I just returned from Broadway watching the musical RENT. I know that I am an emotional “popboy”, but this was truely beautiful. Tried to capture a glimpse of the opening of Act 2 . You can’t see much, but then just listen to the love streaming from the stage…
The people have spoken. I need to continue my journey in South America !!! I have been given many great suggestions of where excatly I should go. Gorm pointed in the direction of Venezuela and that sounded right.
So now I have booked my next flight ticket. I will go to Trinidad and Tobago – the southern Carribian Islands just outside of Venezuela (see on map). I saw some beach pictures and the ticket there was cheap, so I thought… Aaaaaahhh… Yes!
I will find a way getting to Venezuela just after the islands. But what to do? I need all the help and suggestions I can get. I plan to go and buy a Lonely Planet or something, but if you can guide me in any way, I will be gratefull.
Take care 🙂 // Peter
I am now back in New York, and last night I met with Anders Mogensen – a Danish friend and former colleague at Innovation Lab, who happened to be in town for a conference on good experiences (GEL). Seeing a familiar face again and talking about real and interesting things. That was great.
We went to grab a beer and ended up in Bleecker Street – maybe the hippest live music location in downtown Manhattan – and checked into an overcrowded “The Bitter End” (finally back) with partypeople everywhere and the upcoming, local band “Caracter Nine” on stage playing tight and sweaty rock. Very cool. However, they were followed by a folk/country/rock band – “Adam Ezra group” – who apparent had both talent and a huge number of fans, but it just sounded too much like Johnny Madsen and Lars Lilholt… So we had to leave. But a nice evening 🙂
The owner
A young man in worn-out sandals. On his old t-shirt it says “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. His office is a small, messy place with papers lying around everywhere. The reservations are written with a pencil into a small notebook. Extremely relaxed. Gives every visitor a tour around the house. “Feel free to use whatever you want. This is your home”
The business man
50year-old man traveling the country making beer arrangements for huge sports events. He is sitting in the garden with his computer, calling people, negotiating prices. He looks as relaxed and trashy as everyone. “Getting divorced was the worst thing I ever did… Cost me a fortune. I’m really very structured in everything I do. Just not… You know… my life!”
The stoner
A thirty something year-old guy sitting in the living room most of the day watching tv. He’s wearing a baseball cap and could need a shave. Really nice and friendly, though. I ask him if he is staying long at the hostel. “Oh, – too long… But you know… were having a good time here”
The neighbor girl
A smiley, black student of “international training” at the University of Washington. She does not drink alcohol, but is much into vegetarian food and x-files. “Tahoma is really a hippie neighborhood. No Starbucks here – our coffee store is fair trade and organic.”
Just a quick tour round my palace in the
hippie outskirt of Washington DC.
Just a note to say, that I have checked into another hostel outside the city centre. This is a real youth hostel. Relaxed, trashy and friendy. 22$ per night. 🙂
After walking around the Capitol all day visiting inspiring sights and museums (including the Library of Congress, the National Air and Space Museum and Hirshhorn museum of modern and contemporary art) – I really deserved it.
Food and beer !!!
The sign said “Washington’s largest tab list and 300+ bottles of beer”
The place was called “Regional Food and Drink” (RFD)
And what a place! Okay, maybe a little too noisy, but stil the atmosphere was there with huge beer banners hanging from the ceiling everywhere. And the man serving for me was a middle aged, long haired guy with holes in his jeans and a big beer stomach behind the washed t-shirt. Thats the way!
I ordered the house special; Chicken Artichokes & mushrooms – a dish stewed in Anchor Steam beer. And told the waiter that I wanted an American beer to go with it – and after some talk we decided on Dogfisch Head 60 Minute IPA – one of the very popular beers from the tab right now.
The food was simple and elegant with the meat and vegetables in a great, creamy beer sauce. The IPA was fresh with a powerful and complex taste that was not too bitter. I actually got so excited that I needed more. So I ordered a dessert – a “Bieramisu” prepared with Belgian raspberry framboise and English Chocolate stout. Yeeer. I asked for an American stout to go with it, and was served a bottle from the local small brewery Old Dominion Brewing. Very nice and drinkable – maybe even a little to neutral – but with the distinct stout taste and a touch of vanilla sweatness.
Mmmmm… A happy ending of a great day in Washington.
It is almost midnight and I have just arrived in Washington DC. Took a bus from China Town in New York (New Century Travel Bus – 20$ for a 5 hour ride) and have now checked into my hostel after a beautiful walk through the night.
Actually I have not checked in, because the staff are no longer here… Ahmm… but one of the other guests at the William Penn House showed me a room where I found the empty bed.
Right now I am sitting in a cozy living room with wooden panels, fire place, couches etc. This place is just like a real home – something completely different than the HI New York with more than 600 beds. But apparently (I just found out) The William Penn House is also home for the Washington Quarkers – a (Christian?) faith based on the principles of peace, community, simplicity, equality and truth. Hmmm…
Just checked Wikipedia and there are loads of information about Quarkers – also known as “The Religious Society of Friends”. Interesting. Never heard of it. A BBC website says that the Quarkers “emphasize direct experience of God rather than ritual and ceremony (…) they believe God can be found in the middle of everyday life and human relationships, as much as during a meeting for worship.”
What this really means I must figure out tomorrow.
Now I must sleep. 🙂 Goodnight
Okay… I must respond to the Ane Kirstines comment on my long hair posted some days ago. Yes I knew something should be done. But… Aaaargh, – you know… I really like my hair – even when it is not very controllable – and cutting decisions are hard 🙂
But well… Finally, yesterday I went to Astor Place Hairstylist – a huge basement in Greenwich Village. Where they cut hair all day. I was placed in a chair in one corner of the enormeus room with hairdressers and customers all around. The mirror in front of me was filled with pictures and greetings from famous-looking persons. And then…
The calenderwoman yelled the name to the curtain behind her. And after repeating the call a few times – the answer (“COOOMIIING”) finally appeared followed by the entrance of a small, 40-year-old lady.
I told Suzu that I wanted my hair cut. Not too short and not with a machine. And a second after… WRRROROOTTTZZZ. RRRITZ. WRRRAU. The woman had transformed herself into a haircutting hurricane chatting about Denmark and the great “King Konstantin” (Suzy was Greek and had been working in the saloon for 18 years). 10 minutes later she was all done and the next costumer was ready.
I payed 14$ to the calender-money-woman and left Astors Hair Place. It is probably the worst looking haircut I have ever had. You can literally see every cut and it is extreamly uneven.
But my hair cutting experience was cool 🙂
Today, I attended the Sunday service at “Canaan Baptist Church of Christ” – 117th street north of Central Park. I does not get any more black and spirited.
After waiting in line outside with hundreds of other tourists, I finally got in the packed church room and was placed with a young French couple in the left side of the hall. Locals were sitting all around us. On stage were two gospel choirs, a sign language interpreter, a funky miniband and a huge, bald jazz-organ-man dressed in red robes. Plus the reverend himself.
“We are a congregation in mission”
Those are the first words I remember. I felt a kind of activist power and passion in every statement coming from the stage (in words, drama og songs) – regarding both social justice and the glory of God. The Holy Spirit was present, some might say. And he combined it all with a jazzy organ soundtrack, gospels tunes and yelling from the church.
After two and a half hour, the service ended by everyone standing hand in hand singing a gospel about how the Lord may be with us. I left the church spirited and with real Gods blessings from the Harlem girl standing next to me. And my life could continue.
Cameras were not allowed in the church. This photo is from a Gospel and Brunch -event at the legendary “Cotton Club” this same afternoon. But that is another story 🙂
