email
shiftysailors
@whidbey.net

phone
360-222-3020

address
Shifty Sailors
P.O. Box 53
Greenbank,
WA 98253

Saturday   August 9   2003

Traditional Latvian folk dancers show some exhausted sailors how to really do a hornpipe  Bruce Bardwell - 11:58 PM - link - 1 comment.

A young cello prodigy entertains the Shifty group with some extraordinary playing.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:58 PM - link - 3 comments.

Cesis Boys Choir performing for the Shiftys at yet another great feast.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:55 PM - link - 1 comment.

Sir Squeeze in action with some young onlookers.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:53 PM - link - 2 comments.

Shiftys in concert at the Cesis hotel. We were in great form.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:52 PM - link - 1 comment.

Altar of St. John's church  Bruce Bardwell - 11:51 PM - link - 1 comment.

Cesis 13th cenntury church (church of St. John) where we heard a great organ recital.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:51 PM - link - 1 comment.

Walking tour of Cesis Old Town  Bruce Bardwell - 11:49 PM - link - 1 comment.

Cesis Saturday Market  Bruce Bardwell - 11:48 PM - link - 2 comments.

8/10/03 Hi Folks, Another fabulous day in Cesis! We started with a great breakfast at the hotel followed by various individuals, couples, and groups taking time to explore the town, exchange money, visit the local open air market and rest. We gathered again for a delicious lunch followed by a walking tour of downtown Cesis. We visited a large local church where we were treated to a pipe organ concert by the local church organist. We continued on foot to other parts of the old town section of the city. Our guide told sobering stories of the Soviet occupation of Latvia, and how it affects the people today12 years after they have gained their freedom. These are stories we seldom hear in the western press, but demonstrated the human condition at it’s best and worst. Our tour was followed by our second formal performance (if you don’t count spontaneous parking lot, bus, bar, and street performances) at our hotel. Our 4 hour show included a Latvian folk song and the Latvian national anthem that we had worked up. The crowd was warm and appreciative, and told us our Latvian pronunciations were “special”. After a beer break and concert debrief we headed to the Cesis castle stables. These stables have been converted into an art gallery where we had dinner and a musical treat. We were serenaded by a local boys choir, an excellent cello performance, given an energetic demonstration of traditional Latvian folk dancing, listened to some jazz sax, and heard two great performances by women on traditional stringed instruments. At this point the Latvian Vodka was beginning to take it’s toll on some tired Shifties, and they went back to the hotel to bed while others stayed for more dancing, Jerry Lee Lewis renditions, coffee and desert. Great day, everyone is behaving and having a good time. Most believe that the town of Cesis (about the size of Oak Harbor, WA) should be on everyone’s list of must see places when they visit the Baltic. Tomorrow we leave for Riga and the Tall Ship Festival. See you then. Bruce PS- A special message from Sir Squeeze of the Livonian Order and his Lady Martha to Lady Dairine of the West Kingdom- LAIMIGU DIAMSANAS DUNU!  Bruce Bardwell - 11:44 PM - link - 3 comments.

After a long day, Bruce relaxes with a couple of bottles of the previously mentioned local liquor- ummmm. (He hopes no one from his agency or his wife is watching)  Bruce Bardwell - 01:37 AM - link - 3 comments.

A chance meeting with a Polish Girls' choir led to an energetic exchange of song between the Shifties and these fair young maids.  Bruce Bardwell - 01:35 AM - link - Comments?

Shiftys feast at Vern's new castle in celebration of his knighthood.  Bruce Bardwell - 01:35 AM - link - 3 comments.

Not to be outdone, Martha gets bedecked in royal regalia.  Bruce Bardwell - 01:31 AM - link - 4 comments.

Sir Squeeze gets knighted by a knight of the Lavonian Order.  Bruce Bardwell - 01:31 AM - link - 2 comments.

A castle monk guides us to Vern's knighting ceremony.  Bruce Bardwell - 01:30 AM - link - Comments?

Castle in Cesis where we had a medieval feast and Vern got knighted!  Bruce Bardwell - 01:27 AM - link - Comments?

A familiar sight throughout our trip so far- Storks.  Bruce Bardwell - 01:25 AM - link - Comments?

Wylie and Barb swim in the Baltic at Parnu  Bruce Bardwell - 01:23 AM - link - Comments?

Parnu Beach Bums getting ready for a day at the beach.  Bruce Bardwell - 01:22 AM - link - Comments?

Energetic Shiftys leave Tallinn for a lunch date in Parnu Estonia.  Bruce Bardwell - 01:20 AM - link - Comments?

8/9/03- Morning Hi Shifty Fans, What a day! I think the only way to describe it is to make a bullet list- - Leave Tallinn in our new fancy bus with driver Jean at the helm - Stop for lunch in Parnu, Estonia - Walk the streets of Parnu - Go for a swim in the Baltic at the Parnu beach. Some went with various parts of their clothing on/off (full story upon arriving home). - Cross the border into Latvia - Check into our new hotel in Cesis that is vary spacious and comfortable. - Visit 13th century castle where Vern gets knighted into the Order of Lavonia. Sir Squeeze is now going to start his own breakaway Order of the Squeeze. - Medieval feast in the same castle with the Lord of the Manner - Chance meeting with an all girls choir from Poland and a trading of songs in the castle parking lot. - Some let night revelry at the hotel bar. The energy is building, and many can’t believe all the fun and spontaneous things that are happening. Mood is definitely upbeat, and consumption of spirits is still within acceptable boundaries. Will check in tomorrow. Bruce  Bruce Bardwell - 01:18 AM - link - Comments?

Thursday   August 7   2003

Post concert refreshment for two tired Shiftys.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:13 PM - link - 2 comments.

Our first concert. At least we liked ourselves.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:12 PM - link - 1 comment.

One of the old walls of Tallinn dating back to the 10th century. History anyone?  Bruce Bardwell - 11:09 PM - link - Comments?

Wylie flirting. Ginny?  Bruce Bardwell - 11:09 PM - link - 2 comments.

Karen's new hat.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:08 PM - link - Comments?

Vern makes a purchase on the street.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:07 PM - link - Comments?

Our tour guide for our walking tour on day 2 in Tallinn.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:06 PM - link - Comments?

Morning Practice before our first concert. Day 2 in Tallinn.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:02 PM - link - 1 comment.

8/8/03- Morning Hi Folks, The highlight for today was our successful first concert of the tour. The City of Tallin has a large central main square that had a large raised stage at one end. We of course had our minds set a on performing there, but Wylie thought we better check out whether we needed permission to use it. Good thing, because he found out we needed a permit for use of the stage. A couple of discussions and 2 of our Cds shown to the proper officials later, and we had the stage for an hour concert at 4PM. We were well received, and we didn’t have to duck flying objects when we sang 2 of our Estonian songs. After working the crowd, Vern talking to and hugging whomever he could find, and hugs and fond goodbyes from our Bergen friends we headed to a nearby open air restaurant for some liquid refreshment and debriefing of our performance. Afterwards one group headed to a restaurant for dinner where they ate a medieval meal served by a lovely wench who bossed Vern around. Earlier in the day our friends from Bergen had generously paid for a guide to give us a 3 hour walking tour of the old city of Tallinn. We saw many historic sites, and reflected on Coupeville’s 150 year history compared to buildings, legends, and stories that dated back to the 10th century. Many individuals and couples explored the city on their own eventually meeting up for the main event of the day at town square. Later in the evening some Shifty’s were still to be found downing the above mentioned Vanna Tallinn, inspecting our new tour bus, and meeting our bus driver Jean. Mood report- Some were tentative before our first performance, but succumbed to laughter and merriment after our successful show. Bruce PS- WOW!! To Gordy Coale of www.electricedge.com for this incredible website. Many, many thanks. PPS- Karen says that some Shiftys actually cultured themselves with a concert by a trio of three women from Norway.  Bruce Bardwell - 11:02 PM - link - Comments?

Wednesday   August 6   2003

Happy Birthday Conny from your Shifty groupie parents.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:27 PM - link - Comments?

Spanish university students seranade us in the Tallin town square our first night.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:26 PM - link - 1 comment.

Moon over a street off the town square in Tallin.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:25 PM - link - Comments?

This is Tiia a friend of Kaadri's who we met when we were in Bergen. They were kind enough to treat us to a walking tour of Tallin.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:23 PM - link - 1 comment.

Kaadri a friend we met in Bergen.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:22 PM - link - 2 comments.

Another church in Tallin.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:19 PM - link - Comments?

One of many scenic churches in Tallin.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:17 PM - link - Comments?

Some Shiftys in front of our hotel in Tallin.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:16 PM - link - Comments?

Welcome to Old Tallin. We were on our way to the town square and dinner when we came upon this view.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:12 PM - link - Comments?

Peter Lawlor catches a quick nap in the Copenhagen airport.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:07 PM - link - 1 comment.

How could we resist an opportunity to sing on the Whidibey ferry.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:02 PM - link - Comments?

Off we go to the airport for the Shifty Baltic adventure.  Bruce Bardwell - 10:02 PM - link - Comments?

Hi Folks, Well that didn't take long. I was able to take the network connection off the back of the hotel computer, and plug in my iBook. Hurray! The following is the text I had planned for today followed by some of our first pictures. 8/7/03- Morning Time Hi Folks, It was a pretty uneventful trip from Coupeville to Tallin. We did a little impromptu singing on the ferry and on the plane from Copenhagen to Tallin. Wylie and Ginny had already been in Tallin 3 days and had scoped out the place for us. We ate dinner at a restaurant on the town square and were serenaded by a group of male students from the University of Barcelona in Spain. Jet lag is beginning to caught up with some of us, and the energy was low by the end of the evening. Beer and Spirits Report- The local beer is good and there is a local liquor called Vanna Tallin that will put hair on your chest. Mood Report- Spirits are high, humor is good, and group bonding has started (would someone please give me a hug J). Bruce  Bruce Bardwell - 09:58 PM - link - 1 comment.