Latvia July 21, 2006, Part 1

Dreaming

We came home last evening around 6 and I took a cold shower as I had promised Ivars. I fell asleep before I could fulfill the rest of my promise - that I would read in the playground. I slept for eleven hours (I'm tired, you see, "because I don't eat meat"). I dreamt that my former rowing coach, Hartsuff, prevented my arrest or somesuch in an enormous, thousand-acre grass field of rolling hills where T-1000 and I were conspiring for something. A few dreams later, I was rowing in a canal in fall and wrapped myself in a floating dock. I was thrashing around and Gregg Hartsuff, who was all over my dreams, explained to our coxswain (Megan) on land that what I was doing was the correct way to dock.

Storytime:

Imants asked Liga how she had gotten the money to pay for a replacement ring for one they had lost. (Not sure it was a ring.) Well, the way she did it was by stepping in for her friend at a modeling photoshoot for a calendar in Germany in 1952. Her friend had gotten nervous, so she escorted her, but when they got to the shoot, they wanted Liga instead. I put together from several stories today that she was quite beautiful. It explains why she keeps telling me to check out the beautiful Latvian women... she ran with the pretty crowd.

Latvia July 20, 2006

I just skimmed over the rest of this journal. To my surprise I only wrote down about two dreams. Ah, well.

I just barely forgot my dreams last night, but our stay was pleasant. We're staying in a family friend's apartment in a part of the city about 15 minutes from Vecriga (veh-ehtz-ree-ga).

I'm in Old Riga now in front of Sv. Petera Basnicas [I don't have the vowel bars]. It was built with a wooden tower with a beautiful structure, which the Russians burned down. It has since been rebuilt of steel with an elevator for tourists. The view is quite something; I don't blame us.

It turns out that Riga was founded in 1201. It made me think that the age of my country makes us feel more significant.

A homeless person walked up to me and Ivars and pointed to her mouth and her sign that I couldn't read.

In the market in a "Konvent" marketplace, Ladymama walked up to a stand with amber jewelry. I feared that she was shopping for me or mom, so I had to check. I can't show any interest in anything or there is a chance she'll buy it for me. She has a heart of gold, I think, but misplaced intentions. The amber stand lady, wearing a lightweight black shawl/shirt in the intense sun said something to us in Latvian and "good luck" to me. We departed for a place called "Double Coffee" where we were given menus with the size and feel of a glossy newspaper.

We ate at a restaurant where the music selection made me feel all young, old, superior and foolish. They had menus in Latvian and English and their translations were hilarious. "His Majesty Caesarian Salad" "Happy Salmon Soup." Due to a slip-up earlier in which I revealed to Ladymama that I will eat chicken when pressed, she would not leave me alone. She told me I had circles under my eyes and that she was worried about me and all this topical nonsense about vitamin b12. I argued back. It was a rather awkward situation for Ivars and Inese. She conveniently forgot that I personally do eat some animal proteins, but I rather enjoyed the argument, I'm ashamed to say, so I withheld this information. Ladymamaa then told us all several stories, some in english, for which Ivars' sister had to pretend to understand.

Latvia arrival

8pm?

Waiting for the flight with us was a pair of girls approximately my age. One was stunning. She was dressed in a "Roxy" t-shirt and some plain, flattering jeans. Her hair had been bleached some 5 months ago and her medium brown roots were showing. Her power was in that she spoke no english and when she pronounced a 'P' or 'B', the tip of her nose dipped down like the siren in O, Brother.

I didn't know that this beautiful girl was a warning. Since I got here, I've been constantly visually assaulted by girls with perfect faces and fabulous figures. It's terrifying. These girls are better looking than the girls in advertisements around here.

The boys are less impressive, though I did see the grown-up, GQ-ed version of the drummer boy from the Sigur Ros video, no one could be described as stupefying, which, even conservatively applied to the women here, becomes overused.

I was taken to a place called Lido today. I was not hungry, and it was obvious that we were there for me. I blame the grandmother. She must have said something to them in Latvian for which I paid in awkward. Five people watched me refuse to eat a pasta dish I was forced into picking due to ham, and suffer through some vegetables Ladymama decided I wanted, despite my best efforts to quell the notion.

On the way to the apartment we drove through areas where "one's life is in one's hands" and bullet holes remained from 50, 60 years ago. The stone and concrete buildings are discolored and the wooden ones are rotted.

To my amazement, we did not leave these areas to arrive at the apartment. I'm not sure if it's dangerous here, but we are unquestionably in Eastern Europe (like the pictures).

Cats are everywhere and everything is unkempt. The result is beautiful trees and people who look despaired, beating rugs and hanging clothes to dry in the public court.

I watched some Rowing World Cup on TV (in Russian) and took a long cold shower (it's been around 90° and sunny as hell). I have no idea what time it is. The sun is still up, but that only means it's not between 11:30 and 3am. I've not slept more than 30 minutes since yesterday, so I'm going to pass out. Hopefully I'll dream up something good.