So, remember how I went to Sweden last week? Well, as predicted I didn't really blog too much, but mostly because I didn't bring a computer. And typing on the iPad is uncomfortable. So here we are, I'll give you a run down of the highlights (and undertones) of Simone Sobers Dance taking Stockholm by storm. =) starting with leaving rehearsal the day we left.
8/23- 2ish
Titi and I lug bags/dodge NY midtown traffic to make last minute stops before heading to Jersey on the Path train. Shopping list: European adapter, toothpaste, snacks. Done
Cut to leaving T's house headed for the 6:45 rendezvous for check-in. There are two creepy black guys working for Iceland Express (I know right? There are less black people in Iceland than Sweden) Picture Titi and I standing about halfway through line, watching this man neglect his duties as luggage porter, while he's watching us. He doesn't say anything, just stares. But alas, such is New York...or Jersey as the case was.
We killed the time between check in and take off at the only food establishment in the entire terminal. We had drinks and nachos and said goodbye to all those we'd be leaving behind. We boarded the plane...
8/24- 7 am in Iceland
I woke up and we were in Iceland. There is but one town on the entire island as I could see. And but one road that led from that town on one side, to the airport on the other. Now, that may or may not be completely accurate, but this is just what I saw. We experienced just how cold it is up north and how expensive eating was going to be when we landed in Iceland. After I spent 17 bucks on smoked salmon and tea we headed for our connection. Next stop Stockholm
From the airport to the hotel we stayed in felt like such a debacle. We tackled the airport bus, and the Stockholm underground all in one go. It helps to know how to pronounce where you're trying to go in order to get better directions. When Simone said we were going to Sah-tra, they stared at her blankly. It's pronounced Sae-ah-trah. Back to the debacle-- we took a nap to head out for dinner later.
In hindsight, what we thought was cold that first night was actually quite reasonable considering we were away from the bay breeze. Vapiano was the only restaurant still open. After dinner we wanted to go to a place where there were a lot of bars or clubs to hang out...apparently they don't have an area like that in Stockholm. Or so we were told. -- This is why everyone loves New York!!! You can pick an area and find at least 5 places to go, and there's always food open! And it's cheap. --- I'm digressing. We stroll around this place, that has like maybe 4 venues. We just want to dance!! These British guys walking close to us are talking about House Party "Are you talking about my hair?!" Of course Simmers confronts them. Lol but it was a good idea, because then I got into the club and drinks all night on the "clever one". There was also the "good looking one" and the "funny one" They were quite entertaining. Now it's a Wednesday night, I know people go out on Wednesdays. So why at 12 was the bar still empty? Because in Stockholm things don't pop off until like 2! Which is quite unfortunate during the week because their metro stops running. When we finally left Spy Bar that night we had to take a cab back, because there were no trains. Another point for NYCtransit.
Day 2 in Stockholm
We woke up at 2 pm. I'm going to skip over our getting ready process and jump straight to the we-went-to-see-some-of-the-shows in the festival part. Fringe Festival... what exactly does that entail? Good question, I don't know. I imagine each Fringe Fest is something different. But I'm gonna go ahead and say that the artists they found for this, some of them were definitely on the Fringe. The Butoh performance we saw was 45 minutes long. I fell asleep around time check 10 minutes. She was STILL walking on stage. Are you kidding me? I wish I could say that the whole festival wasn't like that. But from what we saw, most of it was pretty weird shit.
This was the day we thought we saw Eric. You know tall...square of jaw...blonde of hair...Viking? Sulks in cemeteries and what not. Anywho...we're walking along, I don't really know what happened, but all of a sudden we were running away from the cemetery and seeking a street with way more light. Le sigh
Show night!
We tried to call it an early night that night. We had to be up early for our tech for the show, 7 am to be there at 9. Unfortunately it was an epic sleep fail on all our parts. I don't think anyone slept more than a couple hours. We were, however, quite prompt, for what was the biggest waste of my sleep time. The lighting designer was there. But the person running the lightboard wasn't, nor was the stage manager there.
After tech, instead of experiencing all that Sweden has to offer in the day time we went back to the hotel. To sleep. Again. We were well rested for the show.
The way the fest ran, there were specific time slots allotted for each performance, obviously, so whenever the show before your slot finished was when you got the stage. We got to the theater at 7:30 for our 9:30 show, and the slot ahead of us was done. So we had a nice run through with lights before the audience came in. We blasted Beyonce and were in general rambunctious black girls. It was pretty great. AND they loved us! Kaged was a huge hit at Stoff. Not only were we probably one of few if not the only black people, and American no less, in the program, we also did DANCE. Which wasn't so big in the Dance/Performance category. At the end of the piece, when we're all standing in our naked underwear, we got such a rousing applause we came out for a curtain call. They wanted and ENCORE (tell me do you want more?)
To celebrate a show well done we wanted to go out to dinner, it was like 10:30. Everything was closed so we kept it classy. McDonalds. We did have a round ...or two...of drinks and a little dancing. Oh! I almost forgot. This was the night some 50 year old man slipped something in the drink he bought Simmers. Lucky we're such smart girls.
Titi: It's laced with something, put it down
S: I should pour it out.
T: Put it down!
Really though, you got to be more careful!
Our second rooftop show went not as smoothly on our part, but was just as well received as the premiere of Kaged! The audience was probably bigger than what we had in the theater, and there were quite a few people there just taking photos. Um sir, with the iPhone. We're not even dancing yet, you are not being stealthy. I see you taking snap shots. We ended our performances at Stoff with a nice flourish and left bird feathers in the dressing room for them to remember us by. They were pink. =)
That night was also Simmers' 27th birthday!! We went to sleep. Lol. good thing we celebrated the night before.
Day 5- Relocating...We on a Boat!
On Sunday we moved from Sätra to Slussen. To a boat. The youth hostel we stayed in had to be the most snatched room I've ever seen. The four of us couldn't be in the room at the same time unless we were laying down in the bunks. No more than 2 people could stand up at a time.
We found some guys that were also staying on the boat with us, it was like 5 and they were leaving. We had just awaken from our, if you guessed nap you'd be right! By the time we'd dressed and left the boat the only thing open for dinner was Vapiano. Again. Now this is like night 3 of Vapiano for dinner. It's good, but I needn't spend $25 for pasta. Just saying. The guys come find us and we head to the boat docked next to ours. Patricia. Sunday night is GAY NIGHT aren't you excited! I think all four of us had been to our fair share of gay clubs. The Brits though, straight to the bar, for the only 2 straight men at the gay club. As well they should. Basically, hilarity and craziness ensued. And that was the night I got sick. Singing Lady Gaga on the boat deck. And before you ask, I was wearing long sleeves, a warm jacket, jeans, sneakers, and a scarf. damn...
That was the last of our insane craziness. We took it easy for the rest of the trip. Exploring Gamla Stan, Stockholm's medieval town. The Vasa Muskeet on Djügarden where the Vasa sailed into the musuem after 333 years on the bottom of the Stockholm harbor. It literally capsized, less than a mile from the dock, and then sank straight down, 115 ft from the surface. Sadly about 50 people drowned in places they couldn't escape. The Vasa museum was awesome, and I don't usually like museums. 7 floors with recreations and walk through exhibits of what things look like inside and how things worked on the ship.
Finally, Finally! we were headed back to New York. All in all I say it was a pretty spectacular experience. Minus not meeting Eric Northman. And it being cold. And getting sick. And spending all my money. Those parts sucked.
I'd travel with these heffas again o_0
- Can't knock it, haven't tried it. That's what I tell Gierre all the time about eating pussy.
- I don't like people with dirty nails. It makes me think they've been doing evil things.
- I feel like these are the men that will kidnap you and slay you with...a deer horn!
- I wanna get high -- I don't know, we might get shit laced with...deer horns!
- You know who you look like? You are the spitting image of...a Viking!
- Day two of Stockholm: Epic sleep fail.
- Guys I'm gassy...
- This was quite a night. Chased by vampires and cursed out by crackheads.
- His life says, "desperate, desperate, I am really desperate. Are there any 20 somethings I can drug?"
- I'm a caribou and I can rap.
- Where did all the ice go?
- I don't like black things with white stuff coming out...white things, however...
- I know this is your home, but if you see guests coming, give them the right of way!
- Eric? Come over here. I'm tired of chasing yo ass through Sweden.
- What brings you to Stoff?
- I'm looking for tall, blonde, Viking? He has a bit of a fang...situation. Goes by...Eric?
- I heard there were Vikings.
- Got to be more careful.
- I have never been less curious about anything in my life.
- She needs to go straight to his bed. Do not pass go, do not...actually, please collect your 200 dollars
- Gotta snatch 'em up.
- That guy looks like Matthew McConaughey
- -- If you close your eyes and picture Matthew McConaughey, then yes.
the rest is still UNwritten
No comments:
Post a Comment