SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8TH – DAY OFF IN OKINAWA:
Woke up at 6:00 and started working. Had a text from Jade at 7:30 who was also already awake. He asked about the possibility of performing again tonight because the rain is gone and it’s a beautiful day! I had thought about that last night because the reason we stayed over today is in case last night got rained out and we would need to perform today. I knew it was a very full lineup for today but asked Dureil anyway. He would have loved to accommodate but said it was too late to add Jade into today’s already packed schedule.
I sent everyone a list of “suggestions” as to what they should do today because I need to work! Hate that I can’t go with them but am sure they will have a great time without me. I will meet up with them for dinner tonight at HamaZushi – my favorite conveyor belt restaurant at the American Village.
I had planned to jog but have so much work to catch up on I decided just to use the bands and do a quick in-room workout.
Took a break at 1:30 pm to walk to the Exchange Shops in search of a nail salon to repair one nail. They had a salon but couldn’t take me until tomorrow! Stopped by the restaurant and got a “to go” meal so I could get back to work.
Although I worked non-stop until 4 pm, I still didn’t finish everything I needed to do! Left lodging at 4:30 pm to go to American Village in search of nail salons again. After walking around in circles listening to Google maps, I finally found someone who spoke English and got directions. Found 2 salons but both said they couldn’t see me until Monday! Hopefully Helsinki’s Salons will be a little more accommodating!
Jade and his guys went somewhere called “Okinawa World”. Never heard of it but they had a great time going in caves and having their photo taken with a huge white snake wrapped around the four of them! I decided to try to walk to Hamazushi and wait for them there. Again Google maps was wrong. I asked directions and it was only a few blocks away.
We all met there and had the conveyor belt sushi which is so great. You pay by the plate and even with the mound of plates we had from eating so much plus adding drinks, soup and dessert, the bill for all 5 of us was less than $95!!! My favorite restaurant in Japan.
Got back to the hotel by 9 and was in bed by 10 pm with a 2 am wake-up call. So glad I got to meet Jade, Matt, Chris and Matt and work with them/ Super nice guys and talented performers!
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9TH – OKINAWA TO HELINKI:
Left lodging at 4:15 am and was at the airport at 4:45 am. My taxi driver had no idea where to take me! My reservation and all my Apps say departing out of terminal D. Problem is, there is no terminal D. After circling several times and stopping at both Domestic and International departures (and adding $15 to the cost of my fare!), he left me outside the domestic ARRIVALS terminal! The entire airport does not open until 6 am!!! My flight is at 7:25 which makes me very apprehensive that I can get checked in, go through security and make it to the gate for boarding time! Strange system they have at this airport. And I could have slept another hour and a half had I known!!!!
Sat on the bench outside for over an hour and talked to a nice Japanese man. He helped me figure out where to go but it was still a challenge. I am on a code share JAL flight called JetStar. It is evidently Australian. They could not check my bags through to Helsinki so I have to pick up in Narita and take from Terminal 3 to 2. Hoping I can walk instead of trying to put my heavy bags on a shuttle bus!
I didn’t have much time to wait for boarding once I cleared security and Passport control. No time to go into the Lounge. This airline boards everyone in a window seat first, then middle and aisle (where I always am) is last. Good plan only by the time aisle boards, there is no space left in the overhead!
Jet Star is an “Australian” airline and code shares with American. The space between the seats was so small I couldn’t even cross my legs. And they have never heard of business class seats. I’m just glad it is only a little over a 2 hour flight.
We landed on time and there was no jetway. We walked down stairs and then into the terminal for a long, long hike to Immigration. And, it was all “outdoors”. They had this “mesh netting” covering the sides where walls should have been. For an International Airport, this seemed very strange. Finally made it to Immigration then baggage claim and Customs. When I exited Customs, I went to the Information Desk and asked if I could walk to Terminal 2 instead of taking the bus. He assured me it was a short walk. I asked if it was “indoors” and he assure me it was. NOT. Again, the wire mesh the entire way. It took about 15 minutes to walk it and it was freezing!
Got checked in on my FinnAir flight (also an American Code Share) and make a couple of purchases for Christmas before going to the gate. No time for the Lounge on this trip.
I was dreading this flight because my travel agent said it was one of the smaller aircraft for business class seats. Turns out it looked like it had just been renovated and it was beautiful. Lots of room and hardly anyone sitting in Business Class. Good movies, too! It was a 10 hour flight so I ate breakfast/lunch/dinner – whatever it was – the first meal of my day while watching a movie. Then slept off and on for 3 hours and got up and worked for 3 ½ hours.
We landed on time in Helsinki and the Ambassador was waiting for me with his car and driver outside luggage claim. Such a nice man! Hotel was about 30 minutes away and it’s a beautiful hotel. Carlene and her guys arrived earlier today. It was 4:30 pm by the time I made it into my room and I had to be showered and ready to meet Carlene and the guys and the Ambassador and his wife for dinner at 6:00 pm. My room looked like a disaster area when I left to rush downstairs!
Ambassador’s wife is as nicer as he is. We had a wonderful meal at an Italian restaurant near the hotel. We were going to walk over but it is raining and cold and supposed to turn to snow tonight and tomorrow! After a great meal, we drove to the Embassy and checked out the showroom for tomorrow and Wednesday nights. The Embassy is so beautiful!
Was back at the hotel by around 8:30 pm. Cleaned up my “mess” and worked on emails and it’s 3 am now. Got to get some sleep! Busy couple of days coming up!
Jude
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH, 2019 – FIRST PERFORMANCE AT U.S. EMBASSY FINLAND
It snowed overnight and everything looks really beautiful. It also looks very, very cold!
We have a 9:45 am lobby call for “sound check” and “rehearsal” of “Silent Night” with the two Finnish singers – Eeppi Ursin and Ida Elina. We had allowed 2 hours for Carlene’s load in and sound check and it took every minute of that time. Eeppi arrived on time and it took quite a while to figure out a “workable” solution to the duet since she and Carlene do not sing the song in the same key. It did sound beautiful after they got it worked up though.
We had time for a quick lunch of Middle Eastern cuisine – which was really good – and then Carlene rehearsed “Silent Night” with Ida. Ida plays an instrument called the “kantale” but decided not to play on the duet. Again, they don’t sing the song in the same key so it took some creativity to come up with a plan that would work for both of them.
We were back at the hotel a little before 3 pm and have to be in the lobby again for departure to the Embassy at 5:30 pm. Carlene and the guys all took “naps” and I sure wanted to but just had too much to do!
We arrived at the Embassy while the guests were having cocktails and awaiting the arrival of the President of Finland and his wife. Carlene and I were seated at the table with the Ambassador and his wife and the President and his wife and six other distinguished guests. The Embassy has an amazing chef and the dinner was great. Unfortunately – or maybe fortunately – Carlene and I had to leave before the dessert and coffee so she could prepare for her performance. I really needed the coffee by that time but pushed through my jetlag.
Carlene sang 4 Christmas songs and 4 of her songs as requested. She managed to get the guest “involved” in her show and it definitely helped that a man sitting right in front was originally from Alabama! The duet with Eeppi came off flawlessly! She and Carlene talked for quite a while after the performance and will stay in touch as Eeppi has applied for a Visa to come to the USA. I spend quite a while talking to the man from Alabama!
We talked with the Ambassador and his wife for a little while after the guests left and I think they were pleased. It was after 10 pm when we arrived back at the hotel and I managed to stay awake until 4:15 am working and still didn’t finish everything I needed to do. UGH.
The weather tomorrow is supposed to be a mix of snow and rain and high winds. The Ambassador has offered to take us sightseeing but I think everyone just wants to get some rest before tonight’s performance. And, if the weather turns out to be as predicted, really don’t want to go outside and risk getting sick. Carlene is just recovering from the flu over Thanksgiving.
Jude
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11TH – LAST PERFORMANCE AT U.S. EMBASSY FINLAND:
UGH….this 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night is beginning to take its toll on me. Be glad when I can slow down a little if that day ever comes.
Got up and showered and met my old friend Johan in the lobby for a quick meeting. Haven’t seen him since he had the Bellamy Brothers perform here many years ago. We had a good “catch up” meeting and hope to do some business with him in 2020.
I ordered room service so I could work straight through until time to dress and go to the Embassy. Tonight’s performance is at a reception with Ambassadors from numerous Embassies attending. We arrived on time and had a few minutes to chat with Ida Elina before she opened the show with 2 songs. Carlene took the stage and just rocked them tonight. Last night she was worried about singing the right songs that had been requested and while she still had a great show, I could tell that he wasn’t comfortable at times. That didn’t happen tonight. She had everyone clapping along and some even sang along. We talked to several different Ambassadors after the show – one from Croatia where all my money was stolen on the cruise stop! Had a little time to chat with Ambassador Pence (who insists we call him Bob) and his wife Suzy and then headed back to the hotel. It is rainy and freezing cold!
We didn’t eat any hors d’oevres at the Reception as planned so we all went next door to a nice steakhouse and had a really fun “end of the tour” dinner. I was back in the room by 10:30 pm but didn’t get in bed until after midnight. And that only gave me 2 hours of sleep since I had to get up at 2:30 am.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12TH – HELSINKI TO WASHINGTON, DC:
Yep…up at 2:30 am and in the lobby by 4:30 am. Got a message from Delta that my flight out of Amsterdam is delayed by 2 hours. Not good. I already had a 4 ½ hour layover in Amsterdam and now I have a 6 ½ hour layover! I called Delta to see if there was another option but the only flight available makes a connection in Boston.
My taxi driver was really nice. He knows the Bellamy Brothers and Carlene Carter’s music and was excited that she was there and the Bellamys have performed there.
I had about 30 minutes in the Lounge and then boarded the flight to Amsterdam. It was a 2 hour and 45 minute flight so I got a little “nap” en route. When I landed Amsterdam, I had a message from KLM saying my flight was now leaving at 11 am and would arrive DC at 1 pm. That didn’t make any sense because that would have me arriving earlier than the original schedule! I went to a transfer center and they couldn’t figure it out either! When I was going through Passport Control, the nice agent asked me when I was going back to Alabama. I thought my southern accent gave me away and was very impressed that he could tell what State I was from. Then a couple of hours later, I realized my passport has my “birth place” on it. Not impressed any more.
Once I got to the KLM Lounge, I asked “why” the flight was delayed. I was hoping that it was due to the incoming flight for our aircraft. Nope. KLM confirmed that the plane is there but has mechanical problems and they are either trying to fix it or find another aircraft. That is never good because after sitting here waiting for 6 ½ hours, they might cancel the flight when it comes time for the new departure time. KLM won’t let me change my flight even though there are other options available. They said I have to wait until the KLM flight is cancelled or pay for a new ticket. That’s such B.S. I called Delta and they can change me at no cost. But, the flight makes a connection in Detroit! Decided to wait until closer to departure time and see what happens. KLM used to be such a great airline but we have had nothing but problems with them this year.
Of course, before it was time for us to board at the “delayed” time, KLM once again changed the time we were departing to another hour later. Now we don’t leave until 4 pm. I walked down to the gate for the 3:10 pm boarding and they kept changing the boarding time saying they just needed a little longer than expected. We finally boarded at around 4 pm and aren’t supposed to land in DC until around 6:40 pm.
The KLM flight is nice but very small. I watched a movie and then slept for 3 hours. When I woke up, I had to pay for the WiFi service because KLM doesn’t accept any of my vouchers, of course. After I finally got logged on, the WiFi only worked for less than 5 minutes and then disappeared. If I waited long enough, it would pop back up for few minutes and then disappear again.
We landed in Dulles at around 6:45 pm and after picking up my luggage, I had to go to the Global Entry Office to renew my card. It took less than 5 minutes and is good for another 5 years. There was, of course, traffic driving to the hotel and I didn’t arrive until after 7:30 pm. Susan and the others were just leaving for dinner. She took one look at me and told me to stay there and rest.
So excited to be in DC for the Wreath Laying Ceremony at Arlington on Saturday. I’ve wanted to do this for so long and am thankful to Susan, David and Howard for inviting me to participate.
Jude