Helsinki, Finland: My 12 Hour Day.....

7:00 a.m.  On the morning ferry in Tallin, Estonia headed to Helsinki, Finland.
Thick morning marine layer.  Good Bye Tallin!

7:30a.m.  Ferry sundeck.

8:00a.m.  Breakfast.

8:30a.m.  Gina's thrill and excitement.  Her first ferry ride ever.  Yay!!!

Hmmmmm.

Sunrise.  Tallin, Estonia.  Departing for Helsinki.

The Tallin Superstar Ferry.

Morning joy.

Anyone seen the toilet?

How shall we pass the time?  Supermarket?
Shopping Mall?

All aboard. 

A zen moment traveling the Baltic Sea.

Calming seas.

Two hours later.  9:30a.m.

Exiting.  What awaits us today?

Welcome to Helsinki.  9:45a.m.

  Here we go yet again.  Our caravan disembarks.

They await.

Home away from home.

Art and Design Museum.  Helsinki, Finland.

Street crossing.  Looking for food.

On our way to the harbor.

Eco friendly lifestyle.  Bikes! bikes! bikes!

Found the Marimekko flagship store.

Still admiring this glassware set from two years ago.
Just buy it already!!!

Strips and polkadots.  Marimekko.

Marimekko textiles. 

Me in front of the Marimekko store.  

Admiring the Marimekko table cover.

Harbor Farmers Market.

Harbor Farmers Market.  Wrap it up!  End of day.  Time to go.

Uspenski Orthodox Church.

Uspenski Orthodox church, again.

Boats docked at the harbor.

Reindeer fur for sale.  Poor Rudolph. :(  No comment.

Ah, Finland!

Finnish Lutheran Cathedral near the harbor and a pedestrian street.

Lady Gaga fans camped outside her hotel.  They await.
Oh, Little Monsters!..... 

Sidewalk cafe. Finally!  Time for a meal.  6:30p.m.

Yes!...  Ahhhh,  refreshing beverage. :)

My panzanella salad before my pizza.  So fresh!
I'm excited and so hungry.  Yum!!! 

The End

Bucharest, Romania: Street scene.....

From Romania with love.....
xx.

Burcharest, Romania: Lipscani, Old Town

Romania souvenir shop.  Clay figurines.

Much, this time, as the last, referencing my first visit to Romania while on tour with Michael Jackson  years ago, there was little time to explore much of what Bucharest has to offer.  

It's all a bit foggy and a distant memory now, but what I do know, is that on a grey day in September of '96, the breaking news of the day, via TV, not internet, was that Tupac Shakur had died from multiple gun shot wounds sustained from an altercation had days earlier.  Odd, but true, this is one of my more poignant memories from my first, ever, visit to Bucharest.  I'd rather be sharing stories of a great time had at street cafes and local pubs, but that was not my experience.  It's interesting, what clouds ones memories.

In general though, I remember Bucharest as a city that overall felt dark and depressed.  In a word, sad.  The streets seemed desolate, the buildings old and unkempt, trees and grass, a bit thirsty and the roads in need of repair.  Hmmmmm,  that could also sum up Detroit.

Anyway, I'm thankful for a second chance to experience Bucharest, to see a city seemingly very alive and well.  From my observation, I could see the obvious efforts toward gentrification of the historic Old Town in particular, also known as, Lipscani.  Businesses were thriving and tourist were evident.

Streets of Lipscani, Old Town.

Myself and friends walked the pedestrian streets and alleys of Lipscani, being entertained by street performers and people watching.  The streets were full of hustle and bustle, with cafes, restaurants and night clubs, spilling over.  We blended in, stopping for a bite, al fresco, near the Rembrandt Hotel at the Grand Cafe Van Gogh.  I'd definitely recommend it.  The vibe was chill and charming, and the setting casual.  I had a ham and cheese toastie and the burning lemon and Bols strawberry drink.  Nice.

Grand Cafe Van Gogh

We roamed a bit more, seeking photo opts and souvenirs before finding The Tiki Bar.  A wonderfully small space, with an eclectic groove, Maori inspired wall art and bamboo upcycled light fixtures, attracting local hipsters and tourist alike.  The star of the show and masterful mixologist, is an expat from South Africa who, upon request of your palette, will almost magical concoct a brew of spirits to ensure you wanting more.  We loved it!!!  We were so inspired that we felt compelled to leave the bar with signed and dated tiki glasses as souvenirs.  Our server extraordinaire seized the opportunity to get us familiar with Palinka, a Hungarian moonshine of sorts.  All I'll say about that is, smoooooooooth!!!

Palinka

The Tiki Bar

While in Old Town we made time to visit the Old Court Church known as the oldest church in Bucharest and a sort of hub in Old Town.  The original site dates back to the mid 1500's.  It was worth the trip.

Old Court Church interior.

Rounding out a great afternoon and evening my friends and I stopped at Gyro Thessalonikis for the most amazing souvlakis.  By far, one of the best I've had in a long while.  Yum!  It was also a great chaser for our Palinka and tiki drinks. 

Gyro Thessalonikis in Liscani.  Bucharest, Romania.

Gyro guy.

Well,  until next time Bucharest.

Seoul, S. Korea--Olympic Stadium

Lady Gaga concert.  Olympic Stadium, S. Korea.

I have been on a brief hiatus from blogging, but, was inspired to write a word or two when I came across this photo I shot this spring in Seoul, S. Korea at the Olympic Stadium (1988).  I think I was more taken with the prominence and significance of the Olympic rings, than the Lady Gaga banner beneath it, considering my daily dose of sport this past week.  By no means am I an athlete, nor athletic, but, with the 2012 summer Olympic games in full swing, I revere and can appreciate the determination and discipline displayed by all of the world class athletes.  Like many, I'm lured to the tube each day in awe of their achievements.

Having traveled the globe with music tours for years, it struck me that I've had the good fortune and opportunity to work in Olympic Stadiums many times over the years.  I'm the nostalgic type, so I tend to find it thrilling to recognize the relevance of the venues we've performed in.  Just think, in some instances I've walked through the shadows of history and and in the footsteps of great accomplishments. 

A fond memory comes to mind.   I'll teasure and value the time and experience I had in Germany while touring with Michael Jackson in '96.  We performed in a venue next to the original Olympic Stadium in Berlin.  As for the gig, it was business as usual.  As for the venue, I was quite taken with the brief history lesson I learned that particular day.  A small group of us took time out to tour the grounds of the old stadium, walking through the underground paths and walkways built for Adolph Hitler to safely access his position in the stands of the 1936 summer games and other events.  What struck me then, and what sticks with me to this day, is that we performed and shared the same space where, in 1936,  Jessee Owens, an American, but for the sake of history, I'll note that he was a black man, stole the thunder of those summer Olympic games. Recognized as a champion and honored for winning four gold medals in the track and field events, he brought shame to Hitlers' ideals of white racial supremacy.  I remember getting chills knowing that I was in the presence of such history.

Olympic Stadium (1936).  Berlin, Germany

Fast forward to this spring.  While touring with Lady Gaga and after weeks of rehearsals and prep in Los Angeles, myself and an entourage of cast and crew flew to Korea to perform the first of many shows throughout Asia, Australia and New Zealand.  She has launched her Born This Way Ball.

Once in Korea, there was plenty to do--costume fittings, learning stage cues, sewing, stiching, etc.  Aside from our very own amazing wardrobe team, we were staffed with an additional team of professionals from Milan who were on hand to help assist with fittings and alterations on a number of costumes.  We were our own little "sweat shop".  Through communication in "broken Italian"and managing a game of charades to communicate with our locally hired Korean wardrobe ladies, we were a collective of united nations. 

A big shout out and mention is in order for our extended team.  Go team Versace and our lovely wardrobe assistants!!!  We couldn't have gotten through it without you.

Team Versace.

Wardrobe locals.

Leading up to show day, and realizing that this was my second time performing at this venue, I learned that I had made a bit of history of my own.  It is said that Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball, with a 70,000 crowd capacity, was the highest in attendance this venue has seen since Michael Jackson.  I take pride in knowing that I was present and a member of the wardrobe team for both.  Woo hoo!!!

Show day.