• Nina Cornelia Schilp

Heilung / Eivør EU 2025 prt1

Un’avventura di 24 giorni di Nina Cornelia Leggi altro
  • Inizio del viaggio
    1 marzo 2025

    Travel to Helsinki

    1 marzo, Finlandia ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C

    After a final goodbye to my lovely kitties and Michael, I took the train to Schiphol Airport. I noticed an elderly couple with suitcases who were also on their way to the airport. The trains were more crowded than usual because of Carnaval.

    As soon as I was ready to board, I saw the same couple from Apeldoorn also heading to Helsinki such a fun coincidence!

    I arrived in Helsinki and managed to bring my suitcases to the little apartment I rented. It’s cozy and has everything I need.

    I decided to go out for some food and drinks. I took a short walk through the city, passing by all my old cafés and favorite food spots. I was happy to find that the sweet potato fries at Fafa’s are still as good as I remembered.

    I ended up at The Riff, where I met a few rare social Finns. In the end, I met so many amazing people, had way too many drinks, got super drunk, and somehow found my way home. It felt just like when I first moved here, safe enough to let loose and enjoy myself. Finns are unique, and being around them made me feel safe and at home.
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  • Helsinki Hangover & Bella arrives

    2 marzo, Finlandia ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

    Here’s a smoother version of your Hangover! I stayed out too late, had a few too many nice drinks with some new Finnish friends, and barely got any sleep before waking up way too early.

    Bella was arriving at 12:30, so I managed to drag myself out in time to get my best hangover remedy, fresh orange juice and coffee. Luckily, that was easy to find in Helsinki.

    We met at a café and chatted for a while before bringing Bella’s stuff to our Airbnb. After that, we went shopping at one of my favorite secondhand stores, UFF on Fredrikinkatu.

    After trying on way too many things, we left empty-handed but overloaded. We needed some fresh air and didn’t find anything this time, but we still have plenty of shopping days ahead.

    Eventually, we ended up at the Moomin store, playing around with glitter makeup until we got kicked out at closing time.

    To wrap up the day, we grabbed some sushi and were more than ready for a cozy night in bed, since neither of us had slept much.
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  • Cozy food and coffee day Helsinki

    3 marzo, Finlandia ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    We slept in, grabbed a coffee across the street, and had a nice lunch at Fafa's. Did some shopping, enjoyed a cozy matcha at Ihana Kahvila Baari, and ended the day with a homemade dinner. A simple, relaxed day!Leggi altro

  • Harbour walk and sauna

    4 marzo, Finlandia ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    Today, we took a scenic walk around the harbor, completing the full loop with some lovely coffee stops along the way. At one point, we attempted to recreate our turtle photo from the Australia Zoo, which turned into a fun little challenge. The adventure took an unexpected turn when Bella’s phone decided to take a dive into the sea, but luckily, she managed to retrieve it quickly! Later, we stopped for another delicious matcha at the same café we visited yesterday.

    Our plan was to take an Uber to the Löyly Sauna, but for some reason, our driver kept getting farther and farther away. It was frustrating, especially since we only had a two-hour time slot. Eventually, we made it to the sauna, and it was absolutely worth the hassle. The place was stunning wood architecture with three saunas in total: an indoor one, plus two outside (one electric, one smoke). We even had the chance to take an ice bath in the sea, which was an intense but refreshing experience. After two hours of warmth and relaxation, we treated ourselves to dinner at the on-site restaurant, which turned out to be phenomenal. I had a perfectly cooked reindeer sirloin, while Bella enjoyed grilled white fish. For dessert, we indulged in crème brûlée with blood orange and licorice ice cream an incredible combination.

    It was a day of bit downs with some brain foggs and ms symptoms but ended energetic after sauna and selfcare.

    After a walk back, we squeezed in some quick laundry drank a nice lonkero before getting ready for bed. Tomorrow, we’ll meet up with the rest of the group as they start arriving for rehearsal days and prep.
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  • Rehearsal day Helsinki

    5 marzo, Finlandia ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Bella and I checked out of our Airbnb and found a lovely café where they were baking fresh sourdough bread.

    We had an amazing brunch while waiting for Kai to join us. Later, we headed to our hotel for the next few days, where our tour would officially begin with a rehearsal day.

    Since the merch team wasn’t starting today, I got to join the Warriors. We had an intense but meaningful sharing circle to check in with where everyone’s head was at. After that, the rest of the team started rehearsals while I ran around getting coffee and food for everyone. So, not exactly rehearsing, but the circle was definitely the most important part for me.

    While drinking a Lonkero, I grabbed some burgers for the group at a restaurant, and we had a great dinner together as the Warrior team.

    Afterward, I headed back to the hotel room, feeling super tired. I took the evening slow and went to bed early.
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  • Merch pre-production day Helsinki

    6 marzo, Finlandia ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    We planned to start around 10 today, but unfortunately, I was woken up early because the hotel was doing construction in the room next to mine. So they offered me to change room, and its a nicer one. Despite that, we got in touch with our merch truck driver, Speedy, and arranged for him to park nearby so we could get to work sorting the truck.

    Our merchandise team consists of me, Gerrity (an experienced American who has done many Heilung tours and more), and Yuri (Annicke's boyfriend, who has one Heilung merch tour under his belt).

    We unloaded the pallets and started sorting the boxes. Having our own truck is such a game-changer, it allows us to set up an efficient system and gives us space to move around properly. We left pallet #1 untouched since it was pre-packed and ready for the first show.

    After working until 3 PM, we headed straight to Green Hippo, a restaurant I fell in love with when I visited Helsinki before COVID. They serve amazing breakfast and lunch and have since expanded to more locations.

    Later, I took some time for myself to explore Helsinki, stopping by a few thrift stores, though I didn’t end up buying anything this time. I did pick up some pens for Kai so he could sign the new prints.

    For dinner, I treated myself to a sushi buffet, just like I used to when I was studying in Helsinki. The evening wrapped up with some computer work alongside Gerrity, followed by a glass of wine with a few others.

    Before finally calling it a night, Bella came over for a last cup of tea, ready for the first show tomorrow!
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  • Showday - Ice Hall Helsinki

    7 marzo, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    After a nice hotel breakfast, we took the shuttle to the venue at 08:10.

    When we arrived, Speedy was on his way, and we started checking out the venue. Not much had changed since I was last here doing Heilung merch, it’s still an ice hockey hall with a stage built on the ice, always an interesting and unique setup.

    We opened the pallet that was supposed to be pre-sorted for us, only to realize it wasn’t. On top of that, we received items we hadn’t expected, meaning we had to reorganize everything from scratch for show 1. This cost us valuable time, especially since Eivør’s merch was also arriving today.

    Thankfully, the cage trolleys I had ordered through the ice hall were there, and they turned out to be incredibly helpful.

    By 13:00, the local crew arrived, but we weren’t ready to hand over the merch yet. As usual, they were overwhelmed by the sheer volume, and it became my job to make sure they also set it up the way I wanted. This proved to be a bit of a challenge, as Anja, the local head of merch, seemed a little grumpy and resistant to my setup. After some back and forth, I decided to step back, observe, and learn from the experience for next time. Since it was a concession show, we could not do more. In the end, they finished just in time before doors opened.

    Sales went much better than last time, so that was already a win. I even had a chance to catch some of the show. The ritual was opened by three Sámi performers, which felt incredibly special to me. They also performed Nikkal for the first time and completely changed the setlist, making it an exciting night.

    Meanwhile, Bella had arranged for a sauna truck backstage for the entire day, along with some oil sessions, a skill from one of her old jobs. It was amazing, and I managed to squeeze in a sauna session after dinner, just before the show.

    Once the concert ended, we waited for sales to finish, did the out count, packed everything up, grabbed our after-show pizza, and finally headed back to the hotel around 1:30 AM. I was exhausted but also restless, feeling like I hadn’t been able to do everything I intended. Still, it was a solid first show!
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  • Travelday to Stockholm

    8 marzo, Svezia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Yesterday, we found out that our original flight had been canceled, but in the end, we were rebooked on a later flight, which actually worked out better. It gave us a late check-out, time for a relaxed breakfast, and a more leisurely trip to the airport.

    We checked out at 13:30 and took the shuttle to Helsinki Airport. Check-in was super smooth, and we had about two hours before boarding.

    Of course, I had to squeeze in some last-minute Moomin shopping! I finally found the black socks that Bella and I had been searching for in the city. Since only the crew was flying (we needed to be at the venue earlier, while the rest of the band took the ferry), I just texted her about it. She sent me an excited reaction because the Moomin shop on the boat was selling the tote bags I’d been hunting for in Helsinki! So we ended up shopping for each other, perfect teamwork.

    While wandering around the terminal, I overheard some harsh sounds and an aggressive voice in a shop. The man was speaking Finnish, so I couldn’t understand the context, but I could tell he was drunk and harassing a store employee. He was rushing her, acting erratically, and then left with a pair of shoes without paying, somehow losing his own shoes because he was walking on those plastic sock covers they guve at security check. Since his bank cards weren’t working, he abandoned all his belongings and stormed off. As soon as he was gone, the shop employee broke down in tears.

    I stayed until her colleague arrived, and when he asked if I had witnessed what happened, I explained. He then asked if I could stay to speak with security and the police, so I did. The man eventually came back, causing more trouble, but I was able to help, and at least the employee felt a bit safer while everything unfolded.

    After that intense moment, we finally boarded our flight. Everything went smoothly, and as soon as we landed in Stockholm, our tour bus picked us up and took us to the hotel. Since it was already past dinner time, I went out in search of some good food.

    I found a nearby ramen place called since ramen slaughterhouse with incredible reviews and wow, it did not disappoint. Easily one of the best ramen bowls I’ve ever had! Handmade, flavorful, absolutely delicious. I immediately recommended it to the rest of the crew.

    With a full belly, I’m ready to take it slow, get some rest, and sleep early. Tomorrow is show day, and it’s going to be a long one!
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  • Showday: Stockholm

    9 marzo, Svezia ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    We arrived early since the venue was within walking distance. Once again, the venue was an ice hockey stadium, meaning the stage was set up on the ice.

    Since it was the second day, we were better prepared. Our truck could be parked right next to the doors where the merch stand was located, making things much easier.

    For setup, I was able to start earlier today—before the local crew even arrived. Since this was a venue-sells show, I took the opportunity to give them a preview of how we wanted everything arranged. When they arrived, they loved what they saw, which made my job much smoother. I spent the entire day helping them set up, and they ended up using almost all of my decorations.

    The truck situation was a bit more complicated. We had to pull out the Oslo show’s merch in advance, as the merch truck wasn’t going to Norway due to taxes and carnets. So, Gerrity and Yuri stayed on the bus handling that, while around 5 PM, a guy from Norway came to pick it up and take it to Oslo.

    The Live Nation team was incredibly organized and efficient it was such a pleasure working with them. We even ended up with two merch stands, which significantly boosted sales. They also had a hanging mannequin, which I had been trying to get in Europe but is quite hard to find.

    We also arranged for Team Eivør to store their leftover merch in our truck since they didn’t need it in Norway. This meant they didn’t have to wait until Heilung finished playing; instead, they could drive themselves and get more sleep. While this will make Aarhus our first venue where we handle our own sales more work, it’s a nice favour for them, and it benefits us too.

    By the end of the night, we had to restock a lot, but packing up went super smoothly.

    I was exhausted but happy with the day and finally got to bed around 3 AM, when the bus was leaving towards Oslo.
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  • Offday 1 in Oslo

    10 marzo, Norvegia ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    Not much to say except that I’m exhausted. But being parked right in the center of Oslo has its perksgood coffee is never far away. It feels a bit strange to be parked like this, but it's also cool that we get to stay here for four nights.

    I went shopping again with Bella and a few others, exploring the Norwegian UFF and continuing my search for new pants at this point, I really need a pair.

    Bella and I ended up at Lululemon, one of her favorite stores, and later grabbed a bite at Max Burger, a Scandinavian fast-food chain with some healthier options.

    Back at the Luna bus, we hung out with the others for a while. At some point, I headed to my own bus (Sol bus) and got invited for a good whisky with Martin and Chris. Around midnight, I finally made my way to my bunk.
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  • Offday 2 Oslo

    11 marzo, Norvegia ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C

    Today started with a slow morning, easing into the day with a late breakfast a chicken wrap with Nicolas. After that, we stopped by the same café we all visited yesterday for a nice coffee and matcha.

    At 14:00, I had a tattoo appointment with the whole eivør crew. During the last tour, we wanted to get a matching "cunt" tattoo as a group, but we couldn't find a place at the time. Luckily, Emily, being from Oslo, knew several tattoo artists who were up for it. So, Emily, Eivør, Per, Egil, András, Katrine (Sylvaine), and I finally got it done. It was such a fun experience!

    We celebrated with a drink afterward, and then I went thrifting with Katrine and Eivør. After days of searching, I finally found my new pants!

    We said our goodbyes, and I headed to a metal bar across from the tour buses to meet Bella and Martin, who were having a meeting about the next warrior positions on tour.

    Later, Bella and I took a nice walk to another area of Oslo to check out a thrift store, it was super unique you entered with a code, and there were no employees, just a self-service setup. It was so cool to have the whole store to ourselves.

    We made our way back to Vaterland, the metal bar, had some amazing pizza, and called it a night or at least, that was the plan. Just as I was about to head to bed, I noticed the Eivor having a wiskey nightcap on our bus. So, of course, I joined for one last round before finally turning in.
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  • Showday Oslo

    12 marzo, Norvegia ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C

    Today, we finally got to play in Oslo at the Spectrum a venue Maria had been especially looking forward to.

    Loading in was fairly easy since we had no truck. Our stock delivery arrived on time, thanks to the guy who transported it from Sweden, and customs went smoothly. With everything pre-sorted and no truck to manage, plus the fact that we weren’t selling merch ourselves, I actually got the rare chance to join as an extra warrior on stage. This might be the only time on this tour that happens!

    Before the local crew arrived, I set up the merch stand. They had a pin board, so I covered it up and showed them how I wanted things displayed, giving them options for what they could use. Even without the truck, I managed to bring all the important stuff with me, so the setup still looked great. They also decided to run two booths, with a local mother-and-daughter duo handling sales.

    Around 13:00, I joined the warriors for training, pulling double duty for the day. I prepped my hair and got to enjoy being on stage for 3.5 songs, the only ones where I could join in, as the rest were choreographed for just nine warriors, and I was warrior number 11 today.

    After the show, I rushed into the shower before heading back to the merch stand to pack up my decorations.

    Later, we hit up a huge afterparty organized by fans. Bella and I went together, and it turned out to be such a cool place. Everyone was in high spirits, the drinks were flowing, and the energy was wild. At some point, the entire crowd was deep in party mode so much so that the bar had trouble getting us to leave. I had to step in and help move eveyone.

    Instead of calling it a night, we decided to continue at Kalandra’s rehearsal space, conveniently located right across from the venue and our buses. The party kept going until around 5 AM, and once again, I had to play the role of guide, ushering people out. It was absolutely hilarious, I haven’t been that drunk in a long time!

    Luckily, tomorrow is a day off.
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  • Travel day to Aarhus

    13 marzo, Norvegia ⋅ ☀️ 2 °C

    Surprisingly, I woke up feeling pretty good, considering last night’s drinks. That said, I only got about three hours of sleep our tax and border-crossing contact had been unreachable the night before, so I had to message him around 9 AM. Thankfully, everything worked out, and all the leftover merch boxes were picked up.

    I grabbed a quick bite at a café before we left for the ferry.

    On the way to the port and while waiting for the ferry, I had some serious conversations with the core team and Martin about a very sensitive and personal matter, which ultimately led to the decision to send Bella home. I was asked to be there for support.

    This isn’t something I feel comfortable writing about because it’s not my story to tell. But the outcome means things will be more challenging for me—I’ll be stepping in to fill Bella’s warrior role for the rest of the tour.

    The boat ride was okay. I took a travel pill, which, as always, made me super sleepy. I had some loaded fries, took a nap, and just tried to push through. But with everything going on and four long hours on the boat, this definitely wasn’t my favorite day.

    We arrived in Aarhus super late, so it was straight to bed.
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  • Showday Aarhus

    14 marzo, Danimarca ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    Today was always going to be tough, a rough show day. The first one without Bella. Since we sent her home, everyone picked up extra tasks, including me. Originally, I was only supposed to handle merchandise on this tour, with the occasional chance to step in as a tenth warrior, like I did on the last show day in Oslo. But now, I had to take on her role as well.

    To make things even harder, today was also the first time we had to run the merch booth entirely on our own. That meant setting everything up, selling throughout the day, breaking it down afterward, and counting everything ourselves. And as if that wasn’t enough, we didn’t have our truck in Norway. Instead, our stock was delivered in a complete mess, leftovers from previous shows all jumbled together.

    With only until 13:00 to prepare the whole stand, I did my absolute best. I didn’t quite finish, but I had no choice but to drop everything and rush to warrior training, which always starts at 1. Without Bella, one of our key figures both on and off stage, we had to reshuffle everything—who would take which spots, who would lead what. Thankfully, we’re a tight group, and we pulled it together smoothly. We moved Edward and Nadia into different positions, while I had to learn new transitions and adapt to the new seidth song, which we were performing live for the first time tonight.

    With all these extra responsibilities and the stress that came with them, we somehow made it work. It was an exhausting day. The only moment I had to sit was during dinner and even then, we were still figuring out transitions and movements on stage. By the end of it, I was completely drained.

    I ran to the shower right after the show and run back to the merch role. Fortunately, we had a local girl step in at the merch booth, so Yuri and Gerty didn’t have to handle it alone. Now, we’ll have to figure things out for the next shows because, for at least this leg of the tour, I’ll be balancing both roles. After that… we’ll see what happens.
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  • Offday Aarhus

    15 marzo, Danimarca ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Today was an off day in Aarhus, and with the recent changes in the set, Janne and I decided to rehearse for a possible dance sequence in Seidth. We kept it simple, working with antlers for the beginning of the song. It was actually really nice to spend some time together, away from the whole group for a change.

    We managed to get access to a hotel conference room where we could practice in peace all day, which was a luxury. Later, I took a walk to the city center for some alone time. Since I had been to Aarhus back in October, I already had a sense of where to go, making for a relaxing and familiar stroll.

    In the evening, we had a great Chinese dinner with Luke, Nadia, and Mitchell. My plan was to go to bed early but then I figured I’d take advantage of the bathtub in our day rooms first. We use these rooms for showering, taking breaks, or getting some privacy, but since this one had a bathtub, I decided to treat myself before we left around midnight.

    While soaking, I ended up having a long, much-needed phone call with Bell about 45 minutes of catching up and talking about everything that’s been happening. It was really nice to reconnect before finally calling it a night and the bus would leave to Copenhagen.
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  • Showday Copenhagen

    16 marzo, Danimarca ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Today was show day in Copenhagen, a special place for many in Heilung. It’s home to Chris, Kim, and Finn, where Kai currently lives, and where Maria lived for a long time. This venue holds a lot of history for the group. We played here in 2022, and it was also the first place I ever ran a merch booth for Heilung, no less. That was the moment I truly realized just how massive their merch operation is. It was a stressful experience back then, and today was no different, though, thankfully, not as overwhelming.

    Luckily, this was a concession day, meaning the venue handled merch sales for us. That took a huge weight off my shoulders. I set up the booth with Joeri, and since I remembered from last time how everything was laid out, it was a smooth process. The truck was also well-organized, making things even easier. With everything in order, I even had some time to rehearse the dance Janne and I had created the day before. We weren’t sure if it would be used, especially since Janne is also a fire dancer, which could open up other possibilities but we wanted to be prepared.

    At 13:00, I had warrior training. Like the last show, we had an extra warrior joining us, so it was good to walk through everything again. Overall, things were running smoothly, aside from a few choreographic details in certain songs that still needed fine-tuning.

    Then Kai introduced something new. He told us about a vision he had during meditation: in one of the songs, we would wear blue and yellow ribbons. This was meant to strengthen Nadia, who is from Ukraine, as well as stand in solidarity with all oppressed people. It was also a nod to the Viking heritage of Europe and the colors of Kai’s hometown. The colours meen sky and fire. While the intent was presented as non-political, it still stirred a lot of discussion within the group. Personally, I felt a bit conflicted, as I’ve never been one to make strong political statements on stage. Because of this, I had a long conversation with Kai, sharing my thoughts and trying to find a way to create more balance within the group regarding this decision. Ultimately, I think it was meaningful as a one-time gesture, but it also opens new doors for Heilung in ways we hadn’t explored before.

    The show itself was powerful, like the others on this run. I’m slowly settling into a routine, quickly showering ( in the shower dungeon) right after the performance, heading back to help break down the merch booth, packing my bags, and grabbing the after-show food we usually order. Since we had two free days after this and were staying in the same place, there wasn’t the usual rush, which made everything a bit easier.

    Overall, today was a really good day. There were a few hiccups with new people coming in and adjusting to the changes, but the energy was strong. And with so many familiar faces backstage, it truly felt like a homecoming for much of the group.
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  • Offday in copenhagen

    17 marzo, Danimarca ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    Today was our first full day off in Copenhagen, and I had quite a bit planned. I had promised to join Kai, Bella, and Nadia for a photoshoot, but I panicked when I woke up at 12:30, thinking it was at 1 PM. Luckily, it wasn’t happening until after 4 PM in Klampenborg, a beautiful seaside and forest area Kai and Bella love.

    In the meantime, I really wanted to visit WarPigs, a well-known barbecue spot. Emily and Eivors sister, was also interested, so we met up after I finally got a proper shower at the hotel. It was a 20-minute walk, and once there, we enjoyed some sour beer and snacks. Nadia joined later, and I ordered the full menu plate way too much food, but Nadia helped me finish it.

    We called Bella to check the plan and realized we wouldn’t make it to the photoshoot, but since it was mainly for Kai, it wasn’t a big deal. Instead, we met up with Bella at the train station and spent a cozy afternoon at the beach with hot chocolates, watching swans and looking out toward Sweden and the bridge to Malmö.

    Later, we rushed back because Chris had organized a gathering at Lava Studios, Heilung’s creative home. They had recently upgraded the sound system and wanted to share it with us over snacks and drinks. Nadia and I arrived a bit late but quickly settled in, enjoying the music and catching up with everyone. It was a much-needed night off.

    Since we had another free day, the evening stretched on a bit, but nothing too wild. Luke, Nadia, and I eventually took a cab back to the buses and went to bed soon after ending a really great day.
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  • Half off- half travel day Copenhagen

    18 marzo, Danimarca ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    Today was a half-off day in Copenhagen before we left for Germany at 4 PM. In the morning, Bella and I picked up some shoes we had ordered a week ago. We had breakfast at Emery’s, a great spot known for its sourdough bread, then found a café to try them on. Mine were too big, and Bella couldn’t decide, so in the end, we returned both pairs.

    Kai wanted to visit an army store, so we walked through a nice neighborhood where he found a great new bag. Then we headed to a fabric shop to get more colors for the stage ribbons, as Kai wanted to introduce other spiritual tones beyond blue and yellow. The scenic walk gave us a chance to have a much-needed chat.

    With little time left, we rushed to grab sushi before departure. Luckily, we found a great spot nearby, ate quickly, and made it back just in time.

    We arrived at the ferry around 7 PM. Even though the ride was only 40 minutes, I took a travel pill that made me foggy and sleepy everyone laughed because I looked completely out of it. After eating some fries, we were back on the bus, where most people went to bed.

    I spent some time in the upper lounge with Ruben, which I usually avoid due to nausea, but the travel pill helped. Later, I settled into my new bunk on the Luna bus, as Harris, our new security team member, needed to move into the crew (sol) bus.
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  • Showday oberhausen

    19 marzo, Germania ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Typing..

    Fine del viaggio
    24 marzo 2025