Užupis Everywhere

Ambassador H.E. Ieva Juzumaitė

North Carolina is referred to as the Tar Heel State. The term originates from the 18th century. North Carolina used to be the world’s largest producer of naval stores during this time, producing tar, pitch, and turpentine (at one point, 100,000 barrels of tar and pitch were shipped to England from North Carolina every year). The term “Tar Heel” began as a derogatory term to refer to those in a lower trade to do this work, as it referred to the tar sticking on their heels after a long shift barefoot at work.

Later, residents of North Carolina came to embrace the term and use it in a positive light. Several accounts state that the term became a symbol of pride due to a particular battle in Virginia during the Civil War. In this battle, North Carolina troops stayed back to fight after all other troops retreated. As in Grandfather Tales of North Carolina History (1901), “the soldiers of North Carolina stuck to their bloody work as if they had tar on their heels”. They subsequently won the battle, and the name “Tar Heel” has “stuck” ever since.

on Užupis for the Tar Heelers:

apie N.Caroliną Užupiečiams

Wild ponies / Laukiniai poniai

Ocracoke’s “Banker” Ponies are actually North Carolina’s state horse, the Banker horse. It is hypothesized that they have originated from the horses brought by the Spanish during the colonization of the Americas in the 16^th century. Per this theory, the horses were either abandoned on the islands after colonies had to evacuate, or survived one of the many shipwrecks around the Outer Banks. Several of these shipwrecks have been confirmed to be of Spanish origin. Due to this, they are classified as “feral” horses, as they are free-roaming but are descendants of domesticated ancestors.

There are about 400 of these horses on the islands of the Outer Banks, which are usually less than 1 mile (1.6 km) wide. They survive by eating the marsh grasses for hydration and food, which is also where they get their water from. As fresh water is limited, some drink seawater, which results in a more bloated appearance.

Appalachian Mountains / Apalačų kalnai

Brown Mountain Lights 

Hillsborough / Hilsboro

Krispy Kreme donuts

Bojangle’s cajun fries / Bodžangl kadžun fritkės

Bojangle’s was founded in 1977 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ever since then, they have been the most delicious producers of Southern chicken, biscuits, cajun fries, and sweet tea.

The Ambassador is a particular fan of Bo’s famous cajun seasoning fries, and highly recommends first-time visitors to try those.

Cheerwine     

Cheerwine is the oldest continuing soft drink that is still run by the same family. Its origin is in 1917 in Salisbury, North Carolina, by L.D. Peeler. Since then, the drink has become a North Carolina staple, and has made its way into doughnuts, ale, ice cream floats, and many other concoctions.

The cherry soda was confirmed to be tasted by two US presidents: Dwight Eisenhower in 1953, who commented “Ike likes” after trying the first sip, and George H.W. Bush, Sr, who was in attendance at the 4^th of July Salisbury celebration.

The Cheerwine festival occurs every year in Salisbury, North Carolina. The Ambassador was a proud attender in 2023, and tried tacos with Cheerwine sauce, as well as other Cheerwine-inspired delicacies, such as the Cheerwine Ale.

Further reading and MANY recipes can be found here: https://cheerwine.com/about/ 

Tom Wolfe / Tomas Vulfas (nuo Užupio užsienio reik. ministro)

Tomas Vulfas buvo mano mėgstamiausias rašytojas, kai buvau 19. Ypač jo “Pažvelk, angele, į savo būstą”. Tai buvo 1970-ųjų pabaiga. Tada daug važinėjau pakeilevinėmis mašinomis (autostopu; hitchhiking) ir atsisveikinimas su paauglyste bei (ne)grįžimas namo buvo viena pagrindinių temų.

Vulfas pasakoja apie būsimą skulptorių, kuriam gimtasis miestelis paliko daug sielos žaizdų, ir jis nutaria jį palikti.