WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13TH AND 14TH — NASHVILLE TO DETROIT TO AMSTERDAM TO COPENHAGEN TO FAROE ISLANDS:
Flying “solo” to the Faroe Islands today to meet up with Carlene Carter for one show on Saturday. Then I fly to Zurich for a couple of days “off” and meet up with The Bellamy Brothers and Carlene again for one show in Interlaken, Switzerland. Carlene will go to Ireland after her performance in the Faroes and home after Switzerland. Bellamys and I will go to Norway for one show and Denmark for one show. Lots of “days off” but also lots of traveling!
Arrived at the Nashville airport with plenty of time to go in the Delta Lounge and “visit” with my friends there. Flight departed on time and arrived Detroit at 1:45 pm and my flight to Amsterdam doesn’t depart until 6:15 pm. I was fine with that long layover until I found out that there was a flight to Amsterdam at 4:20 pm. No idea why I wasn’t offered that connection.
Spent my time in Detroit in the Lounge and got lots of work completed. Flight to Amsterdam departed on time and landed early. No “drama” on this trip so far – just the way I like it. I watched one movie – “The 15:17 to Paris”. The movie was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood and the film starred the 3 Americans who thwarted the attack. Really interesting movie.
The line for Immigration in Amsterdam was extremely long this morning and it took almost an hour of my 4 ½ hour layover in Amsterdam to clear it. I was able to work for several hours in the KLM Lounge on my layover. I have to connect through Amsterdam three more times on this trip with the Bellamys – on the flight from Switzerland to Norway, Norway to Denmark, and Denmark to the USA. I double checked and we have several hours each time for our layovers and based on today’s line, we’ll need it!
Just checked Carlene Carter’s group and they arrived London early and are scheduled to depart on time to Copenhagen.
Our flight out of Amsterdam to Copenhagen was delayed but only by a few minutes. But, I spoke too soon about everything going so smoothly. When I boarded the aircraft, I was in a coach seat instead of a business class seat. I checked my confirmation and I was definitely booked in business class. I had to wait for everyone to board before I could talk to the Purser. She didn’t understand what happened either but said I could move up to the first row – bulkhead – which I HATE. But, it was better than being crammed in coach, so I moved. Then right before we took off, she apologized and said the mix-up was her fault. She had not been told to move the “divider” between business and coach sections back one row! So, basically, the only difference in coach and business class is in the row of 3 seats on each side, no one is allowed to sit in the middle seat and business class gets a “meal” (which I never eat anyway!).
We landed a little late but both my bags arrived and I was able to re-check them at a kiosk in the terminal where I landed. Carlene’s group arrived a little bit late, too, but still time to make their connection.
There isn’t a Delta Lounge at the Copenhagen Airport and for the FIRST time ever, I used my “Priority Pass” Club Card and got in the Lounge. I am amazed that I even had it with me!!! Bad news was, it was packed and it took me several attempts to locate somewhere to sit where I could also plug in my laptop. The food was less than average but the coffee was great.
I got a call from Anthony (Carlene’s tour manager) saying Atlantic Airways was going to charge them for their excess baggage. There was supposed to be a “message” in their record that waived the excess fees. Took making a call to the promoter who then had to call his contact at Atlantic Airways who then called me and ultimately called Anthony who put him on the phone with the ticket agent at the check-in counter….and everything was worked out. Whew.
Carlene’s group still arrived at the gate with time to spare and she looks great – very slim!!!
The landing in the Faroe Islands was a bad as I expected. It was raining and the wind was blowing at 30-50 mph….typical for landings here. I’m surprised they didn’t cancel the flight. It took forever for my bag to come to baggage claim with it’s “PRIORITY” tag on it. I thought I wasn’t going to get it at all.
Alan met us with the surprise news that the bus he had booked to pick us up had gone into Thorshavn (Capitol of Faroe Islands and about an hour from the airport!). He had a 9 passenger van and NO cargo van for the equipment/luggage. We loaded as much as we could onto the van and the wind was blowing so hard, it twisted the back van door and it wouldn’t close. Alan had to tie it closed so we could drive to the hotel! Carlene and I watched a shopping cart roll uphill all by itself, the wind was so strong!!! Alan had to make 2 trips to take us all to the hotel but fortunately it is only a 5 minute drive from the airport. The hotel had our keys ready for us when we arrived.
National Geographic recently ran a big article about the beauty of the Faroe Islands so now this place is overrun with tourists!
We had a nice dinner at the hotel restaurant and it was excellent! It was a buffet with a big selection of items. A friend of mine – Tummas – called while we were eating dinner. He has a nice restaurant in Thorshavn and invited us there for dinner tomorrow night.
After midnight now and since I got up at 4:30 am almost 38 hours ago, I’m going to try to go to bed soon!
Jude
FRIDAY, JUNE 15TH – DAY OFF IN FAROE ISLANDS:
FINALLY went to bed at 2:00 am and woke up several times until getting up at 7 am. Went downstairs for breakfast and ran into Allan and right before breakfast ended, several of the guys also came in.
Carlene contacted me and Anthony later in the morning and said she didn’t want to go shopping in the “rain” (it’s raining again this morning), so we changed our departure time for the trip to Thorshavn to 5 pm. Gave me more time to work, too!
Anthony sent me a text and said their phones in the room were not working. I checked and mine was “dead”, too. He was able to get theirs working but my cord had been “ripped” out of the wall and could not be reconnected without a new “cord”. The technician from the front desk came by and said there was nothing he could do since he didn’t have an extra “cord”. I told him to take one off one of the other phones and put it on mine. He did but now I can still only call room to room. But, that’s better than nothing.
By the time we departed at 5 pm, it had stopped raining and was about 50 degrees. The drive to Thorshavn is beautiful and everyone took lots of photos! The restaurant that Tummas owns is beautiful and very “quaint”. He joined us for dinner but his wife and twin daughters were not with him.
We decided to let Tummas order for us and he ordered sort of a “tapas” menu (which the restaurant is famous for). The name of the restaurant is the Katrina Christiansen and the food is amazing. If you ever happen to be in the Faroe Islands, be sure and eat there. We had scallops, salmon, rare monk fish, sheep’s head croquettes (which I was very leery of but tried them and they were wonderful!), grilled salmon, rack of lamb, chocolate mousse, some kind of delicious grilled peppers….I can’t remember everything! Even though it was all small “tasting portions”, we were stuffed when we left. We arrived at 6 pm and didn’t finish eating until 9:30 pm!!! Everyone really enjoyed the local food and “fellowship”.
We walked around the “old part” of town and saw the house where the Prime Minister lives. Went down on the waterfront and took lots of photos. The temperature had dropped and it started to rain just as we were ready to drive back to the hotel.
It was a nice evening in the capital of the Faroe Islands. Now I have to pay for my time off by working until at least 2 am again tonight. ☹ It’s after midnight now and sort of “dusk” outside but the sun will be up again within the hour.
Tomorrow is sound check and performance. I have to find some “tights” for me and Carlene to wear under out jeans tomorrow night because it is going to be COLD outside for the show. At least they have taken rain out of the forecast….for now!
Jude
SATURDAY, JUNE 16TH – SORVAGS COUNTRY AND BLUES FESTIVAL:
All the coffee I drank at dinner to “stay awake” at dinner last night finally kicked in at 2 am this morning. I could not fall asleep. Finally read my book until 3 am and then fell asleep. But at 4:30 am, my mobile phone rang. I got up and looked at the number but it wasn’t anyone in my address book. Figured it was a “sales call” and went back to bed. Then it rang twice more but I didn’t answer. When I got up at 8 am, I saw that I had missed 2 calls from Zoe a little after 4:30 am. Had to text her and apologize for not answering and called her and Zac later in the day.
Had breakfast with one of the guys and then got in another “decent” workout in my room with my “rubber bands”! Showered and worked until I heard from Anthony so I could meet with him about the day’s schedule. Several things we needed to get “fixed” before tonight.
I worked all day until time to go at 5 pm. Only Anthony and I went over there at 5 so he could get everything set up for the guys. I checked out the backstage situation and counted in and set up the merch. At 6:30, we brought the band over and at 7:30, Carlene came over. We were finished by 8 pm and rushed back to the hotel for a quick dinner, showers, and drove back to the venue at 9:40 pm. Carlene is the first performer on the “big stage” tonight. There is NO backstage area, so we are only going to arrive in time for her to walk on stage and perform. I’ll have the van waiting for her after the show and can immediately take her back to the hotel if that’s what she wants. The festival has sold more tickets than ever before in their “pre-sales”. The weather is GOOD – no rain or wind – but cold!
It was a huge crowd and people were not real drunk yet since Carlene was the first one on the big stage. She performed for 10 pm until 11:30 pm and then there were 2 more acts on after her on the big stage interspersed with acts performing on the smaller stage. It will be 4 am before the last person leaves there this morning! I think they had the largest attendance ever and will find out tomorrow.
Carlene’s band is awesome….not only great musicians but stellar vocalists as well. The audience was singing along with them and there were lots of line dancers…even a Conga Line at one time. Got some good photos and video to post on Facebook and my websites.
We all gathered in the hotel restaurant which was supposed to be closed but Allan had talked one nice guy into staying open. He cooked a couple of pizzas for us and we had “fellowship”. Next time I glanced at my watch, it was 2 am!!! Not going to get in bed until 3 am again tonight.
Jude
SUNDAY, JUNE 17TH, 2018 – ANOTHER DAY OFF IN THE FAROE ISLANDS:
Was able to “sleep in” today – 6 hours. Woo-Hoo.
Had a very tiny breakfast, worked out, showered and worked until 2 pm when it was time to meet in the lobby for our “excursion”. Normally, I set up the sightseeing trips and then can’t go because I have so much work to do. I decided that today I was going to participate and I’m so glad that I did.
We drove about 10 minutes to a small village named “Bo”. Allan had arranged for one of the local residents to meet us and give us a tour. He and his wife spent the afternoon showing us around. We saw centuries old buildings, waterfalls, cemeteries, churches, shops, etc. and learned so much about this history of the area. Our guide is building some beautiful “cabins” for tourists to rent and showed us one of those. He had dried sheep, whale blubber, dried whale, crackers, and dried fish for everyone to try. Evidently, the “pilot” whales come to the harbor but only about once every 12 years and the locals kill them for the meat. Sad. ☹ I did learn that the Puffin Bird is now protected because it was becoming extinct so no more grilled Puffin!
We walked into a beautiful little Protestant Church and our host is also the “pastor” there. He sang a song for us and has the most amazing voice!
We drove through a tunnel that cost $10 million dollars to build so that the 10 people living on the other side of the mountain did not have to climb the mountain to get to civilization! There was no “road” where anyone could drive over the mountain. Our guide said that before the tunnel was built, the postman delivered mail 3 times a week. It is a huge mountain, so of course my question was – how long did it take to climb over and down the other side. We were told only about an hour and a half. No way! It would have taken me a full day just to get up one side of it and another day to walk down the other side!
We stopped at a cool little restaurant for coffee and in the Summer, the building is a restaurant and in the winter, it is a slaughter house for sheep and cows. There was a “smell” to it that I didn’t care for….or maybe I just imagined it.
We didn’t get back to the hotel until after 6 pm but what a FUN day. So sorry that Carlene and Anthony did not go with us but we took lots of photos to show them as well as some video!
It was after 5 pm before we arrived back a the hotel. As expected, the buffet had the very same food on it as what we have had every day since we arrived! So, tonight several of us ordered off the menu. I had the most amazing salmon and spinach. Finished up dinner by 7 pm and am going to pack and be ready for the 6:45 am lobby call tomorrow morning. Carlene and the boys are off to London and England until Thursday and I’ll be staying at the Radisson Zurich Airport Hotel until Thursday – waiting for the Bellamys to arrive and Carlene to return.
If you get a chance, go to my Facebook page – Judy Seale or Judy Seale International and look at the photos and videos of todays escapade! You’ll want to visit the Faroe Islands if you do. Many thanks to Allan for setting this up and to our wonderful hosts today!
Jude
MONDAY, JUNE 18TH – FAROE ISLANDS TO ZURICH:
The weather was really bad last night. I’m just thankful that it was so good for the festival on Saturday and for our sightseeing trip on Sunday. You just NEVER know in the Faroe Islands!
We have had to leave our windows open just a little bit because otherwise the room gets too hot. At exactly 1:00 am this morning, my window blew completely open with a loud “bang”. At the same time, the curtain blew open and flooded my room with sunlight. Talk about a “rude” awakening!
Weather had not improved by 7 am when we were scheduled to depart to the airport. I was really worried about our flight being cancelled but nothing had been posted by the airlines.
We all had time for a quick breakfast before the “bus” arrived. Turns out the “bus” was a mini-bus. It had enough seats but absolutely NO space for luggage (again!!!). We got 3 suitcases in the back right behind the seats and everything else had to be crammed inside in the seats along with the passengers. Definitely a “note” for next year’s festival about what can be done better.
We got checked in relatively quickly and the excess baggage fees had been waived. Then we sat in the gate area for an hour after our scheduled departure time. We did take off and landed an hour late in Copenhagen. I had booked my flight so that I had a 3 hour layover there but Carlene’s group only had two hours – which was down to one hour because of the flight delay. We had to pick up all our luggage/equipment and walk to another terminal to check in. They had a short line at British Airlines and I think they made it easily. Swiss Air – on the other hand – had a long line and only 2 people working. It’s the longest I’ve ever stood in line to check in through the “Priority Lane”. The coach lane actually moved quicker than the Priority Lane.
Finally got checked in and had to rush to the gate. The flight departed on time and thankfully the served us a small meal. It was almost 3:00 pm by the time we took off so I was hungry!
I am staying at the Radisson Blu Zurich Airport Hotel where I usually stay when I have a couple of days off between festivals. Love this hotel. It has the “wine bar tower” in the center of the hotel and all the interior guest rooms look out over it. A girl in a white cat suit is suspended with a rope and does “acrobatic dances” at certain times of the night. She also is hoisted up to retrieve bottles of wine for people purchasing a bottle. The bottles at the very top are really expensive so she doesn’t go all the way to the “top” very often.
I worked for several hours and then walked over to the train station shopping area that is connected to the hotel and had dinner. Did a little “shopping” for water while I was out as well.
Love staying at this hotel because I’m so familiar with everything. Tuesday and Wednesday will “fly” by and The Bellamys and Carlene will be her on Thursday and we’ll travel to Interlaken.
Jude