Damo Suzuki with Badun
http://www.tapeaarhus.dk
Oliver had been a sound carrier for few times, he occasionally contacts me and inform me what is his new stand.
Travel to Århus from Cologne is quite far, it’s not make sense fly to Copenhagen and get there by ferry or something else. (Denmark has around 400 small islands except Greenland and Faroe Islands.)
We had to make it whole way by car. It’s both way 1,800km, it’s almost same amount driving distance like last UK tour just a week before.
So, that’s mean poor Elke has to drive same amount with her new car that can carry more luggage than any of this type car. She wanted to have this sort of car as we travelling a lot. In case we find interesting things buy it on the road, it’s easy to transfer.
Travel with car is for me the best way. We don’t have to focus to timetable of plane or train. We can control our own time. Also driving is quite natural way like ride on bicycle or use own foots, you won’t travel to another time zone with fast speed. I don’t think it’s healthy to pass many time zones in short, it’s against human time circle or life rhythms however you call it.
One-way to Århus is 900 km, it’s better to break somewhere before/after Germany/Denmark boarder. We decide to stay one night in Flensburg, border to Denmark and northernmost city in Germany. I’d been here for many years ago with my old band, beginning of 70’s, before this on my busking days at end 60’s.
Flensburg is very famous in Germany, everybody knows for Federal Motor Vehicle Office. If you involved in traffic accident by your mistake, people say “loose point in Flensburg” It’s officially penalty giving place.
As Flensburg is near sea, there must be good fish restaurant, unfortunately we are late for good kitchen as we just decided randomly to stay over night here. We found spontaneously a hotel at middle of the city, even at this time busy on the street. It’s Friday evening. There Are some fish restaurants, but it won’t attract us, we went to Spanish restaurant against our philosophy (eat at local food restaurant) But, It wasn’t a bad choice I should say…very comfortable and southern Europe typical friendly hospitality. Spanish restaurant, without doubt you can try almost everywhere. They have generally good quality and they know cooking. Beside Japanese food I like Spanish most, because it’s delicious plus they have reasonable price, you get what equal to your budget.
Next morning: I didn’t expect control at the border, but surprisingly there was. We had no problem just without control through border. Some cars not, had stop for control.
On the way, I found many spaces if Denmark is huge country. Farmer after farmer, green after green.
Also motorway you feel much comfortable, no aggressive driving style like in Germany.
Already 3rd time to perform in Århus, meet up with Oliver at the hotel, middle of the city.
Sound check is delayed, so we went to explore city life, find place to sit outside at old part of the city, ordered late lunch/early dinner however. Price in Denmark is incredible, even small city like here, you never miss advertising brunch for 350ddk, 380ddk, seems to be it’s cheap for Danish people…listen!… 350ddk is about 47 euro. As I’m interesting about food everywhere, this is like 50% more than in Germany. But, quality generally is not bad. But, if you think this price it must be so.
The performance tonight is a trio: Oliver, Jonas and I.
With Jonas I performed also few times, also here and in Copenhagen.
I guess Oliver made recording tonight, so I may hear it later.
Play trio is so different, every sound carriers has huge space, enough creative possibility.
We had extra stay as Oliver offer to stay for few days.
But, we stayed one extra day, cooking for Oliver’s family and some friends.
Way back home, again randomly choice an accommodation.
This time we stayed in Lübeck, one of Hansa cities and Holstentor is symbolising German proud on 50 mark cash money until January 1 2002 beginning of Euro.
Again we didn’t find any interesting fish restaurant. North Germany is connected to East Sea and North Sea, Lübeck is the port of East Sea, there must be a good fish restaurant, found many restaurants that menu says housewives made cream herring with fried potatoes, it’s sound nothing….I can eat it at home, not anything special, have to go to restaurant even its origin and I like it.
We had good accommodation just beside Holstentor, comfortably short touristic action.