TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Friday, November 4, 2005

7:48 PM
Posted by jodi rose

it's funny, people have been so intrigued by the whole idea of this bridge guard residency, and keep asking: what are you going to do?
today the program is already full - pleasantly so, but there is plenty to keep me occupied. it's a good feeling to be here, there is a sense of peace, knowing that this is my place for the next four months.
woke up exhausted, feeling like I've been hit by a truck. lay in bed for an hour listening to the town waking up - a dog barking, two notes, quite musical; with ocassional accompaniement from a metallic whirring sound, circular, unidentifiable.
eventually dragged myself up, made toast with vegemite - yes the travel pack tube made it's way into my luggage - will go out and forage for more fresh food in the better supermarket (billa according to gyuri and thomas) but glad to have breakfast to hand.
I have the brand new map of sturovo/parkany from gyuri, and a cd of Slovakian tango, by local composer Ernest Zahovay Erno - which will definitely make its way into my radio piece.
Heard the haunting Hungarian nationalist tune for the first time yesterday - as Monique wrote in her guard diary, this is played at 4.30pm every day in an aural reclamation of the countries borders - apparently it annoys the slovakians. Actually my scottish mobile was in allegiance with hungary yesterday, telling me I was still in that country until a few hours after I'd arrived here. And the border control on the train checked our passports just after leaving budapest, both hungarian and slovakian - so we crossed a moving border.
Reading the log books from the previous guards this morning, so many lovley moments and ideas - I must buy a special pen to write in the logbook, biro seems disrespectful somehow. I love monique's photos and the post-it installation with the words 'life is good' in hungarian, 40,000 times. jo vilag van (with accents)
taking care of housework, I have unpacked my bright scarves which liven up the hall coat rack - and offset the four black jackets.
Like Sonja, I could only bring with me what I can carry - which seemed a lot on the train and at check-in for the plane, but now is very very sparse. I have three enormous rooms and not much to put in them - although very glad I brought some of my favourite pictures, these white walls will drive me mad in oh about another hour or so.
Like paul from the beasties, I'm a fan of pattern and colour.
Sonja's basil plant is thriving - I will do my best not to kill it.
Promised to send sounds to monique today - but am disheartened to find I only have dial-up access, not broadband - and it's only free between 4pm - 7am so I'm being quite decadent going online now.
have to ration myself - that or go buy a pcmia card for wireless broadband from my laptop - hey any excuse to tech up.
There is no hot water in the apartment, so I've been advised to go have a bath in the thermal baths - which wasn't part of my plan, but I guess you can't have too many dips in the healing waters. and gyuri promises to get a man to come and fix the hot water here.
All my clothes are in the wash - never quite managed to find the facilities in scotland, and they are all filthy - dirty old town ;)
Found a beautiful scottish pound with a dragon on it in the clothes bag. Keeping it to remind me of that magical passionate place.
The currency people refused to exchange my scottish money - even though i argued they are still pounds sterling - so now have to sort all my currencies into different wallets or something, as slovenia will be the fourth different money I'm carrying.
speaking of which, must write and tell the break 2.3 festival when I arrive. hello. (people here say hello for hello and goodbye)