A lttle late i know... old news!

Rouen 7th of July early in the morning.

Well eh L’armada de Rouen, so far it’s been okay, we have “open ship” every day from 10-17 in those hours we have at least 5000, yes 5 thousand!!! people on deck so eh 2hours to clean and make ready for the evening party is a bit tight. Tonight we had 200 for a buffet… so many people on deck, I’m still amazed by how dirty it actually gets in a day… oh well I was QM of the day, and even though I didn’t get that much sleep last night, (luckily, I only had 2-3beers so I wasn’t even tipsy when I went to bed, it was just late) I was totally on top of everything today, I was at all times one step ahead of everybody else, deck crew, officers, Bosun…. Everyody! I saw that we might run into some problems, a little chitchat here and there and it was solved long before it became a problem (our Hotel manager likes to say that “we never have problems, only issues!”) or before it became an issue… But it felt good, we have a lot of time off here in Rouen, so that means a lot of work, the days you’re actually working. For me that’s okay, I’d rather be off than hang around with 2 fingers up my nose, but it means long boring days for the ones on watch. “open ship” is always hard work and without offending anybody, the French a bit eh how can I put it? Eh difficult, so eh it can be long days on the gangway. But as mentioned it means we can have whole days off. And later on tonight we have a big crew party onboard, every other ship participating in this event can join in with 4 crewmembers. We had a similar party last year during the Tall Ships race, and that was a huge success and such a blast, so I’m looking forward to the one tonight, even though I am on watch again tomorrow morning again from 4-8 So eh I can’t party as hard as last year… hehe last year we continued after closing on the ship, I came back onboard pissdrunk at 7o’oclock in the morning, went straight down changed my clothes, brushed my teeth and slept for about 45min then I had to be back on deck!!! Luckily it was my last working day and early the next morning I flew home. Had a connecting flight and almost missed it because I fell asleep in a chair by the gate… damn I hate connecting flights and airports!
But eh I already know that won’t happen again… cause I have to be ready at 7.30 to go on a daytrip to Paris and in the evening we have no parties so it’s my only chance to go out for dinner with my SweetS. Since he’s one the cooks, he’s off tomorrow night. He leaves here in Rouen and I won’t see him before he comes back onboard a few days before I leave, and then he has to work all august, So next time we’re off at the same time will be in September. And who knows where I will be by then! I think that’s a pretty good reason for not “going through the roof” at the crew party tonight.
Oh well it’s 5.20 the sun is slowly rising, I’m sitting on deck it’s a bit chilly, but eh they left a few tables and a chair at the gangway so it’s more comfortable than on the bridge… it also gives me the chance to sit here, write this, drink tea and smoke cigarettes all at the same time. Great!
Unfortunately we don’t have internet up here, but our 1st mate has made sure we at least have it down below, so eh I can upload this later…
Oh well I just make myself another cup of tea and then I’ll be back!
Mmm Nice!
Actually when I come to think about it, I should be doing something. Looking around the ship is a mess and we only have 2hours to make it ready for “open Ship” oh and in between the 8o’oclocky (morning breefing) and 10 we get a VIP tour around our sister ship “Cisne Branco” a training ship for the Brazilian navy. It’s the first time ever we actually meet, so that’s gonna be interesting. And I think we’re all very curious to see what it looks like. We are built as a passenger vessel, they’re built as a training ship. We pretty much look the same, but with a few obvious differences, we’re black, they’re white (that probably has something to do with the name, apparently “Cisne Branco” means “white Swan) minor differences on the structure of the deck and the rigging. But eh it’s our sister ship and the 2 beautiful Square riggers are the only fullrigged clippers sailing around on the 7seas… That’s a ship that would be fun racing!!!
In 20min I’m halfway trough my watch and then it’s time to do something, we have no night orders, but I think I’ll keep up and see the work myself. After all I still get paid, and it’s the least you can expect from a good AB and indeed from a QM. And since I’ve decided not to leave with a closed door behind me I’ve found my inner strength and to some degree also some of my motivation. So I’ll show them all, maybe especially our sometimes too laid back deck crew that if we all open our eyes and help each other out, life onboard is so much easier and so much more fun. We’re all in it together, so helping somebody else also means helping yourself which a lot of people seem not to get or to forget sometimes… I’ll rise above it all and be a good example!! Because I can, and because it’s actually required of me. It’s a large part of my job description. It’ll also keep me warm and awake! So all in all it seems like a great plan.

I guess that you by now have figured out that I’m actually doing okay, the first 10-14days we’re hard on me, and I really had a hard time getting use to it and find the rhythm. But eh I’m much better now, realized that I’d better get the most out of it, enjoy it and leave the ship with a good feeling. 8weeks of feeling miserable would be a nightmare for both me and everybody around me. So eh did the only right thing there was to do, stepped up and stopped caring too much about the small things that I can’t change or that has nothing to do with me. I must admit it feels good and I’m sure that everybody around me agrees that I’m much nicer and fun to be around now than I was when I came back.
I’m much more relaxed and less stressed out by things I have no control over. All do is trying to be as good at my job as possible and give my watch room and space to learn and to grow. So I think they’re pretty happy with me at the moment and obviously that feels great. So I’m a happy little cookie!!!

As much as I enjoy writing, I’ll stop for now, get back to work and hopefully the last 2hours will pass quickly… The quicker the better!!!
Take care and enjoy whatever you do…

*Ninon

Rouen, Normandie

Just a short one, this french keyboard drives me insane...

we're now at L'armada de Rouen, Europe's biggest tallship event, second only to the race, but his is 10days in the same city...

I've quit my job... my last weeks onboard this beautiful squarerigger! time for something new...
would love to explain why but this keyboard is really driving me crazy...

laterrrrr N

leaving this place...

uha I can hardly wait... tomorrow around this time, i'll see him again! mmm Nice... he told me earlier that he would have the champain chilled byt the time i get there... just in case we wanted a glas of bubblewater... so sweet! hmm actually he has said a lot of really nice things lately and even better, done a lot of nice things... small things, but hey it's all in the details!! so i'm very happy, i feel good and i can hardly wait to see him, only thing i wish for right now is that time for next 24hours will pass quickly! i fly in the evening, so i made sure i have a lot ofthings to do tomorrow! not too much to do, but just enough to keep me busy...
oh well i also have some things i need to do tonight, so i'll get to it, get it out the way and then hopefully i can sleep a little early... that would be many nice!!!

hurra i'm alive... it feels good to be me!!! NICE!!

take care and have fun, enjoy the summer!
*Ninon

Sunshiny day...

I had a great day...
CPH is beautiful when the trees are green and the sun is shining...
Jubiii I have a great friend to spend a day like today with!!!
mmm fantastic to be able to go to bed tired, but happy and very pleased!
I love life...

Copenhagen...

well eh back in Copenhagen...
Actually been here for a little while, but eh don't really know what to tell!!
I got really sick the very same day i came back from Portugal, fever, sore throat and such.... was in bed for almost a week on penicillin... Nice coming home! but eh i guess my body was tired and maybe overworked telling me i needed a break... and eh it's difficult when at sea, you still have to perform, so eh i guess i wouldn't let myself break down. even though i didn't even know i needed it... i mean nobody needs to be sick, but as i said, it's the only way your body can tell you if you don't listen to it very carefully, and pay attention to the little hints you get along the way...

Well anyway, I'm a-okay now, but eh it took a while!
Had to go to London for a few days, with my God Mom, so I got out of bed a little too early! the first 2days, was really hard, i wasn't back on top... so i slept a lot, and actually spent an entire afternoon, just lying in the grass in Hyde Park, wrote some postcards, listened to some music and just looked at the sky. trying very hard not to think too much about anything! it was very nice and i really enjoyed it... So I had a great time in London!
Back in Copenhagen i felt better but was still a bit tired, cause i hadn't eaten properly in more than a week! It was very new to me, not wanting to eat anything... i love food! but i just didn't feel like eating anything, and when i forced myself to do it, it had to have as little taste as possible! BORING! It's a lot better now, i think i got my appetite back, kinda!
Sunday was my birthday, i had invited my family to lunch... and had a little surprise for them! A good friend offered to take us sailing for a while... So we had the coffee and the Birthday cake somewhere in the canals of CPH in a little blue water taxi... it was great, and a really nice way to be with the family, when i saw it coming under the bridge, my face turned dark red, it was all decorated with balloons and flags and they sang birthday songs for me... while a lot of strangers on the quay was looking and cheering... i think they where a bit jealous! I understand why and I was of course very happy.
it was a beautiful day, and when we got on board the sun peeped trough the clouds so we had sunshine the entire trip... 5min after we got off, the sun disappeared in a big grey cloud!
Everybody really enjoyed it and said it was fantastic day... so I'm happy, all i wished for, a nice day with the family.

Yesterday i sent my mom to Bangkok, she's going to Cambodia and Thailand for 2months... So tonight is the first night in ages that I'm all alone... i haven't really been all on my own since Mexico... oh not true i had 2 nights in Faro just a while ago... hehe i completely forgot. hmm i guess I've missed it. I've noticed how much i need being all alone... i treasure the time i spent alone, most of the time. sometimes it's just boring of course... when i think about it, i think i treasure the moments where i choose to be alone. right now I've chosen to be alone, chosen to just sit here, listen to music and write this, tomorrow i can call somebody and choose not to be alone! I'm not to fund of being alone when it's not by choice... i guess that makes me feel a bit lonely... but eh right now, I'm definitely not lonely, right now i enjoy being all on my own! it's good for me, a way to charge my batteries, so I'm ready to face the world and other people, when i choose to go out or let somebody in!

I'm basically just waiting to leave this damn country again... 5 more days! there's this sweet guy waiting for me in Holland, so what I'm doing here is a bit of a mystery to me... No not totally true, there's people i want to see and talk to... But since I'm home on such a short visit, i made very few plans and I have been very selective with who i wanted to spend time with. I know i don't have the time to see everybody, so no reason to even try!
My leave is the time to relax, take it easy and recharge, it's vacation for me, so i don't wanna be totally stressed out and make so many plans that i don't have enough time for the persons that means the most. so eh i guess that some might feel a bit left out, I'm sorry for that, I don't want to hurt anybodies feelings, I just have to take care of myself, and anyway I'm no fun to be with if my mind is already at the next appointment... If i make an appointment with somebody i don't want to have to run off 15minutes later to meet up with somebody else. So unfortunately i don't have the time to see all the people i want to this time... but eh I'm back soon.

oh well it's running late and i should go to bed, even though i tried so hard not to have too many plans, i think I'll be a bit busy tomorrow. but it's all nice stuff i have to do so eh it's not too bad!
I'm tired and a bit cold so my "dyne" (duvet) is very tempting...

mmm the soundtrack for "JUNO" is many nice, it's very chilled and relaxing, almost as good as good hour of night radio... saw the movie yesterday, what a feel good movie, with some great lines and fantastic soundtrack... I'll put it on and fall a sleep to it... ah many nice!!!

oh well goodnight and ... it's not about luck, it's a skill game!!!
*Ninon

Back in Europe...

Hmm I'm tired...
been off for a few days, now in a hostel in Faro, Portugal.... killing a few hours before i head for the airport! thought it was about time i updated my blog, just in any case somebody is actually reading it... (thank you Steen for all the nice comments!)
it was a semi-boring crossing. we motored most of the way or so it seems... damn global warming! normally we would have had fair winds... blowing from west to east, but eh for some dark reason, we had head winds or no winds...! so we went very far north to stay out of some bad weather, we managed to do so, and to set a few sails... but eh it was nothing like we expected... we even at one point set stunsails! at one point we had every little piece of canvas flying. but apart from the sailing or lack of sailing if you please, it was one the best crossings I've ever done. the atmosphere was great all the way, nobody had the notorious Mid-Atlantic mental breakdown, i had a great watch, they we're all cheerful and hard working, and they made my life/job very easy by thinking with me, meaning i didn't have to tell them what to do all the time. there where many times, where i could leave it all up to them and do the dishes or whatever... they even set sails without me. NICE!!! then it works... this way they learn a lot, and we can share the workload... if i had to be on deck all the time, i couldn't do my share of inside cleaning or dishes or... not that i really want to clean toilets, but eh if we can take turns with 4 in a watch instead of only 3 then it's less toilet cleaning for everybody... so eh... anyway, we had a lot of fun together, and we all learned something new!!! many nice! but it was a long crossing... about 3weeks,but when you get up 2 a day to go on watch, it seems like double up on time on board!
But eh every once in a while we saw animals... a lot of whales, dolphins, birds and even a SHARK!!! seriously, apparently the biggest in the world second only to the Great white... I was so lucky to be on the bowsprit doing some work, when we saw the fin.... it swam very slowly around us for a while... it was huge! I don't remember the name, but it has no teeth, it's a vegetarian shark! cwazy!!!
the sun was setting, a shark swam around the ship, we could hear whales breathe and some dolphins where jumping, and swallows where flying around... reminding us that we where close to land. It also reminded me of all those times where I've been staring blindly at the sea for hours, hoping to see a sign of life... it's crazy, you know that the oceans is full of life, but sometimes you see nothing, and as the other day proofs, other times you see so much at the same time that you every time you turn your head you see or hear a different animal...!
the swallows made me think of tattoo's... back in the days, when men where made of steel and ships made of wood, sailors would get a pair of swallows when they had sailed 5000NM... you always get them in pairs, for different reasons.
I'm already thinking about my next tattoo... I want a pair of swallows... I just have to find the right design. but i guess that will come.... i don't really need a new tattoo right now. I'm very happy with the ones i already got, and after all i had one done in Baltimore, so eh I'll wait a bit!



well now i just want to go home...

I've been away for what seems like forever, and it's so close now... in a few hours I'll be on my way to the airport... NICE!!
but eh i got the most out of my 2days here... had some tip money left over from the cruises we did in the Caribbean. had decided to use them when i found a place to live, hopefully in Amsterdam, but eh i spent some of them to do something good for myself... so i spent 6hours in a SPA today.... aaaaah that was great!!! the full works... face, feet, massage, body scrub in CHOCOLATE!!! and i finished it all off with a haircut...
it was great, i really enjoyed it... it was nice with a little ego trip, and since I'm here alone... i can do whatever i want...
and i figured that doing that would be cheaper than walking around town... and it definitely makes me feel a lot better than a new pair of shoes and i don't need more things, i need a place to put all the stuff i already got...!!!

anyway, I'm now writing just to keep stay awake... which i should 'cause if i fall asleep now, i don't think I'll wake up in time for my flight. and this little cookie just wants to go home...

but I'm out of things to say.... there's a million more stories to tell, but i can't be bothered right now... sorry, please forgive me...

*Ninon, the little cookie that wants to go home...

Crossing april 2008

Night between 19-20 April 2008 North Atlantic

We’ve only been on our way for almost 4days. But we’re already pretty beat… we’ve had a mix between no wind, lots of wind from all directions, mostly the wrong one and not a crinkle on the surface to big 2-3m waves… it means setting sail, taking them away, going aloft stowing, going up to unfurl, set them again , take them away…and so on and so on. It was okay to begin with, now I don’t care too much, I just wanna sleep! and so it has been for the last days! Right now, we have head winds, a lot of swell and rain!!! It is absolutely horrible, very boring and so,so tiring. We’ve had a few persons down with seasickness, even a QM and an AB, so some watches have been very “weak” the last days, which of course means a lot more work for the rest of us.
I’m okay, haven’t been seasick or anything, I’m just very,very tired and wish I could be sleeping in a hammock right now… my bunk is not super comfortable when the ship dances like she’s doing now. I’m actually on watch, but there ain’t much to do, so we’re “standing by” in the longroom, waiting for either some action or to go back to our bunks. I prefer the last! But eh that’s not gonna anytime soon, I still have more than 2hours to go…

I’ve heard many stories about how tough this crossing can be, especially since we cross so high up North, but it’s not that bad, if only we didn’t roll this much… but we’ve still got a about 2 weeks to go, so eh everything can happen, nothing is certain. I just want to get there in a hurry, so I can get off the ship and go home.

Oh well I’ll take a little powernap here on the bench… relieve the lookout in 30minutes and then I can slowly start to clean cups, brew fresh coffee and stuff like that… if i take it really easy, I can make it last an hour and by that, keep myself busy with something… anything to stay awake!!!

The last night watch!

So, here i am back at the gangway, another boring watch!

it's only 23.30 so i have 3.5hours to go!
Tomorrow is our last night here, early wednesday morning, when the captain shouts all crew fore'N'aft, we let the mooring lines go and hopefully set some canvas and head home to Europe.


oh well 4 hours past by and i never got the chance to finish this...
I've been relieved at the gangway it's 3 o'oclock in the morning and want to see if my bunk has missed as much as I missed it...

next time i get online, i'll most probably be home in Denmark!!!
looking forward to go home... i kinda miss it now. I've been away for a long time, and many things has happened to me in the past 5-6months...

take care and see you back home in May...

*Ninon

Boston... getting ready to cross the ocean!

it's early morning, the sun just rose over Boston... freakin' cold, but very beautiful!
i just booked a hotel in Faro, where i'll be staying for 3 nights after the crossing, to come down and mentally prepare myself to come home! it was okay cheap, and they serve breakfast "in bed" if you're not in time for the breakfast buffet in the morning... hehe NICE!!!

Boston, mmm not sure what to say about it, they're very into baseball and hate the Yankees... Yankees vs Red Sox is like Real Madrid vs Barcelona... crazy!
And i think that there's more irish people here than in Dublin... pale as snow, and very difficult to understand, but then again, i don't have that much to say, they do understand me when i order a beer... so eh not that bad!

We're slowly getting ready for the crossing, i still need to find some more Tea and a few other things, but apart from that i'm ready... ready to go home!
the thing is that we have no idea of what to expect weather wise, we prepare for the worst and try to set our minds to a "full combat" crossing, with hard winds, long, wet, cold night watches, so much heeling that you can't really relax anywhere, not even in your bunk! and super seafastening everything, that we won't need like, deckchairs, sunbeds, beer kegs and such...
oh well it's now 7o'oclock we've just been relieved and can now go to bed for a few hours!!!
lovely i miss my bunk and my mexican blanket...

so eh i guess i'll have to continue later...

*Ninon

News From The Big Apple...

NYC... along side Chelsea piers 6th of April 2008

I shouldn’t complain, but still I feel like it… a little bit, only because I’m a bit spoiled!!! Let me explain why I feel like complaining, and why I shouldn’t… I’ll start with the why not…!
Friday night we got tickets for a baseball game, (sponsored by the company that owns the ship!) we got picked up here at the pier by our driver, who happened to be driving a stretched Limo, no bullshit, the 8 of us just fitted in there, It felt surreal to be in a limo, drinking whiskey on the rocks out of crystal glasses, we drove to Brooklyn, Yankee stadium, had super seats… more drinks, caps, T-shirts, cracker jacks, hot dogs… more fun!!! It was great and this time (it’s my third time at a baseball game) I actually kinda got the rules, I was impressed with myself, it’s a silly game anyway, but great fun to be there, see it LIVE!!! It’s funny how many sport events I’ve been attending the last months. I don’t even like sport! Anyway after the game we got picked up by our driver again and driven back to the ship, I spent a night away from the ship and woke up in huge king size bed Saturday morning, knowing I had the entire day off!!! So I met up with one of the cooks and after a descent breakfast at a typical American diner (not as good as in Mexico, I still miss “huevos a la Mexicana”). We went to MOMA… I must admit I wasn’t impressed, as I walked around in there looking at all these paintings by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, Miró, Warhol, Jasper Johns… etc I was thinking to myself “Oh my God they’re taking the piss on me, this can’t be real, is this really fine art and worth a fortune??” I didn’t dare to say that out loud, I was surrounded by an Ih and Oh crowd of people who seemed to feel very differently about it, at least they looked interested and awed by the fact that they where looking at the works of “great masters” very artsy and hip… I didn’t feel comfortable; I was totally out of place… I much rather go for a walk trough a scruffy neighbourhood looking at graffiti and random “sculptures” that somebody made to brighten up a grey building, to me, that’s art! The one thing I did like though was the few kids at just the right age… you know that age where they are critical to what they’re looking at, asking questions, why is her head square? Why is the sun blue? Why is the clocks melting? Or just beautiful comments like… “That don’t look like a man, that looks like a mad dog in a catfight” or “Mom, this picture says OOF it’s missing the ARGH then it would be just like my favourite cartoon” or “why is this painting just black? There’s nothing on it, is that on purpose?” the dad answered “yes my dear the painter is trying to express how he feels about blahblahblah and the kid patiently listened then nodded and added “ hmm I think that the painter must have been very sad, maybe if he had painted it yellow dots on it he would’ve felt better”. Those small conversations made it all worthwhile… the parents desperately trying to explain the wonders of a certain, to me, boring painting and the kids blunt but very honest replies was just great!
I truly didn’t see anything in those paintings and when a tour guide explained why Monet was so fund of painting something as “boring” as water I got so upset that it ruined the rest of the of it… Water is not boring, the beauty of it is that it changes all the time, the colours can be anything from different shades of brown, to all shades of blue or green even red and yellow to gold and silver sometimes it’s even pitch black or all white, all depending on what kind of water you look at, rivers, deep water, confined waters, falls lakes, ponds, streams, coastal waters, salt water, fresh water, even the water in a bathtub can be amazing! What also influences how water looks like is what the bottom looks like, is it sand, rocks, coral reef, mud, a combination… Where in the world are you looking at water? What’s the temperature? Is it a sunny day in the Caribbean or a rainy day in The North Sea? what time a year, what time a day, what kind of weather is it… there’s a million things that influences how water looks like… but it changes all the time, even in Monet’s little pond in his back yard, he saw the beauty of it, he saw the changes and that’s one thing I can understand why he wanted to capture and keep it forever that way… I’m sorry that some stupid little Artsy freak, who is probably studying art in books and boring museums with big white walls spends more time looking at other peoples impressions on how our world looks like than actually looking at it herself…
I left with a feeling of being robbed or made fun of…So I think the next art thing, exhibition or museum I will go to, will be in a kinder garden , at least kids don’t pretend to be anything that they’re not or to have any deeper meanings with what they’re doing… they’re just putting colours on a piece of paper, it us “grown ups” who try to put a meaning into everything and that meaning and those colours come with a price tag that’s usually completely ridiculous… So I did get something out of it, I don’t think I like what most people calls art. It’s overrated by a long shot and to me a waste of time… the real thing, whether it’s water, humans, trees or something is usually the one thing that counts for me…! Sorry Grandpa, I don’t get the meaning of the so-called ART!!!

Anyway it’s dinner time, and I’m off tonight so I think I’ll head for lower east side and get something to eat and look around maybe a find some street art to look at, maybe that will mean something to me…


It’s now the 7th, I’m back at the gangway, the same spot as yesterday… I want to finish my story about why I shouldn’t be complaining!

So I had a nice day off, the other day I enjoyed it a lot, but the one thing I really wanted to do, I did get to… I just wanted to start at Union Square and walk down Broadway, Bowery and maybe Lafayette. But I didn’t had the time, in the end. I had to be back at the pier to catch mooring lines at 18.30 and 40 minutes later I was having a beer at an irish pub, and then dinner at great Indian place on lower east side… So about here is where I start complaining.! I had a day off, I had a great time and in total I “owe” the ship 10hours of work. But the rest of my watch had 3hours off the same day, and 6 hours of yesterday and 2 hours off today!!! So eh I would say that I’ve paid my dues. But No, No… I’m far from done, tonight we have a cocktail party onboard and I have to stay here as part of a fireteam. Ridiculous!! Everybody has been given a lot of time off several hours everyday and because I had one day off, I get to pay back double! That’s not really fair I think, on the other hand I shouldn’t complain too much, then it might won’t happen again or then somebody else might not get a the same opportunity. Maybe next time I’m the one who gets off all the time!!!

Oh well here’s the next 8 lucky ones waiting for the limo and then they can go to Yankees vs Tampa bay Rays… I’m desperately trying to get internet, there’s several hot spots but eh it doesn’t seem to work! So eh I guess I’ll try later or maybe when we get to Boston! We’re leaving tomorrow, the forecast predicts head winds and lots of it. So it’ll be a hoot!!! Boring, motoring for 48hours against wind and current and heading North!!! Grr it’ll be a cold one…!

Oh well I got relieved at the gangway now, and I’m in a pissy mood because I can’t leave the ship anymore before departure… I could leave at 21 but I have a night watch from midnight-04 so eh I guess there won’t be any more cruising around NYC!!! Damn it… anyway I think I better stop complaining! Oh Actually I had a great night yesterday… I went out for a few beers with the Bosun who just got back from Mexico and later the cook joined us, So eh it was the Mexican trio again, we got pretty smashed, but had a great time. It was nice to be out with them again, I kinda missed it, without even realizing it. We ended up in strange bar in the meatpacking district, only a few blocks away, and by the time we left, the two barkeepers where so busy dancing on the desk and pouring Tequila down somebody’s throat, that we left without paying the bill. It wasn’t intentional, we all thought that somebody else had paid… but eh we managed to just walk out of there in to a cab and then back to the ship. We didn’t even think about before this morning when we tried to find out who paid what and if it was kinda even… I had a bit of a hangover this morning, but luckily we where back before 2 so I got enough sleep! And I was on time this morning…
But it was a great night out and it was great to be with the guys again!!!

My fingers are almost numb so I think I’ll pack up, get something to eat, (it’s dinner time already) and then hide in my bunk and then maybe I’ll be in a better mood when I go on watch tonight!!!

Until then… enjoy!

*Ninon

Still in Baltimore...

Well eh nice! today the internet connection actually works... fantastic!

we're still in Baltimore, but tomorrow morning we'll leave and head for New York!!!
That's gonna be an interresting sail... and apperantly we got a prime spot in NYC, Chelsea piers if anybody knows where that is. I hope that the program will be just as easy as it was here, service department had a lot of work, but the nautical dep. can hardly do anything when we have guests onboard, so we've had a lot of time off in between all the cleaning!
it's our duty to clean the ´deck, and the toilets.. etc so the second the first part of the daily program was finished and the guests had left.. a white tornado sweeped over deck and within a few hours we've been ready for the second round... we've had days with both a big lunch reception and later a dinner. so in average about 200-250 guests on a daily basis! sunday we had open ship, 800 people walked over the deck in 4 hours, it sounds like a lot, but really it was way below the normal standard... which is about a couple of thousands!!! yes, the record is about 3000!!! and they're only allowed to see the deck!!! crazy!
For you who haven't seen th eship and was looking forward to see it in Copenhagen, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed to learn that the program has changed, we're not going to DK this year!! Unfortunately, i would have liked to show it to you all!

well i haven't got a lot to say tonight!!! its about 4.30 in the morning i have some toilets to clean... æv! I don't feel like cleaning toilets again and some banners and stuff i need to take away! I don't really feel like it so I've been stalling it for a bit, but i guess that "they" (Officers especially) will be very teleurgesteld (means disapointed, one the few words i can say in dutch, i've learned how to say, I'm not mad, just very, very disappointed. hehe it was so funny the first few times, now it's like an old joke that keeps repeating itself) if i don't get it all done... after all i am a quartermaster and therefore a so-called rolemodel! who would have thought that I would end up in position where i was considered a rolemodel!!!

Just found out that my little sister just moved away from home... oh my god, how time flies, I remember when she was this tiny little girl who slept in my bed at night, all of a sudden i feel so old, and a little jealoux, after all i still live at home, on mama's sofa!!! (it is a nice sofa though) eh something's wrong with that picture... my 18year old sister has her own place, i soon turn 26 and I don't! oh well I'm hardly ever home, i guess that's why!

it's a bit strange to know that in about 5 weeks when i get back i haven't been home since the end of Nov, it seems like forever! so many things has happened, so many new experiences, so many places i've been since then!
Oh maybe i should mention that i'm kinda getting used to being back here, i was right, it did get easier when i got to Baltimore. So now Mexico seems so far away! but oh my did I love it there...
I still have a little bit of a hard time with all these people every where at all times... so I've asked the office to book my flight a few days after i get off the ship in Faro, Portugal... So I'm looking forward to a few days doing nothing but enjoying myself and getting used to the thought of coming home again... it's been about 6months but so many things has happened that it seems much longer. So not only time is a factor, actually it's more the things that has happened!
So i'll see if i can find a nice little hostel, with a big bed and a tv, there i'll digest everything that has happened to me, since i left half a lifetime ago! Maybe go out for a walk, and something nice to eat and then go back... no big plans, just BE. eh can hardly wait. But before i get that far, i still have NYC, Boston And an Atlantic crossing to do... so eh i guess there will be a lot more to "digest" and absorbe by the time i hit that hotelroom with a big bed and a tv.

Oh well he it seems i did have something to say after all...

It doesn't happen often that i have nothing to say, i have a tendency of talking way to much!!!

soh and by the way our RHIB is the rubberboat with an outboard engine that we use as a MOB boat (Man-Over-Board) for fast tenders ashore, tender to guests snorkeling/swimming... etc it's easier to handle than the sloops, both with manouvers and putting it in/taking it out of the water... it doesn't take as many persons of course, but it's faster and usually much more fun to "drive" than a sloop. the sloop still reminds me of when i was a watertaxi driver back home!

Oh well the toilets are calling i better get back to work!
Oh and i'm not sure if i can upload that pic of my tattoo but eh i'll see what i can do, when i'm done with the cleaning!!!

take care and have fun... Spring is on it's way!!! after spring comes summer and sunshine, it can't be long before we again see the sun shine over CPH...

*Ninon

Baltimore 30th of March

Baltimore 30st of March 2008


Well eh i actually do have internet connection, but it’s running so incredibly slow, that i can’t be bothered!!!

Another gangway watch… it’s freaking cold, I’m wearing 2 sweaters and woollen socks in the day time, but still I see people in shorts and t-shirts… Crazy!!! All pale and maybe a bit blueish, but hey according to the calendar it’s spring and since the sun is shining it must be warm…!! But they’re wrong, so, so wrong!!! It’s still freaking cold! The weather is beautiful, clear blue sky and sunshine, you need your sunglasses for sure but it’s not warm!!!
Some wise guy once said, “everybody’s talking about the weather, but nobody is doing anything about it…” clever! So eh enough about it, I can’t change it, only put on more clothes!!!

The Program for Baltimore has been very easy going, not too much for the deck crew, we’ve had a lot of time off and I managed to get my tattoo, since I’m keeping mom mystified about it, I won’t tell you what it is… but I can tell this much, it’s small, but very beautiful, it’s on my foot and it means a lot to me! I’ll see if I can upload a picture, when the connection is better…
Be right back have to wake up the next nightwatches…!!! Jubiii 20 min to go!

Well they’re both awake and the coffee is almost done, so it’ll be ready when they stumble to the crewmess in a few minutes…
We have 2 gangway watches at night, in the US… some laws and regulations we have to apply with. Usually it’s nice with some time to yourself, but it’s okay being 2, depending who the other one is of course!

Well I think I’ll stop for now, and pack up so I can go straight to bed in a few minutes when I’m done with the handover…
Good night!!! I guess it’s my turn to try to keep my head cold and my feet warm!!!

Ninon

Baltimore... where did the sun go??

Uha chilly... it's cold!!!
I'm on gangway watch, our first night here... it's freaking cold!!!
my hands are icecold so it's gonna be a short one!
I'm back in Baltimore, man it brings back a lot of memories... good ones!
i'll tell you more about it after i've put the snorkeling gear away. my night orders, apperantly the officers don't think we'll be needing that for a long time to come!!! so eh i'll just get that out of the way and then i'll be back...
I'm gonna do it.... right now!!!!


eh i don't feel like doing anything, i just want to go back to my warm bed, cuddle up with my nice duvet and my new best friend, my mexican blanket... mmmm

oh well goggles and fins here i come... i said "be gone!" (i'm working on my magic spells... still need a lot of practice though!)

*Ninon

Better late than never... Surinam river 29th of Jan.2008

At anchor Surinam River (in front of the presidents house) 29 Jan. 2008-01-30


As you can see we’re still at anchor on the river, tomorrow is my last working day! Tonight is my last night watch, it’s not that late, I’m again the designated RHIB driver, tendering crew ship/shore and back again, I guess it will another long day… but fu*** it as mentioned, tomorrow is my last day, so I will survive. Next tender is in 15minutes.
Leaving this country to go to Mexico City is going to be difficult, I’ve had a hard time getting a ticket, I still don’t have any, but luckily the Bosun is working on it, since he’s going the same way.
Maybe I’ll be on my way the 4th, I hope! If so we’re gonna rent a car and drive around for 2days, exploring, adventure, maybe a glance at some full on rainforest! Not bad at all! Hehe it’s gonna be fun, the Crazy Cook, the bosun and me! I’m ready for it and up for anything that smells like adventure… but the first night I’m gonna rest, sleep. Sleep, sleep! I found a nice little guesthouse with a little swimmingpool!!! Great! A night or 2 there and then I’m rested and ready for what ever.
Oh it’s time to go, there might be somebody waiting for me at the quay! I can always hope at least!

Oh my good the captain, is on deck… I better look busy, but then again, I’ve been busy all day so even though I’m officially still on deck working it’s accepted to take it easy as long as something gets done, so eh as always after a rain shower we wipe it off to prevent the big drops off water to make air bubbles in our nice varnish. It’s a shitty job, (there’s so many varnish surfaces) but somebody’s gotta do it! And since I’m on watch, it’s me…
Oh it’s time for another tender…
Laterrrrs

15 minutes later, I’m already back again, there was nobody to pick up, so eh I guess they’ll all be there for the last tender at 23, so eh another late night! Tomorrow is even worse, an evening sail, from 16-24 on my last working day!!!! Totally not fair, but then again, we’ve been here for a long time and in total we only have 3 events, so eh we’re not complaining. We even had the time to have an entire day off! Very nice, I really enjoyed it even though it was on a Sunday. Which of course is a bit boring when everything is closed, but since we couldn’t do anything really, we decided (oh gotta go)

I’m back again, but only to say I’ll be back when ever I get the time, I’m off now, I want a cold a beer a chitchat with the rest and then off to bed.

But eh stay tuned, for a little bit longer, more will come, I promise!!!

*Ninon

Surinam River 23rd of Jan.2008

At Anchor, Suriname River 23 Jan.2008

Again we sailed fast, so we arrived here yesterday, 4 days ahead of schedule, time for some full-on maintenance, we where sailing close hold, all the way, which means we had a constant heel of about 20* some times more sometimes less, but it’s very tiring not being able to walk in a straight line everything you do takes a lot of energy, just sitting down to eat can be such a hassle… on top of that not too much sleep… today I’m absolutely wasted! I was actually off last night, but I stayed on deck talking for just a little too long, I was in bed before midnight, but I now regret I wasn’t in bed before dinner! We are now in the so called “tropical watches” which is, like most things in life, both good and bad… we start working at 7o’clock, which is very, very bad. The only good thing about is that the temperature is acceptable, but the bad thing is we’re not awake enough to get any work done!!! We have HOT lunch!!!! On deck, who wants to eat pork chops and mashed potatoes at noon when it’s at least 35* and the humidity is absolutely ridiculous?? so eh nice! After lunch a small siesta, and then dinner at 18… to give you an idea of what I’m doing, the diversity of my job. This is what I did today!

6.15 1st wake-up call
6.43 Tumbled out my bed. Very confused and a bit late
6.58 On deck with a cup of tea, ready for the daily info from the Captain
7.09 Inside Cleaning, toilets, showers…. Etc
8.06 Check that my watch had cleaned properly
8.09 Explain my watch how to clean with their eyes open
8.25 Tripple check while doing the dishes.
8.40 still not good enough, but couldnøt be bothered to bitch about it any more.
8.53 prepare for coffee break, (read, making tea and coffee and carry it all up on deck
9.30 SmoCo (Smokes and Coffee)
9.42 Carry dirty dishes down and wash it… + whatever dishes the cooks might have
10.32 finish of a mast inspection, so harness on and up climbing
11.17 Write it all down for the Bosun
11.30 Prepare for lunch on deck
12.04 Lunch break
12.32 Since I was on watch I had to do the dishes so I did, including cleaning the galley
14.30 I baked fresh rugbrød (Danish bread)
15.07 Helped the cook a bit, with preparing some extra goodies for dinner.
15. 25 Back on deck teaching a new guy some knots
16.05 SmoCo
16.26 Prepared the RHIB
17.03 Crashed in my bunk… ZZzzz
17.40 Back on deck, dinner!
18.02 First tender ashore
19.03 Tender ashore
20.00 Tender ashore
21.05 Tender ashore
22.07 Tender ashore
23.04 Last tender back to the ship… unfortunately, the 3 tenders before that there was nobody, so I had to do 3 and everybody was pissed drunk…
00.05 Put the RHIB back on deck, platform back in…
00.25 Zzz at last….!!!

Pyh long day…. Good night!!!

Back at work

I'm back in the grind... but eh i just want to tell you about the last night in Mexico...
it was absolutely amazing!!!! by far one of the best in Mexico!!!
oh my oh my.... where to start???
i did get a book, Chuck Palahniuk's "Stranger than fiction"... (I haven't started yet)

Anyway, i'll dream my way back to my last day in Mexico City and see if i can tell you the story!

I'll try to start where i left, I walked around for a bit, just where evere my feet was taking me... After a few hours i got hungry, you do after all that walking and seeing, so i went to the Salon Corona to get one of my favorite tacos, just as a last one before leaving, i forgot it was saturday, so there must have been 200 others with the same idea so people where lined up in the street to get a seat... but eh lucky me, somebody at the bar noticed i was alone so they offered me a chair at the bar, even better than a table, so i sat down ordered my taco pastor and a beer... just a small one with salt and lime... it only took a few minutes then i was chatting with the guy sitting next to me, so i had another taco (they're small)... An older lady, her daughter and the daughters 2 friends took the corner, standing on the street ordering, so i helped them out, passing lime for their beers, napkins ekstra chilli, guacamole and whatever you need when eating tacos... soon i found myself having a very funny conversation with the lady, Celia the rest joined in, we had more tacos, more beer and more fun!!! When she found out that my middle name was Josefina like her daughter, she was sure that we where meant to meet! and she gave me her address and told me, that next time i come to Mexico city i should come stay at her house, she would cook me some proper mexican food and her daughter, Josefina and her friends could show me around!!!
It turned out that Josefina's friends, Aldo and whats her name?? was like children for Celia, and as she said she had love enough for one more... As i was talking to Josefina and Aldo, (the last girl hardly said anything, and i never got her name) about going out in Mexico City i had to admit that I hadn't really tried it... 1,2,3 i was invited to join them the same evening! They walked me back to my hostel, i had a shower and a little nap and put on the nicest clthes i could find in my backpack... luckily i bought a really nice shirt the same day, so had something else than just a t-shirt... As i was waiting for them i felt so happy, they gave me such a nice feeling, a feeling of being with good friends, even though we've never met before... When they came I was standing outside talking to some other people i met earlier that day, a bunch of backpackers discussing where to go next... When they saw Josefina all dresses up, walking straight through the crowd to give me a big hug and tell me that the cars was waiting, they could hardly stop looking, 1, because she looked great, another beautiful mexican girl. 2. because they knew that i hardly knew her and i guess they wondered why/how i dared to trust a bunch of mexicans to take me out and bring me back safely!!! well there wasn't any doubt in my mind that i could trust them. So i happily went with them... We got to this fancy nightclub, a guy parked our cars and we got in front of the line, because Aldo knew the right people, I felt like a superstar!!! got guided trough the crowd and got a table and a bottle of overprized, but imported Vodka!!! I had a great time, the 6 of us, laughed and danced all night, i tried so hard to speak spanish, oh my god, do i wish i also spoke it fluently like the rest of my family... well we maneged, and at one point, i just talked, not caring to much about how wrong it must have sounded...
I got invited to Josefina's wedding in August (My only wish for my birthday is a ticket to Mexico in august, i checked, I am off) that could be so much fun...!!! i would love that!
I got back around 6o'clock in the morning, happy, happy, happy!!!
I slept for only a few hours because 2 girls in my room got up, packed and left before 10!!! so eh i got up as well, showered and packed...
Went down, met some of the backpackers from the day before, talked for a bit, prepared myself for going to the airport, when Aldo walked trough the door!!! He thought it was the only right thing to do, take me out for lunch and drive me to airport, after all I was now one Celia's Daughters, so in some strange way where now family!!! Okay, i had no complaints, even though i was a bit hungover, it sounded like a great idea to have something to eat before going back here.
We went for the very last Tacos at Salon Corona, and then he drove me to the airport!!! Service!
When we got there it started raining, like if somebody opened the fossets and wanted a shower... at some point even with thunder and lightning... As Aldo said, the city is very ugly when it rains like that, so it was Mexico's way of saying, No Te Vayas!!!!
Well i didn't wanted to leave... I really didn't! And oh my god, do i ,miss it!!! can hardly wait to go back, hopefully in August, at least for a few weeks!!!

I was standing in the airport hugging my blanket (my new best friend) thinking about all the things that had happened in Mexico, and i total i loved it!!! i would do it all over again if i could!!!

I had a boring flight, with a lot of turbulens to LAX (i know my itinerary was insane) a few hours to kill at the airport befor my next flight, by then i was hungry again, but my only options was a Mexican place and a Mc D... I guessed that the mexican place would be terribly disappointing, so i went to the Mac, knowing what i was gonna get, deepfried cardboard with too much ketchup and maybe a stomach ache when i was done... That's exactly what i got!!!
So my next flight was not to great, stomach ache and an aisle seat next to a couple that combined took up their own seats and the larger part of mine, they had to put the armrest up otherwise they wouldn't fit in the seats! I'm sorry to say this, but it's not really fair that i only have half my seat and have to sit even more uncomfortable than normal so that they can fit their fat asses in theirs. hmm anyway i made it to Washington DC where i only had about an hour... so i thought i had to give up the idea of smoking a cigarette, but to my great surprise they had a smoking area, in an American airport!!!! CRAZY!!
so i was happy to board my last flight from DC to St. Shithole even more happy when i found out that we where only 25 pax on the airplane, it fitted 138!!!! So my blanket and I was fast a sleep before take-off taking up 3seats!!! i slept all the way and woke up when the pilot announced that we were approaching the Island....
I called the ship, the rhib was on it's way to the airport, so i walked down to the dinghy dock and had an icecold "Carib" while waiting!
Got back to the ship and i must admit it was a bit overwhelming with all theese people that i knew... i just got used to be anonymous... Had a great dinner ashore with Pernille and passed out before midnight, by then i had been on my way for about 36hours...
Next morning Bright and early we started working at 7 had a siesta from 12-14 and finished at 18... I was not in the mood for working at all, so i was lucky to do a lot of tendering between the ship-shore that day!
I'm still not really in the mood, even though i had half a day of the other day and we don't work too hard... in my siesta's i crash in the sun dreaming of Mexico!!! if i try hard enough it's almost like being there...

Tuesday morning we leave this place and head for Bahamas and the US... Can hardly wait to get under way and set sail, maybe then i'll get back to a place of mind where i actually enjoy my work and being back onboard!!!
Until then, i drag my self out of my bed, still sleeping with my blanket, not ready to let it go yet!!! luckily the days pass relatively quick!!!
Soon we'll be in the US and I'm looking forward to Baltimore, NYC and Boston and primarely the crossing back!!! so i guess that soon i'll be happy that i'm here...

well now i gotta go, the last tender back to the ship is in 15minutes.... Pernille and I found a cafe wtih wi-fi so we've been sipping café Latte with Bailey's and netsurfing!!! Not bad at all!!!
A very nice to spend our evening, but now i have to go...
Keep your heads up high and your feet warm!!! i'll be home before you know it...

*Ninon

oh by the way, i finally finished "Snow" a fantastic book....

Getting ready to leave Mexico!!!

Hmm here i am, back in Mexico City... it was a long busride, luckily a had half a spacecake, so i sleept pretty much all the way... 13 hours, they only showed 1 movie, so it was relatively quiet, except the guy in front of me who was moaning and groaning all the way, and the little chuppy kid, who ate too much candy and greasy stuff so he was sick at least 3 times this morning, i'm sure his mother would have been there for him, a hand on his forehead or something, but she was so big, that she had such a hard time getting to back of the bus, that she didn't even bothered moving!!! very charming!
I didn't really wanted to leave Puerto Escondido, it was amazing there... i really enjoyed just hanging out on the beach... (i'm still reading "Snow") doing as little as possible!!! next time i go to Mexico, there will definetely be a next time, i want to see more of the coast of Oaxaca... Mazunte, with the little Sea turtle research center, Zipolite, Huatelco... and maybe even move down to Chiapas, everybody says is great there...
But that's all for next time... now i'll go out and look around, buy a new book, something a little lighter than Orhan Pamuk, he writes very beautifull, but eh heavy stuff...
As i told my mom on the phone, I was hoping that if i was reading something intellectual, i would stand out a little from all the other stranded Blonde barbies lying on the beach... yeah well i'm not sure it worked excatly as i was hoping fore... but never mind, it's good reading just a little to heavy for me right now... so i'll find the American bookstore and find a new book...
oh well i better go out there...
laterrrr
*Ninon

Hmmm

.... I think i'm in love,
Maybe I'm just hungry....

.... The difference between love and the agony of waiting ....

.... it's in the water, baby....

.... Me gustas tú ....

.... lonely,
you don't have to be lonely,
Come and see Tahlulla you know what they say,
no one South of heaven 's gonna treat you finer,
Tahlulla had her trainning in North Carolina ....


.... Somewhere over the rainbow, once in a lullaby....


.... I stop to see a weaping willow,
crying on his pillow,
maybe he's crying for me,
and as the stars come glooming,
the night winds whisper to me ....

Oaxaca-Puerto Escondido

well eh i feel so much better today!!! After posting 2 lines here, i passed by a little shop, bought some food, went back to my little Cabana, made a quick Avocada/Tuna salad, it was great, after all it was also the first real thing aside from crackers i had eaten all day!!!
Anyway back to Oaxaca... what happened??
In total 6 girls went from Mexico City to Oaxaca... thursday late afternoon we checked in to a hotel with 3 big beds and a television!!! obviously we didn't move that much... we spend most of the evening talking about how great it would be if we could cook a 3course dinner for ourselfes...
So next day we sent out a searchparty to find a cheaper place to stay with a kitchen we could use... just 150m up the street, we found what we where looking for! so we spend pretty much the entire day, shopping for this wonderful dinner... Needles to say, it was absolutely brilliant!!!
I was " in charge" of the salad, 2 took care of the main, 1 of the dessert, and 2 of the drinks...
It worked out perfectly... we sat had some bubblewine while cooking, redwine with the dinner and some beers for chitchat afterwards... everybody was stuffed, so we decided to wait with the big birthday cake we had bought from a real pastry shop, actually it was an "in between birthdays" party, 2 of the girls had their birthday 1 week apart, and this was pretty much in between!!! Luckily we had a little akstra snack, just to go with the beers... Chapirones! fried Grashopper in chilli... not too tasty, the big ones where kinda goey... not my favorite! we sat down talking, eating, talking, drinking, talking for about 4hours, until we ran out of drinks... it was really a girls night out, ouha it must have sounded like a chickenfarm!!!
anyway, we decided to go out... check out the nightlife of Oaxaca... hehe what a fuzz it caused, when 6 european girls walks trough the door!!! but it was great fun... until we started shooting tequila and Mezcal, then things got a little bit out of control!!! But we all came home in one piece!
4 of us stayed out a little later, and when we came back around 5 we decided to eat some of the birthday cake!!! Great Idea!!! lots and lots of whipped cream and strawberries!!! perfect!
Next day, 1 of the other girls ate the rest of it for breakfast!!! charming, so charming girls can be when in a pack... saturday passed and we didn't do much, sunday passed and we did even less oh not entirely true, sunday morning we got up at 8 to have breakfast all together, since 3 of the girls went to live with a Oaxacan family for a week and to take a spanish course! But after that we did nothing, just walked around the city, it's so fantastic, such a nice vibe and very pretty! Monday morning bright'n'early we did all those things we didn't do in the weekend!!! the 3 of us left, was very busy and maneged to do all the things on our list, After lunch we met up with the spanish students and the 6 of us all together did something very, very touristy... a Trip to Monte Alban... yeah finally i got to see some famous pyramids!! it was good, i'm glad i went there!!! so i can cross pyramids of my to-do list!!! monday night, the last 2girls left and i was on my own again... not too bad! actually nice! we've been hanging out for about a week and it was great fun, but sometimes a bit difficult... when 6 girls have to agree on something! even though that also went surprisingly easy!!! yesterday morning i took a 2nd class bus (actually it was a van) to the coast!!! Up until now i've anly travelled in 1st class buses, so i didn't know what to expect, but bonus was that this drove down Highway 175 which goes straight, up and then down, where 1st class go around the mountains. taking the Van saved me 4hours of travelling time and was only half the prize... And the trip was so amazing, Between Oaxaca and Miahuatlan it was relatively flat, dry and brownish, a lot of cactus... after Miahuatlan it went up, up, up really curvy, incredible, with pine forrest and little houses, a lot of preditors hovering on the horizon... it wasn't super comfortable, but the 6 hours passed really quickly, there was a few pit-stops one in the niddle of the mountain at a little wooden shed where the driver had some lunch... bean soup and some meat, i was so hungry by then, but the meat was hanging on a metal string across the romm, like drying laundry... so i went back to the van had some crackers... Finally we got to Pochutla, a very busy town, the starting point if you wanna go to some of the more remote and less touristy beaches a long the Oaxaca coast, i was thinking about it, but that'll be next time... Got on a local bus to Puerto Escondido about 70km but it took what seemed like forever, i was the only non-mexican in the bus but the thing with people here is that, they smile and laugh and ask you questions, so it wasn't a problem. this older lady asked if i was travelling alone, and when i said i was she smiled and said that some santa was looking out for me and that this way i get the best experiences... It's so much greener and beautiful in a different way than the mountains, and there's palmtrees and bananas... it's great! At one point, i smelled the sea... and i can't help it, but it made me so relaxed, it filled with joy that i could smell the ocean... when i finally saw i realized that I've missed it since i left Sayulita... The inland is amazing, but the there's something about the ocean that i don't think i could do with out!!!
So now I'm here Puerto Escondido, the last point on my to-do list for this month in Mexico... I'm staying at place, where i have my own room with a little bathroom, and a hammock on the porch!!! I went to bed around 21o'clock... way too early! but i was tired and felling shitty, so i saw no reason to try to stay awake.... I woke up this morning around 4.30 got up, grabbed my blanket, sat in th ehammock listening to the ocean, the grashoppers, random cars passing by and looked at the moon for a while... it made me happier, than i was when i went to bed, I was actually waiting too see the sun rise, but i decided against it and went back to bed, slept another few hours... got up around nine, ready for the beach... just wanted to check my mail, now i've been online for mor than 2 hours it's midday so maybe i should get some breakfast and then find a shady place to read my book. (i'm still reading "Snow")
I feel good today... it's gonna be nice with a few days here... just hanging out... getting ready to go back to work!!!
Sunshine and aloevera lotion!!!!
*Ninon

Oaxaca

Hehe I made it to Oaxaca, had a great time there...
Now i just watched the sun set over Puerto Escondido, I'm not in a too good mood. So I think I'll write about my adventures in Oaxaca tomorrow when I feel better...
take care
*Ninon

Americas VS Universidad de Chile

After all i did go to the football match, and boy am i glad i went!!! It was great fun, as last time... only different, the crowd wasn't as crazy, and i missed my fellow crew members! But what was better this time was this cute little kid sitting next to me... such a sweetheart! i talked with his dad for about 3sec and then almost at the end of the game because Americas (one of the home teams of Mex. City) was winning 2-1 he gave me his flag, told me i could bring it home to Denmark so that i wouldn't forget Mexico... aaaahhh so sweet!
well i won't with or without the flag i won't forget Mexico!!!
anyway i'm running out of time, and i better find my bunk, since I have to get up really early tomorrow to get the bus to Oaxaca...
take care...
Big brother you better be proud, 2 football matches in less than 2 weeks!!! it's got to be a record!

*Ninon

Back In Mexico City

well here I am again... was supposed to tell you all about my incredible day at the Pyramids, but eh you what? I never went... i went to bed last night, thinking, I can't be bothered to go tomorrow, i don't wanna do anything!!!
So i stayed here, chatted with a few people i met last night, they all had big plans for the day... It took me about 3 hours just to get ready to leave the hostel, by then it was around 14 o'clock and i still felt like doing nothing. so without any regrets I only walked around the neighbourhood for about an hour, then i went to the Cathedral, lit candles for my brother, he had been on my mind all day, so i lit candles for him, and the virgin of Guadalupe... I'm not sure why, but i found myself crying i front of the picture of the virgen of Guadalupe.... so i stood there for while, not thinking at all, just being... seing my brothers pretty face, wishing he was just a little bit closer so i could've touched him... hugged him!!! I left the Cathedral went back to the hostel, bought some cold beers and sat on the roof terrasse looking at a fragment of the city's skyline... just being! read for a few hours, and now i feel all revived, back to life again... did a little bit of laundry... So i'm proud to say that i did absolutely nothing today... but stil it was a good day!

tomorrow i go to Oaxaca... there's also some pyramids there, so if i'm up for it i'll have a look at those... i just wasn't in the mood for anything today!
oh i gotta go...
have another football match to go to... if i can be bothered, i'm still not sure,, I'm longing for some company, but i'm not sure another football game is what i'm looking really!!!
oh well time will show... if my jeans are dry then maybe, if not i'll just hang out here for a little bit more... But i have to make up my mind soon, they're leaving in about 5mins... gotta go
laterrrr *Ninon

Change of plans!!!!

Well i'm still in GTO, just bought a bus ticket outta here... last night i decided to change my plans, only a little bit... I''ll stay overnight in Mex.City and be very cultural tomorrow, i wanna see the pyramids Sol Y Luna at that place i can't pronounce or even spell... tehuatisomething! it will delay my arrival in Puerto Escondido about 2 days, but then i've seen at least one the must see's in Mexico...

oh and i did go to that museum of mummies yesterday!!! I'm speechless it's eh ah oh horrible, but fascinating, a few of them didn't die naturally, one was stabbed to death, another buried alive and one had drowned, charming! i think it was the guy who was stabbed, he was buried in 1977!! in 1982 you could see him at the museum!!!! that's sick!!! uaks! and only a few of the signs was written in english, but was written as if it was the mummie itself that had written it... so it was like, yeah my name is blahblah i was stabbed to death in 1977 you can see that because of the big hole in my stomach and the light miscoloration around that area. in 1982 they decided to put me on display.... blahblah horrible!!! the worst part was the children... small mummified babies!!! i mean , i can take a lot, but that was a bit over the top for me... i hope that going to the pyramids tomorrow can make me think of something else...
anyway it's 12.50 my bus leaves in an hour, so i better get going!!!
i'll let you know how my day at the tourist-trap was...
keep the sun in your face...
Ninon

Guanajato

Absolutely amazing!!!
after a long busride, 6 hours, Vallarta-Guadalajara a dropdead boring ride, they showed american B-horror movies sincronised into spanish all the way, and the bus wasn't as comfortable as the one from Mex.city-Guadalajara. But okay i survived, i didn't really wanted to leave, i had a great time in Sayulita and just found the rythm, getting up as the first in the morning, make coffee, sit on the stairs smoking a cigarette, looking at the waves. Then the guys got up, together we had some breakfast they went surfing and i grabbed my book and a towel, layed in the sun for a while reading and by then they guys finished their morning surfing session we had a few cold beers on the beach went back to the house made a big lunch a little siesta and then the afternoon session, which was pretty much the same as in the morning... we came back to the house, made a fantastic dinner... played cards, had a few beers, smoked cigarettes, went to bed relatively early and the next day the same all over again... GREAT!!!

Anyway i really had to leave, to get moving otherwise i wouldn't have time to get to Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido without spending almost all my time in a bus non-stop like this i can make a few pit-stops and enjoy what i see on the way and still spend a little time on the beach in Puerto E. So i took the bus from Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara, nothing exiciting about that, it was long and boring! arrived at the bus station around midnight hoping there was a connecting bus. there was luckily, actually there was several, so i found the cheapest which happened to be with "Primera Plus" the ones with the best busses!!! so happy to have a cheap ticket and knowing i didn't have to spend the night at the station, i started looking for something to eat, by then i was so hungry i could have eaten a horse, all i could find was nescafe and chips... it didn¡t do me any good, but i maneged to fall asleep even before we where out of the gigantic bus station, i got woken up by a friendly guy telling me i was in Guanajato (GTO)!!! NICE! so eh I knew that the bus station was a bit outside GTO so i got a taxi, a freindly chaffeur telling me all about the sites at 5o'clock in the morning... many of the streets is not big enough for cars so he dropped me off in place where there was supposed to be some hotels around, there was i found 2, but unfortunately there was nobody answering the door... so i had to walk around a bit more and luckily at last after about an hour i found one and the guy at the reception was awake!!!
I slept for a bit, freezing!!! GTO is about 2017m above sealevel in the mountains!!! need i say more? no? i woke up to find that the battery in my watch is dead. and that the door to my room is in the middle of the bar of the hotel... hehe maybe that's why it's so cheap? but then again i don't care, it's clean, and i sleep as a rock. so i don't think it0ll bother me too much!
well i've now walked around here in daylight, it's beautifull... very nice place and hardly any tourists, execpt for a few retired people... Very Nice!!!
I was on my to Museo de Mummias... Apparently all of them is from the nearby cemetary, it only takes about 5-7 years to be mummified here and if your family can't pay for it, they'll dig you up and put you in a museum... sounds crazy, and i'm not sure what to think about it, but i gotta do something before i go look for that roof terasse there's supposed to be at the hotel and my book...
Anyway if i find i'll let you know how it was... The musuem of mummies... uh a bit creepy!
*Ninon

Puerto Vallarta

Well now i'm on my way... i went with the guys to Sayulita a nice little village about an hour away from here, had a great time just hanging out and enjoying myself. reading Orhan Pamuk's "Snow" it's great but i think reading it in the sun on the beach in Mexico, makes it a bit difficult to imagine how life is in a snowy winter, isolated village in Turkey... anyway it will keep me company on the 5hours bus ride later on today.
I left the guys in Sayulita yesterday, and I'm heading towards Guadalajara and from there on to Guanojato, it's supposed to be this amazing city in the mountains, unesco world heritage since 1988, i'm not surte exactly what that has to say, Paramaribo was also on that list, and that was nothing spectacular... but anyway, it's been recommended to me by several, so i'll check it out. And it's only a 6hour detour to Mexico city, where i have to go to get to Oaxaca...
so as it looks right now i'll go via Guadalajara to Guanojato to Oaxaca via Mexico city and end up in Puerto Escondido in about a week from now. There i'll spend some days and then back to Mexico City 2 or 3 days before i fly via LA and Washington DC to ST. Shithole Maarten to start working again!!! a lot of moving around, and I'll end up spending many hours in mexican busses, luckily they're great, super, high standard... so it's not that bad!
anyway it's time to go, got to find the bus station and a bus towards Guadalajara... that shouldn't be too difficult! I just had a nice lunch, an ice cold beer so I'm ready for the busride...

I'll be posting more as soon as i get somewhere thats on my list for the next two weeks!!!

keep your heads high and your feet on the ground!

*Ninon

Guadalajara

VIVA MEXICO!!!!!

life´s so good... I´ve had a great time here in Guadalajara! we stayed at this nice little hostel at Plaza de Los Mariachis, so every night when i was lying in bed i fell a sleep to Mariachi music, it´s not fantastic, but it fitted the situation perfect! So nice...
Friday we went to a private birthday party, hehe the entire fancy hip crowd of youngsters of Guadalajara was there, house music pumping all night, great fun! obviously we all woke up, very hungover, so eh a nice full-on breakfast "huevos a la mexicana" fresh orange juice, coffee, fresah fruits... the works! hung around town for a few hours, maneged to find a post office so i could send home a pair of shoes that i bought in Miami, but they we´re killing me... very surprising for a pair of sneakers, anyway they are now on their way back home. together with a few small souvenirs... anyway yesterday evening (saturday) after doing not much all day we decided to go to a football game! not really my thing, but in mind it was my brother who went there, so it was all for him. And i must admit it was great fun! to local teams where playing. Atlas vs Chivas so the stadium was pumping and the crowd was incredible... As on of the guys said whos very much into football, that crowd vice this was the best game he ever saw...!!! it was crazy and a nice way to spend and saturday evening! oh by the way Chivas won 2-0
Now it´s sunday and a friend of the guys is picking us up anytime soon for a 6hour drive to the Pacific coast... can´t wait, it´s gonna be great...
oh damn time is running gotta go...
stay cool!
*Ninon

Mexico City

Well finally we arrived in Mexico...

Life is sweeet! food is great and if it hadn´t been for the fact that i bought new shoes in Miami i would love to walk around for days just looking, sucking in the life, the sounds, smells, light... of this place!
I decided to go with the guys, I´m not totally ready to be on my own yet, so tomorrow we´ll head for Guadalajara and from there towards a little pueblo where they have a friend with a house on the beach... 100% relaxation they want to go surfing and i want to read books...
well anyway there´s soooo much to say, but i don´t now where to begin really and i´m running out of time...

so eh take care and keep your feet warm!
*Ninon

Paramaribo, Surinam

Well here I am again...
I wrote quite a lot since last time i uploaded the last time, but now i'm off the ship, so my computer is on the ship... I'll upload it later. sorry about that!

Anyway as mentioned i'm off now, sitting in a internet place in Paramaribo, Surinam. enjoy being off, i got off the ship yesterday and slept about 12hours, so now i'm ready for whatever may come.
After a lot of hassle i finally got a ticket out of here, I'll be flying on the 4th early in the morning via Trinidad and Miami to Mexico city!
I'm doing great can hardly wait to get to Mexico, it's nice here but i feel like i'm in transit, so leaving will be nice.
I don't have too much to say right now, just wanted to let y'all now that i'm still alive and kicking. Looking forward to my adventures in Mexico...

It's a pity I'm not able to upload what i've written the last few weeks... it's quite a lot! but eh as already mentioned that will come later.
anyway keep your head cool and your feet warm
*Ninon

oh and by the way, if anybody knows a way to avoid being eaten by Mosquitos i'll love to hear about it, i'm being eaten alive and i guess it will continue for another month or so... It's driving me absolutely crazy, yesterday i got at least 30 bites on my legs only... Grrr