The Quest for Beer

Spot all the key elements of an authentic British pub!

My German exchange student flat mate (Andreas) and I have decided we've had enough of Polar. Fine, it's great on a hot day to have an ice cold easy drinking lager, but we need some variety! They are all rather bland and tasteless (in our sophisticated European opinions of course :-))

To be fair, of the several different varities, Solera Verde does have something vaguely resembling a taste, but drinking nothing else is starting to get a bit boring

We need some real beer!!!

Where can we get some in Venezuela??

A supermarket?
Oh, Polar is very cheap. Isn't that nice?

A cervezeria (beer store!)?
Oh, Polar is very cheap. And you have lots of it.

A "British" pub?
Surely the not-at-all-tackily-named "Greenwich" (just near Altamire) must have a a few good ales on tap. Well, I was very excited when I heard about this place. Walked in, all looks very British, a bit dark, lots of wood, seats at the bar. "Una cerveza britanica por favor" I say, unable to contain a big smile at the thought of what might be in store for me The bar man takes out two cans. Polar Ice. Polar Light. Not even pints! Cans! And nothing resembling decent beer! Nothing at all on tap. The quest continues...

Colonia Tovar - a German colony town
Ah yes! They must have German beer. I imagine it's brimming with good stuff and everyone's having a great time. Well, Andreas went to investigate, with hopes of bringing back a few bottles. Turns out no, all they have in the whole town is a beer they brew themselves, which remarkably resembles all those other Venezuelan beers.

So we are stuck.

I think the problem is partly economic. Polar is the biggest Venezuelan company. Their beer is ridiculously cheap. I imagine this undercuts any competitor, and certainly anything imported from afar.

So can YOU help us? Do you know of a supermarket / shop / bar / restaurant / locality / person on the street / secret society who can provide us with some kind of interesting beer?

We want the finest beers available to humanity, and we want them here, and we want them now!

(hope I haven't offended any Venezuelans with any negative talk of their national beer. Feel free to leave comments!)

Update: I got a lead today, met a British person (first time since arriving here!) while walking up (all the way up!) El Avila. He works at a British school here in Caracas. Must find this place. They might know something.

The quest continues...

Countries I've visited in my life

Just to keep track of the score Declan!

My ex-flatmate / uni-buddy / fellow-traveller / wtfidm friend Declan and I have a long running "competition" to see who visits the most countries. Not that I condone visiting a place without spending a significant amount of time there to at least partially appreciate it. I think Austria is the only one on my list that I've visted but not really seen.

Oh, and just airports don't count. So I'm not including the Netherlands.

1. United Kingdom (1983-2006)
   My home country! I miss it quite a bit!
   
2. France (199x, 2003)
   Have family there, there was a school trip to the alps too. Favourite memory is trying something that I was a bit concerned might be pigs brains at a little cafe in a really charming historical little town near Lyon. Least favourite is getting a really silly shaped sun burn on my face in the alps.
   
3. Spain (199x, 2001)
   Two family holidays - one to Menorca (lots of swimming, and some pigs stealing our lunch), one to Granada (lots of wine, olive oil and the Alhambra)
   
4. United States (1996-97, 2002, 2004-05)
   One year in Hawaii (lovely beaches, volcanoes, snorkeling, catholic education that I don't remember, geckos).
   One holiday with Uni friends (east coast, armadillos, long train journeys, ben and jerrys)
   One amazing internship year in California (hotel-living, silicon-valley-working, snowboarding, road tripping, off-road tripping, jeeps, parties, homeland security, getting golden, friends for life - read the rest of my blog!)
   
5. Canada (2002)
   The same holiday with Uni friends, more favourable drinking age!
   
6. Italy (2003)
   Part of a 3-week trip around Europe with some great friends. Lovely, visited loads of cities, Venice was lovely, Rome was ace, ice cream, pizza, pick-pocketing not so good, Nick had far too many tank tops, cycling the Apian way)
   
7. Vatican City (2003)
   I think that ones a bit of a cheat. Watch your head on the way up the dome!
   
8. Slovenia (2003)
   Awesome country! Friendly people, great beer, underground networks of caves, incredibly beautiful scenery, castles, lakes, aggresive llamas at the zoo
   
9. Austria (2003)
   Accidentally fell asleep on the train and ended up here. There was a guy with a cool moustache.
   
10. Greece (2003)
    Athens is that place nobody recommends but everyone still visits, they do have a wee bit of ancient history though. Kefalonia was an awesome relaxing end to the holiday. One side is for old people, one side is for young. We enjoyed both.
    
11. Ireland(2006)
    Dublin, for St Patrick's Day. Great pubs, Guinness brewery one of the best tours I've ever had, dinner with the President, some silly hats. Really great city.
    
12. Germany (2006)
    Hamburg, Hanover and Berlin. Berlin is so happening. So much interesting stuff to see, excellent kebabs and bagels, really great night life, easy to get lost on the metro. One of my favourite cities, along with New York, San Francisco, Rome, Edinburgh and Dublin I think.
    
13. Venezuela(2006)
    My first foray into South America. I'm working here for a student organisation that I love more than anything. Venezuela is an amazing country - that I have yet to see most of. Caracas is certainly an interesting and unique place. The mountains and beaches and wildlife are incredible. The social/political situation is fascinating, frustrating and sometimes sombering. But the rum is great, the people like to party and I am doing what I love!

... making 13 in total (95% of the world's countries to go!)

You can have your own fun here.!

I think that you're one ahead of me at the moment, right Dec?