Garlic and Bananas

Another day and another Wayne’s coffee house although this one doesn’t have wifi access it does have an escalator. I just left the Nobel Museum which was fantastic the main exhibit at the moment is the art and writing of Winston Churchill, I didn’t know that he was such a painter it’s a kind of impressionism that I am not sure was intended or more like an attempt to be realistic but came up with just impressions. I would probably know better if I read or understood Swedish and took the tour. There is a small theatre where they show film clips of the past recipients and their work, I am leaving today with a much greater appreciation of the Nobel Prize process and those whose work has benefited humanity. In a way however there seems to be a theme among some of them, esp. in the science fields, that speaks of achievement and draw back at the same time. Meaning their inventions or discoveries have helped the world but also helped to destroy unintended portions of the human race or the earth. Back to the subject of what I have been doing since Friday.
So we sang on Friday night to a packed pub of very excited Swed/Finn’s who were all to eager to sing along ask for songs and drop Euros into our tip jar. Infact from Friday to Monday we made a killing unlike the other boat that slowed down on Sunday and Monday this one stays pretty jumpin we will see what tomorrow brings. We also met the dancers and singers in the “California Show.” As follows: Elaine who is American she is a singer-dancer who lives in Vegas and gets various gigs either as a showgirl or walking around on stilts. She is a feisty one that speaks her mind and has plenty to say to back things up. Next is Magnus he is from the south of Sweden where it is said that Swedish is spoken the best. He is also a singer-dancer who smokes too much and worries about what others think of him esp. in his talents. Then there are the Russians/Estonians. I forget their names but I will write about them as soon as I can get that info back in my head. In any event the 7 of us spent Friday night dancing in the disco until 4 and then drinking vodka screw drivers until 7 am getting to know each other with the all-American game of “truth or dare”…. Nuff said. I slept Saturday away as well having the night-owl time-table is fun but not good for going to museums or cafes in port. Saturday night was again a ruckus time in the pub and like I said yesterday learning to get my sea-legs while on stage is sooooo much fun. Sometimes it’s as if James and I are doing choreographed dance moves with the music and boat “dancing” us around the stage, which by the way is not very big. Oh and of course because it was St. Patty’s day there we lots of Irish drinking songs and Jameson shots all around. We even had a token Irishman to chide us about what songs we should and should not be singing to these uneducated Finns.
Sunday while docked in Helsinki I took a walk not really knowing where I would end up. I spied a spire in the distance and decided to head for it and glad I was when I discovered that it was the National Finnish Museum filled with the history of the country. It was as if fourth grade was never over for me, here’s why. In fourth grade we were given an assignment to report on a foreign country I chose Finland and so visiting the museum was like getting back into the head of my 8 year-old self, what fun haha. Some things that I saw there were: an 8,000 year old sled runner, pottery from the culture that was named after their vessals, a seal skeleton with an ivory spear hook in it that was found 30 meters above sea level but at one time was 80 meters below sea level and then the modern antiques of the rich and famous of the last 600 years. Honestly the really old stuff is so much more interesting because it is unique to that part of the world. The “new stuff” has style elements that resemble things that we see in our culture back home in terms of furniture but I guess not some much in fashion. That night was a good night in the pub lots of people and lots of requests that we were mostly able to fill.
Monday in Stockholm I went shopping with Magnus and Elaine, we started by going to a little shop that sells the fashions of Swedish designers that are up and coming. Some really cool stuff that you would see being created by the people on “project runway.” There was one of a kind t-shirts and belts, shoes, dresses and jewelry all of it very beautiful. I might go back and by a tie if I feel like spending the money. Then the three of us wandered around and talked about culture and religion while drinking coffee a café until we got to my favorite subject, philosophy and meta-physics. It was great fun learning about the way the two of them think about the world. One a Vegas showgirl and the other a gay Swedish man the three of us all very different and yet many similarities in the way we view this modern world. I am beginning to get a grasp of the landscape that is the modern thought for humanity my peers who range in age from 20 to 40 all have great ideas for the world that we live in and yet most feel that they cannot help to shape the world of the future because of the powers that be. I am hopeful.
Tuesday brought some interesting adventure in the form of a hair cut and yesterdays post. the stylist did not speak so much English, in fact I think that I could count the number of words that we exchanged on both hands. I think the clipping and snipping turned out pretty well, see previous post for photo. I have been taking pictures and I am still trying to get the right site to post them on. Well that's pretty much all the news that I have from here. My right arm is getting better thanks to the meds and some rest. much love. davey