Guided City Tour
I subscribed to a city tour in Curaçao Willemstad. The tour was held by a local, and it was tip based. When we gathered at the meeting point, the guide happily explained to us that he starts the tour with a drink, and he finishes it off with one. Everybody starts laughing and giggling. “Hahaha, that’s a nice job description”. “Haha haha, of course we drink!”
I put on my serious, slightly disgusted face and look to the side.
I am ok with other people drinking, as long as nobody goes on my nerves or tries to force a drink on me.
We go to the first stop, it is a little rum shop located in an old ruin. A beautiful location. The whole shop contains wood shelves and wooden barrels. Videos of the rum makers are being played on flat screens.
The guide starts the story of the rum, it is a very traditional rum. It tastes strong at the beginning and, it tastes smooth afterwards. I feel a bit like in an advertisement scenario.
He keeps telling his story, the rum is pleasant to enjoy on a rainy day to relax. I remember my relaxing rainy days standing with a can of beer in front of the window, chain-smoking cigarettes. That was not relaxing at all, that was a stupid addiction.
My anti-alcoholic guard starts to ruminate. Is he a bit of an alcoholic when he romanticizes the drink like that, or is it just for advertisement purposes?
Now comes the strange part. I hear all the stories about this traditional rum, the fiestas and the taste. In some corner of my mind, I think. Maybe I should try a bit, it’s just a 3rd of a shot, this is not drinking, this is education. I almost convinced myself to take this little shot.
Luckily, I didn’t, because this small quantity doesn’t have an effect on me anyway, but could trigger old behaviors. Why take this risk, then?
It was very interesting how we can get manipulated by stories and advertisement. Heroic tales, wooden barrels, half-naked woman. That all triggers emotions that makes us want to grab that drink.
Stay strong, my friends, we are heroes without alcohol!
