First of all, as a One BSR blogger, I would like to say big thanks to all those, who made Experience BSR trip happen. It was really great to be provided with an opportunity to visit three capital cities of the neighboring countries.
If I had to describe my stay in Warsaw in one word, that word would, most likely, be „food“. Despite cold weather, Poles definitely made an impression of a warm welcome and hospitality. It reminded me of Lithuanians, who also cover a table for guests with lots of dishes and encourage them to eat. If someone doesn‘t eat, they say: „You‘re not eating anything. Maybe it‘s not delicious“. And our amazing tour guide shared a saying that a hungry Pole is an angry Pole. At the very same moment, I thought of my father. Ask my mother, and she will confirm that he is exactly like that. Among the older generation, there is a common belief that Lithuanians and Poles dislike each other. Such feelings are related to the historical past. But this is what I realized during this trip: if Lithuanians and Poles want to improve their relationship, they should never communicate with empty stomachs, but rather sit down around a table full of delicious food!
While the food in Warsaw surprised us by its quantity, the food we had in Helsinki was really extraordinary – raw fish, reindeer meet and a soup made of bear. That‘s what we had at a really nice Sami restaurant called „Saaga“. They had a bear‘s fur and a shaman drum hanging on the wall and chandeliers made from antlers. A very unique place, especially if you consider the fact that together with Basques and some ethnic groups of Russia, Sami are the only remaining indigenous people in Europe.
Tallinn was perhaps the last city to visit, but by no means the least. It‘s true that you don‘t get a chance to taste reindeer every day, but you don‘t come across Medieval food that often either. Having our dinner at the inn called „Olde Hansa“ was a completely surreal experience. I had never been to a place like that before. When it comes to history, the Medieval period is my favorite. Not that I would have liked to live back then (that could be a bit scary), but getting a glimpse of how people lived back then is a really exciting experience. There‘s a nice book called „The Time Traveler‘s Guide to Medieval England“, a rather strange place called „The London Dungeon“, and here‘s this restaurant that is not British, but not any less charming.
So this is my short insight into the Warsaw-Helsinki-Tallinn trip. It was not all about food, but since I love cooking and exploring foreign cuisines, for me it was a very positive experience. In the past, while working with foreigners, I realized that nothing brings people closer like delicious food. I think the organizers did a very good job.