Fiddlin' on a dock

gigs, recording and canoeing through swamps

Such great experiences I've had here in Charleston, South Carolina. My first gig with the Steady Hand String band was a bit nerve racking since I knew barely any of the songs, but it ended up being a casual restaurant gig that was a lot of fun. We then headed over to an art gallery immediately after and played a super rowdy, close and personal gig for an appreciative audience. The next day, while we were jamming in the backyard on Friday, a neighbor who happens to own a bar down town asked us to come play a half hour gig at his bar on Sunday for a christmas party. $75 each for half an hour! The next evening we played at a beautiful wedding ceremony. The family was so happy they gave us a hefty tip afterwards and personally thanked us. It was a great time up on stage singing old country songs with such talented musicians. The next morning we played at the Farmer's Market for three hours and ended the day with the half hour set at the bar down town. We couldn't even hear Luke's loud old time voice and Matt hitting his guitar over the drunken noise there, but it was a fun, easy way to get a nice band fund to live off of for the next few days. Especially since we spent the next two days recording nonstop for the Steady Hand String Band album. It was almost completely stress free. We recorded almost every song all together instead of recording each part separately, which makes the whole album sound much more spontaneous and exciting, which is what old time and bluegrass is all about. All the songs have such a good feel to them because we were all happy while we were recording, which is usually not the case when recording an album. Luke, the studio manager and mixer was amazed by how smoothly everything went. Both him and his studio partner, Kevin, had a great time and told us we should come back and record any time. Luke told me he really wanted me to come back with my originals and record them as soon as possible. I will hopefully find the time to take him up on that. Matt's friends are all so nice and welcoming, and keep telling me I need to stick around and go to College of Charleston instead, which I really can't help but seriously consider as an option. Now we are in Conway, South Carolina which is where Luke and Gloria are from. They own a quaint little cabin on a pond in a swamp which we have been jamming at and taking potential album cover photos. Today we're going to canoe into town, buy some oysters and have a yummy dinner tonight.

Here is a picture from recording at the studio:

Charleston, South Carolina

I made it to Charleston, South Carolina yesterday morning around 6am. It was a very quick, easy ride with a guy from Wells, Maine who was traveling down for work in Florida. Definitely lucked out with Craig's List this time. He happily drove the whole way in his new saab he just bought last week. I had a nice day touring around Charleston on the bike Matt found for me, and a lovely dinner with Corey and his girlfriend, Grace. I'm still getting used to everyone speaking english around me. I keep wanting to say to them, Oh you're from the U.S. too! Music shenanigans starts tomorrow evening...

European adventures come to an end

On my last night in Croatia, Maris and I made some special Hot Chocolate!

Very yummy. Then I left for Belgrade, Serbia and stayed in a hostel in Belgrade for a night. Had a nice time at a bar down the street. Wish I could have stayed longer, but departed the next morning for Skopje, Macedonia. I caught the train by about 30 seconds.. Had a nice time in Skopje for a few days and then took the bus to Sofia for Adelaide's birthday. My last week was relaxing and pleasant spending time with family. Nicholas and his youngest daughter, Paula, who I hadn't met yet, were both around, so it was great hanging out with them. I busked with Adelaide's friend, who she met at Bonaroo and who happens to be in Sofia now teaching music lessons to little Jewish kids. Got on the plane on Thursday morning and made it back in time for thanksgiving dinner in Bethel, Maine. Ahh how lovely to be home. I think I might be leaving for Charleston on Sunday, though, depending on the Craigslist ride share I'm trying to get.. Much too soon. Now I am sitting at home basking in my banjo. Here are some more pictures of the place I volunteered at in Croatia.

In the crazy garden collecting herbs

baby

Rocket stove makes very nice sleeping benches

Exciting toilet experiences

Arien

Mud walls, wooden floors

Yoga

Morning dew

Happy family

Getting yelled at by small children who don't speak english

Hello!

Lovely group of people to go walking with

little bear

painting mud

Preparing lunch

Once again, change of plans. Decided I couldn't leave quite yet after Dan, Quiggy and Maris convinced me I should stay. Lots of wasted money on a plane ticket but I'm so happy I'm not on my way to a plane ride right now.!

Arien is happy

So is Dan!! 

Nika seems a bit confused about it..

Oriovcic

Very sad to be leaving the lovely village of Oriovcic tomorrow morning. This family has grown on me in just a few days.

Gert

Nika

  

Today we all finished laying down bricks in the front of the house.!

Manly men

Now I shall try to catch a plane to Macedonia in the morning.

Slovonski Brod

Yesterday I said goodbye to Hannah and vidhe and set off for slovonski Brod, about 200 km east of Zagreb. Marko, our host in Zagreb, made me a nice little cardboard sign saying SB and gave me a bunch of fruit for the road. Such a lovely person. Vidhe and Hannah set off for Ljubljana and Venice and I was left all alone.! Got a ride all the way to slovonski Brod by three nice old men who gave me a sandwich and an orange. Dropped me at the toll where I got yelled at by the guy in the booth to get away.. A nice guy picked me up and brought me to the bus station where I got a taxi. I arrived here and no one was around so I just roamed around the beautiful yard. The house is made of mud and straw and the garden is a crazy jumble. The family got home a bit later and it turns out there are five other volunteers here too. Also five kids. Very, very loud kids... Fun fun. Today we painted and then went for a frolick in the woods. Found a pretty salamander and played with leaves.

The house!