STOCKHOLM

X = swedish border control

T: Hej
X: Pratar du Svenskan?
T: Lite.
X: Varför?

X: [Looking at passport photo] Vad hände här?
T: Jag blev.. uh.. mobbad. I Tallinn, för två år sen.
X: Ah.. Nerslagen, i Tallinn.. hmm. [compares face and photo skeptically]
T: [removes hat..]
X: [looks a little more satisfied]

T: Do you have any money -- Can you show me some cash so we know we can support yourself?
X: Uh, no.. Actually I have no cash. I spent my last Estonian money on the boat. [shows credit/atm cards]

T: You have a plane ticket? Can you show me?
X: Uh.. It`s an E-ticket.. with no physical manifestation.

So, ten minutes after the Swedish passport control admits me to this country, taking reluctantly my word that I would be able to support myself in this country, but apparently still with some reservations on the matter -- Right after this I´m already on the street begging. Ten crowns, ten crowns.. Who has ten crowns for the bus to Stockholm?

The Swedes and Estonians shrug helplessly. Nope, can´t help. I´m offering 2 euros, a good deal by any measure. No go. A German guy gives me the 10 crowns and refuses any euros.

It was an uneventful sailing from Tallinn. I may well have been the youngest on the ship, which was full of Swedish pensioners out on a cheap kryssning, save maybe a half-dozen long-haired platinum-blond Estonian girls, each with her respective bad-boy dressed-in-black boyfriend. And a few travelers from Holland who must have been hiding in their cabin as I only met them when disembarking, them looking just like me with big packs on their backs and smaller packs worn backwards.

All the ship´s entertainment facilities were all but abandoned (the disco floor totally empty) but the Karaoke bar provided unintended entertainment. An Estonian girl wearing a key around her neck on one of those ´Welcome to Estonia´ keychains like freshmen get at the dorms ran it with a certain refreshing lack of showmanship, explained to those gathered the whole karaoke concept: ``You read the words on this little screen. And sing them. Everyone else can see the words on this big screen. And they can sing along. It´s fun. Especially if everyone sings. I promise.´´ She explained this in Swedish after asking, ´´If there´s anyone English-only here.. wave to me.. ok.. nobody?´´ There were


ah, to be continued

airlines

I managed to get credit for my airline flights to Europe on two separate mileage programs. I feel so clever! Free trip to Alaska! I also got American Airlines credit for my El Al flight which was over a year ago. Nifty!

Does anyone have any tips on getting good Southwest fares? It's only listing the $96 superflexible option right now, SNA to OAK 2003-10-15. Or $29 on SWA from Ontario.. hmm.

I am flying 2003-10-04 16:50 from CPH to London Stansted. Unfortunately I am a procrastinator, so the flight became uncheap. Actually, with the current value of the U.S. Dollar, all of Sweden is uncheap.