Crossroad Music Session

Saturday, 3rd of September. Sitting in a circle with lots of other musicians playing traditional Irish instruments like fiddles, accordions, whistles, drums and other rhythm instruments… I haven't been into something like this ever before. Wow. Stunning. Sometimes all the people play together, sometimes just one person offers a song and maybe some others get in. First I was to shy to join the other musicians, but later I took part. I played Hannes Wader's famous German folk song Heute hier morgen dort with lots of temporarily forgotten lines – but who cares? The applause was an amazing welcome into the group. And then I was able to join the others. Later some people did traditional dances. I love these easy dances, so full of movement, rhythm and drive, and even the ten year old can do them. When I played Hymn by Barcley James Harvest one of the guys shouted that I definitely have to be a German, because Barclay James Harvest was only well known in the part of England, where he came from, and extremely famous in Germany. Also interesting – to be indicated as a German by playing English songs…

  

Ireland opens my heart, opens my mind, opens my soul. It's not competition, it's just showing your skills to take part, to share. Lebensfreude.
This journey isn't about collecting experiences, it's about freedom.

Having a time out in Margate

Wednesday, 13th of August. Long sleeping. Allan was gone and would come home not so early. As he had some appointments this day I had the day for my own. A break and some strange feelings inside. I was pretty nervous during forenoon, out of centre, confused, tense. Close to cry and come apart at the seams. Did not really new what this implied or why it was happening. I decided to stay in the flat for once – I was not really interested in outside experiences or new impressions at all. But I wasn't really sure what would be the (so called) right thing to do. It was so hard to relax, to calm down, just to be. And I wasn't sure if this was a good sign (because I was realizing something I normally don't notice) or if it would have been better to go outside and be able to come over this feelings. I cried somewhat, just to let go. Then I felt better.

Some thoughts about the reason why I'm doing this. I had some good talks with some of my hosts (or friends of hosts) who were able to see behind the adventure part of my journey and therefore could see some parallels to their own life and desires. I met also a middle aged woman in North Rhine-Westphalia who asked with a mixture of incomprehension or lack of understanding and curiosity:"Und wozu dat janze?!" And asking for a goal is totally the wrong approach. I wanted to stay on my own. I wanted lo leave my usual life context. I even don't want to have an "usual life context" (will be continued).

I went to the library and got a internet computer guest account for one hour, then an extra hour and then an extra half hour – and all for free. My Ireland plans start to take shape – I think I will cycle the coast clockwise and end up in Dublin and then probably crossing the country up to ferry harbour close to Cork, all in all around 1.500 kilometres. No strict plan but a mental image. I have gotten some nice replies to my saying hello to the Irish world – hi there, I will come to Ireland and stay for about a month. If you would like to get to know me, I will come to your place. Please answer so that I can plan my route.

Then I took a walk along the coast. Here in Margate they have one of these small amusement parks which are popular at the English coast. To me this looks somehow strange – but no so weird as all these casinos with lots of slot machines and other vending machines and robots, I only knew from Terminator 2 or Tron. German amusement halls have a totally different character, and you have to be at least 18 years old to enter.

I had a great sundown sitting on a wall in front of Allans house and also doing some Tai chi. A special moment. I was really thrilled

When Allan came back, we visited a pub were live music is played and we came for this special band Allan is friend with. The Zen Bicycle Band, playing a "free form flowing stream of connectivity between three players". To me it sounded jazzy – and very, very good. Eventually the right moment to do some also jazzy sketches. Allan and I had an intensive talk about our understanding of friendship, and I also did some drawings, which were signed by the musicians – the liked my work.

  

Addition to Brugges / Belgian and Facebook

Wednesday, 10th of August. At 8:30 P.M. all tourists were gone, the leftover people looked much more like locals, just pleasant night life. The paths along the canals were just that silent and lost like the were suggestive in the movie In Bruges – one of the reasons why I had to come to this town. By the way – as it was written in the best tourist information map I've ever read: "1892. The popular book Bruges la Morte describes the city as a dark, poor and ugly place. Locals are not happy with this, but tourists see some romance in it, and start visiting Bruges more and more. […] 2009. The movie In Bruges wins an award for best scenario. Quote: 'If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me. But I didn't, so it doesn't.' So just like in 1892, somebody calls Bruges a shithole, which attracts only more tourists."

At my second night in Brugge where I had this peaceful night along the canals I also found places, where they played live music. Country, rock and electric music within this medieval masonry… Brugge has also many horse-drawn carriages for sightseeing tours like Vienna, too, but as Brugge has a totally different character as Vienna, the horse-drawn carriages also have. And Brugge is an expensive place to eat. And they serve their white beer in the wrong glasses, but with peanuts. In the breakfast room of my youth hostel hey have cups with smurfs printed.

Facebook is extremely popular in Belgium. wherever I am I sound this word out of the chatter of the generally young people. Bart is also a big Facebook fan, because it's so easy to stay in contact with all your friends and for organizing stuff. (Even when we were in a bar where Bart asked for having the next couchsurfing meeting there, they arranged to do the details via Facebook, as the bar had also a Facebook page.) Bart has also a Google+ account (but didn't really grappled with it right now). But he don't like it, he thinks it's much to complicated – why the hell all these circles ?!

Antwerp

Antwerp, 7th to 9th August. After I met Bart yesterday we went to a music event. Right now everywhere in Antwerp is celebrating, because it's Zomer van Antwerpen and therefore there are sunflowers everywhere. I love sunflowers. :-)

Bart hadn't to work on Monday to be able to regenerate from weekends festival experiences. Monday evening he volunteered at an event of Zomer van Antwerpen (because of all this volunteering most of the events are for free). Meanwhile I worked on my blog. Earlier this day he showed me around (but it wasn't that good as my first unforgettable impressions together with Wim).

Bart is very experienced to couchsurfing, he opened all his flat to me, being much tolerant in any way (I spend very much time at his computer. Thank you again, Bart). He demonstrated absolutely no suspiciousness, I hope I was able to show I earn so much trust. I don't think he cares about any risk and surely has a good gut instinct. Bart is very companionable and very active in organizing stuff, especially for the couchsurfing community. He cares about economy and was very helpful (so I was able to wash once again). I regret we didn't have private talking. I'm not sure he was somehow interested in me and my personality.

Bart is a big beer fan. Finally I could upload the Schlenkerla Rauchbier from Bamberg (and also two printed T-shirts I had made for my dear couchsurfer Tomas, who was also hosted by Bart shortly before. Bart will send the shirts and some Belgium beer to Tomas). Now I'm eventually able to put my rucksack in one of my paniers.