Here is the article in a local newspaper on Gotland with a nice photo of us all:
Monday, 27 April 2009
Article in Gotlands Allehanda about our expedition
Here is the article in a local newspaper on Gotland with a nice photo of us all:
We docked at island of Utö, in Finnish archipelago
Greetings to everyone,
Part l
Today is Monday the 27th the time is app 1 pm. The weather is still nice, but the sun is not as bright as the previous days. The wind is good, but right now we are going on motor power. We are to ‘land’ on the tiny island Utö, as far as I got the message right.
5 days have gone by since I Iast wrote about our experiences on the trip, and many things have happened.
We arrived at Gotland, Visby about 7 am. We spend the night sailing in the most extraordinary and beautiful scenery ever on the trip. The water looked smooth, soft and deep black, looking like black velvet, the horizon around us was a wall of fog and when we looked up we could see the stars. The best way to describe this for you that have not seen it, it was like being inside the Sixtine Chapel in Rome. Magnificent and kind of like a holy experience.
We were all looking forward to 9 o’clock am, when the shavers opened and we could get a shaver. Longed for and needed.
After lunch a small group went into Visby to look at the old town and the rest of us went on trip to the coast. 2 rented mini busses and a regular car had been rented for us so that we could get around the island.
We spend a couple of hours at the beach some doing art, some talking in low voices to each other, some collecting fossils and others just taking in the beautiful view from the shore.
We all met again at Helena and Staffans place, an artist couple living most of the time in Gotland but also travelling a lot which was very easy to see when we had a tour around their place. A very beautiful place which I think inspired us all is many ways, but one for sure is that we all will remember their spirit to life and how art can be a way of living.
We were all in a very good mood and had a lot of fun making dinner for all of us. After dinner we started to do drawings on the tablecloth which was brown wrapping paper. It turned out to be a beautiful picture.
Part ll
to be continued…
p.s. Mari sends greetings to family, friends and students - Mari lähettää terveisiä perheelle, ystäville ja oppilaille! :-)
Part l
Today is Monday the 27th the time is app 1 pm. The weather is still nice, but the sun is not as bright as the previous days. The wind is good, but right now we are going on motor power. We are to ‘land’ on the tiny island Utö, as far as I got the message right.
5 days have gone by since I Iast wrote about our experiences on the trip, and many things have happened.
We arrived at Gotland, Visby about 7 am. We spend the night sailing in the most extraordinary and beautiful scenery ever on the trip. The water looked smooth, soft and deep black, looking like black velvet, the horizon around us was a wall of fog and when we looked up we could see the stars. The best way to describe this for you that have not seen it, it was like being inside the Sixtine Chapel in Rome. Magnificent and kind of like a holy experience.
We were all looking forward to 9 o’clock am, when the shavers opened and we could get a shaver. Longed for and needed.
After lunch a small group went into Visby to look at the old town and the rest of us went on trip to the coast. 2 rented mini busses and a regular car had been rented for us so that we could get around the island.
We spend a couple of hours at the beach some doing art, some talking in low voices to each other, some collecting fossils and others just taking in the beautiful view from the shore.
We all met again at Helena and Staffans place, an artist couple living most of the time in Gotland but also travelling a lot which was very easy to see when we had a tour around their place. A very beautiful place which I think inspired us all is many ways, but one for sure is that we all will remember their spirit to life and how art can be a way of living.
We were all in a very good mood and had a lot of fun making dinner for all of us. After dinner we started to do drawings on the tablecloth which was brown wrapping paper. It turned out to be a beautiful picture.
Part ll
to be continued…
p.s. Mari sends greetings to family, friends and students - Mari lähettää terveisiä perheelle, ystäville ja oppilaille! :-)
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Setting sails
Good afternoon to you,
More news from Helena. The time is 2:42 pm; we are going app. 7 knots for sails.
This morning it was possible for us to set sails and go for sails only. What a joy that was and together with all the happy faces of today,it is the best time since we left Kiel. Do not misunderstand, but like it is right at this moment, going by sail, the sound of only the water and the wind in the sails, is the very very best experience one can get.
It is a kind of freedom that is not possible to get in any other place than at sea. It is also very hard to describe to make it sound right for other people to understand.
So for those who think it would be something worth trying once in a lifetime, DO IT, you will never regret it and never forget it.
Yesterday we had an about 4 hour stop at Bornholm, Dk, Ronne. I think that it was good for us to get some land under our feed for a few hours. We had some free time to do some shopping or whatever we felt for. At 7 pm we all met at the beach and did a sand sculpture. We all did our own picture in the sand; we were free to do it where and how we wanted to. If we wanted to use another person's picture as a beginning of our own work it was ok. The limit was doing it in silence and only communicating with eyes and hands.
It turned out to be a very fine picture.
4 brave women went in the water for a very short swim, the water was freezing cold, but they survived and became our mermaids of the day.
We left Ronne at app 9 pm, had a very nice dinner and a quiet night. Everyone felt a lot better and able to eat again, always a good sign.
The night was cold but with a clear sky and lots of stars. Looking up into the stars from a boat is a very special experience. It seems like there are more stars at sea and it feels like you get sucked up into the sky. Feeling very little and humble.
It might be that it is cold outside at night but the boat is nice, comfortable, warm and cozy. Although there might not be a lot of space it never feels crowded and uncomfortable. Even the bunks are fine to sleep in.
We are lucky with the weather because we have not yet had any rain or cloudy days, which mean that most people are outside during the day, some doing artwork and some just relaxing and forgetting about everyday life.
Actually people are doing a lot more art work than I, in the beginning, thought possible. That is good and means that we will have even more good thing to do when reaching Gotland.
Ann-Sophie
More news from Helena. The time is 2:42 pm; we are going app. 7 knots for sails.
This morning it was possible for us to set sails and go for sails only. What a joy that was and together with all the happy faces of today,it is the best time since we left Kiel. Do not misunderstand, but like it is right at this moment, going by sail, the sound of only the water and the wind in the sails, is the very very best experience one can get.
It is a kind of freedom that is not possible to get in any other place than at sea. It is also very hard to describe to make it sound right for other people to understand.
So for those who think it would be something worth trying once in a lifetime, DO IT, you will never regret it and never forget it.
Yesterday we had an about 4 hour stop at Bornholm, Dk, Ronne. I think that it was good for us to get some land under our feed for a few hours. We had some free time to do some shopping or whatever we felt for. At 7 pm we all met at the beach and did a sand sculpture. We all did our own picture in the sand; we were free to do it where and how we wanted to. If we wanted to use another person's picture as a beginning of our own work it was ok. The limit was doing it in silence and only communicating with eyes and hands.
It turned out to be a very fine picture.
4 brave women went in the water for a very short swim, the water was freezing cold, but they survived and became our mermaids of the day.
We left Ronne at app 9 pm, had a very nice dinner and a quiet night. Everyone felt a lot better and able to eat again, always a good sign.
The night was cold but with a clear sky and lots of stars. Looking up into the stars from a boat is a very special experience. It seems like there are more stars at sea and it feels like you get sucked up into the sky. Feeling very little and humble.
It might be that it is cold outside at night but the boat is nice, comfortable, warm and cozy. Although there might not be a lot of space it never feels crowded and uncomfortable. Even the bunks are fine to sleep in.
We are lucky with the weather because we have not yet had any rain or cloudy days, which mean that most people are outside during the day, some doing artwork and some just relaxing and forgetting about everyday life.
Actually people are doing a lot more art work than I, in the beginning, thought possible. That is good and means that we will have even more good thing to do when reaching Gotland.
Ann-Sophie
Arrival in Visby
The expected arrival time of the Helena in Visby is on Thursday morning already, the 23rd of April! Jan will meet the group in the harbour. The preliminary plan is that the group will do an art workshop with teacher Staffan Laurin at Gotlands Konstskola on Firday morning, and that the night from Friday to Saturday is spent in Holhällar vandrarhem (youth hostel) at the southern tip of Gotland.
Jan (updating for Ann-Sophie)
Jan (updating for Ann-Sophie)
Taking off from Kiel!
21.4.2009 @sea
Hello everyone,
This is the wind and water group of 2009 saying a few things about our experiences when waiting for Helena in Kiel and when seeing her for the first time yesterday afternoon.
We all met Sunday morning at 10 o'clock by the Blue Angel bar, not that we knew that is was there but it was placed right at the spot where we were all going to meet.
We knew that Helena would come a day later, so we spent the day preparing for the trip. First we did some art work, getting a piece of paper taken from a puzzle Mari had prepared. We had to use the paper to tell a bit about ourselves and our thoughts about this trip.
Later on we had a small course in have to tie knots, a bit of seamanship. We also heard two or three of the superstitious stories that come with sailing.
Before we all left our separate countries, we all had to do two assignments on the Wind & Water theme.
Reading a text about how to bring nature/environment into art teaching, and a text about the Baltic sea and its current status.
We are now at sea and have been since yesterday afternoon.
When we arrived at the place where Helena was anchored, it was a big surprise to see the wonderful ship.
Some of us went shopping for food. We filled 6 shopping trolleys with food for all of us for 2 days (24 all together). We are now divided into 4 teams, each team having 4 hour shifts and one 2 hour shift during dinner time.
We have been sailing through the night. There is not a lot of wind, about 7 m/s right now at 9:30 am. We hooved two front sails and one more which I cannot remember the name of, but two hours ago the two front sails were taken down. The weather forecast is predicting less and less wind.
The experience of being outside in front of the ship has been a very strong and wonderful one for some of us. Like being on a rollercoaster. We have now decided that this will be a thing we will do every day.
Some are adjusting better than others, which is quite normal. It will take some days and then hopefully everyone will feel much better. Seasickness pills , gum and seabands are used more or less with success.
We are on our way to Gotland and I actually do not know when we will be there, but who cares as long as we are all enjoying this.
I will end this for now and return later with more info and maybe a few philosophical thoughts from the rest of the group. Until then have a nice time and enjoy!
Ann-Sophie
Hello everyone,
This is the wind and water group of 2009 saying a few things about our experiences when waiting for Helena in Kiel and when seeing her for the first time yesterday afternoon.
We all met Sunday morning at 10 o'clock by the Blue Angel bar, not that we knew that is was there but it was placed right at the spot where we were all going to meet.
We knew that Helena would come a day later, so we spent the day preparing for the trip. First we did some art work, getting a piece of paper taken from a puzzle Mari had prepared. We had to use the paper to tell a bit about ourselves and our thoughts about this trip.
Later on we had a small course in have to tie knots, a bit of seamanship. We also heard two or three of the superstitious stories that come with sailing.
Before we all left our separate countries, we all had to do two assignments on the Wind & Water theme.
Reading a text about how to bring nature/environment into art teaching, and a text about the Baltic sea and its current status.
We are now at sea and have been since yesterday afternoon.
When we arrived at the place where Helena was anchored, it was a big surprise to see the wonderful ship.
Some of us went shopping for food. We filled 6 shopping trolleys with food for all of us for 2 days (24 all together). We are now divided into 4 teams, each team having 4 hour shifts and one 2 hour shift during dinner time.
We have been sailing through the night. There is not a lot of wind, about 7 m/s right now at 9:30 am. We hooved two front sails and one more which I cannot remember the name of, but two hours ago the two front sails were taken down. The weather forecast is predicting less and less wind.
The experience of being outside in front of the ship has been a very strong and wonderful one for some of us. Like being on a rollercoaster. We have now decided that this will be a thing we will do every day.
Some are adjusting better than others, which is quite normal. It will take some days and then hopefully everyone will feel much better. Seasickness pills , gum and seabands are used more or less with success.
We are on our way to Gotland and I actually do not know when we will be there, but who cares as long as we are all enjoying this.
I will end this for now and return later with more info and maybe a few philosophical thoughts from the rest of the group. Until then have a nice time and enjoy!
Ann-Sophie
Friday, 17 April 2009
Scary business
Hi and welcome to our blog.
The scary business started this wednesday April 15th. We all received an email from Jan around 8:30 pm with the new of Helena being docked in Cherburg with a kiel to be fixed!!!! and nobody can say when she will be gongho for sailing again.. Bigg chill down my back anyway. Maybe also on someone elses? And some of our travelmates have already left home, not able to receive these news?
Well yesterday at 7:11 pm another mail ticked in from Jan with the splendid news that Helena was back in the water and only one days delay... :-)
So we will all meet at the habour in Kiel as planned, say hello and figure out what to do with an exstra day in Kiel.
Mari is trying to find a Youth hostel for all of us where we can spend this exstra night.
So off we go and see you in 2 days mates.
And for those of you that are following our trip, I do not know when I'll be back. It all depends on where I will get acess to a computer.
Regards Sophie
The scary business started this wednesday April 15th. We all received an email from Jan around 8:30 pm with the new of Helena being docked in Cherburg with a kiel to be fixed!!!! and nobody can say when she will be gongho for sailing again.. Bigg chill down my back anyway. Maybe also on someone elses? And some of our travelmates have already left home, not able to receive these news?
Well yesterday at 7:11 pm another mail ticked in from Jan with the splendid news that Helena was back in the water and only one days delay... :-)
So we will all meet at the habour in Kiel as planned, say hello and figure out what to do with an exstra day in Kiel.
Mari is trying to find a Youth hostel for all of us where we can spend this exstra night.
So off we go and see you in 2 days mates.
And for those of you that are following our trip, I do not know when I'll be back. It all depends on where I will get acess to a computer.
Regards Sophie
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Hello from Denmark
Hi Everyone,
I have volantered to be our blogger for this trip, although I hope that you all will
give a hand and write a few comments as well.
Next Sunday we will all meet for the first time. I am really looking forward to meeting you all, and the Captain and his crew.
In Denmark we have very very nice easter weather with app 17 degrees celcius, and hopefully we will be able to bring some of the nice wather with us, because I have seen the weatherforecast from Gotland, Uusikaupunki and Helsinki, and it seems a pit cold :-) but as my old grandmother says: " There is nothing called bad weather, just bad clothing" hmmmm, maybe she is right.
Never the less I think we will have an unforgetable trip.
C U soon
I have volantered to be our blogger for this trip, although I hope that you all will
give a hand and write a few comments as well.
Next Sunday we will all meet for the first time. I am really looking forward to meeting you all, and the Captain and his crew.
In Denmark we have very very nice easter weather with app 17 degrees celcius, and hopefully we will be able to bring some of the nice wather with us, because I have seen the weatherforecast from Gotland, Uusikaupunki and Helsinki, and it seems a pit cold :-) but as my old grandmother says: " There is nothing called bad weather, just bad clothing" hmmmm, maybe she is right.
Never the less I think we will have an unforgetable trip.
C U soon
Friday, 10 April 2009
Here the Helena will be located in Kiel harbor
At the moment, the Helena is on its way to Kiel. From day to day, you can see where it is by clicking here. This map shows the harbor in Kiel and the place where we will all come together on the 19th of April, at 10:00 AM!
Monday, 6 April 2009
Welcome to the blog!
Welcome to the blog of the Wind and Water Expedition from Kiel to Uusikaupunki, 19-29 April, 2009!
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