heard the car hit a tree but thank heavens it didn’t go down the 20 or so feet into the river. The big tree held it up. Hubby went out with a flashlight (torch) and invited the traveler in to warm up and call a tow truck. Then they both waited until almost midnight for the truck. I went to bed. Two days later he came bearing a thank you gift of cheese and salami from Wisconsin. That was thoughtful of him.
Hey Caterina it wouldn’t have been my drink of choice but I soon grew to love the stuff! They do get snow in Liguria but not often from what I can tell, in Piemonte it got to -20 degrees and huge snow falls. As a child we lived once on a major intersection (my parents had a milk bar) and saw many accidents, my brother made a fortune calling for tow trucks as they pay a commission. Once walking home from school we just missed a horrible accident which left a man dead and his car split in half. Sounds like your hubby is like our great neighbor (who we’d never met as he lived way up the mountain), what would have happened without him to help I don’t know! Sam did track him down later and went to thank him. Now next time you get the chance you’ll have to try a glass of Sambuca and toast to us!
ciao lisa x
Sorry I have not been here much commenting recently Lisa, but I have been keeping up with you on FB. At last I am here catching up after the olive harvest, wow you have been busy posting plenty to keep me quiet for awhile! Living in Italy is a always part of an adventure of some sort. 🙂
Hi Linda, thanks so much for always taking the time to drop by it means so much to me! It turns out that for some unknown reason people who have subscribed to the blog by email haven’t been getting any updates arghhh! Hope your olive harvest went well and all is great with you! I have been busy with the 30 days challenge and loving it so far, it’s certainly improved my writing. Now to just get this glitch figured out and then people will actually be able to read what I’ve written ha ha. Here’s to a life of adventure!!
ciao for now
Lisa
I quite like Sambuca, very few people seem to!
Never thought I’d like it but grew quite addicted to shots with dark chocolate! Our neighbor Claudio would come for his morning shot and coffee!
ciao and thanks for dropping by Sarah.
lisa
Haha – I can’t understand why aniseed flavoured liquors are so prevalent in Europe!!! Pastis, Sambucca, Raki, Ouzo!!! Blech!!! I was forever put off the flavour when as a youngster I had to consume some 600ml of a gritty aniseed flavoured antibiotic – the memories :(!! So does Sambucca still get you through your darkest nights or is it bad medicine for you too 😉
Ciao
Strange isn’t it that a particular flavor is tied to a certain part of the world, one of those I was turned off as a child was Almonds. Haven’t had Sambucca for such a long time alcohol is far more expensive here. As soon as I get back I’m getting a few bottles. ciao lisa xx