Hey guys, sorry for the long time with no update. It’s a been a very busy 2 weeks with Grant and Bingman on board and I have not had a chance to sit down and write a new post.
This story starts all the way back on November 5 in Belgrade. That’s when are where Dr. Bingman touched down to join forces with Grant and I.
Grant and I killing some time at the fortress in Belgrade before Bing’s 430pm arrivalWe also went back to the museum of Yugoslavia and saw Marshall Tito’s grave.Grant and Marshall Tito. The shit Eagle finally touched down at Belgrade international. Getting back to our apartment and presenting the guys with the Ushankas that I bought for them as welcome presents back in Ukraine. They would get plenty of wear over the next 2 weeks.Just like old times.Heading out for some traditional Serbian food and rakias with Grant’s old friend from college, Mischa, who lives in Belgrade.Visited by some excellent Serbian musicians at our table.
My favorite of all the Serbian folk songs that I’ve heard called “Tamo Daleko”.It was a great traditional meal.After dinner, we took Bing to the fortress to see it by night. We were joined by Denis, the Brazilian guy from our previous hostel who had caught a ride to Belgrade with us. Soaking up the atmosphere
Grant thinks the stereotype of Slavic people squatting, drinking vodka, and smoking cigarettes is hilarious (so do I) and he’s made a habit of squatting just about everywhere we’ve set foot since he arrived. Sometimes the timing is hilarious.
Returning to our apartment patio for the nightcap
The hats turned the guys into full on Slavs.Bedtime in BelgradeVenturing out into the city for some food and exploration on day 2.The rain kind of put a damper on touring Bing around the city, but it cleared up enough in the evening for us to get our first busking session in. We wound up making about $50 in 2 hours, so it could have been worse.
Bingman singing some “Cabin in the Pines” in Belgrade.
On Thursday the 7th, it was time to head to Novi Sad to play the first of 4 shows in a row that I had set up for us before the guys arrived. My stomach was feeling a little queesy on Thursday morning, but I made it through the day and through the show – although by end of the night Thursday I was feeling pretty terrible.
Enroute to Novi Sad for show number 1. Diego Pub in Novi SadGettin’ her done on Bingman’s first international show, even though I was feeling really sick and weak throughout the whole show.
Thursday night and into Friday morning was a disaster. I was in the bathroom at least 25 times, had a fever, and generally felt awful. I’ll spare you the details, but I was very dehydrated on Friday to say the least. I was feeling so bad that I told the fellas I really felt like I should go to the hospital to get an IV and make sure I didn’t have anything too serious. So they accompanied me to the hospital for what turned out to be a 10 hour event of hurry up and wait. I did manage to get them to give me two IV’s, but it took so long and I was so weak from everything that we had no choice but to cancel the show I had booked for Friday night in Sremska Mitrovica, which was a total bummer.
Waiting and waiting at the Serbian ER.Hooked up for the IV.I’m pretty sure that this saved my life, or at least that’s how it felt at the time.
I spent the rest of the night Friday just sleeping and trying to recover from the stomach flu or whatever it was that I had. I was hoping and praying that I would be better by the next day because we had a 5 hour drive to make and a show to play that night in Sofia, Bulgaria. My prayers were answered because I felt so much improved by Saturday that we were able to make the whole drive without excessive bathroom stops and play the show as planned!
On the road to SofiaPassing through some rugged terrain in Western Bulgaria.They were ready for us at Bar Roderic in Sofia.The tip jug was looking a little sparse at the break, but in the end we made close to $200 for playing that show between the percentage from the bar and the tips we got. No complaints!
The following day, Sunday, we rested up in preparation for the dinner time show that was booked that evening at Tom’s Irish Pub in Sofia.
Street art in SofiaWar monument in SofiaAll set up at Tom’s for the 6pm show.
The crowd there was small, but very enthusiastic. They were mostly Irish/English/Scottish ex-pats. Here, Bing and I sing “Today I Started Loving You Again” by Merle.We wound up hanging out after hours and doing some more jamming with Tom (the owner) and a few other regulars. They really liked our music there.Last customers of the night at Tom’s.More Slav Squatting.Bing was happy to discover the old time elevator in our hostel building since we were on the 4th floor.
On Monday, it was time to get on the road for Plovdiv. We took a scenic detour through the mountains to get there.
Enroute to Plovdiv.This was a nice touch by our hostel.Our room at the Old Plovdiv Hostel. Evidently Rick Steves once stayed in our room as well.Getting a fantastic dinner in Plovdiv.Me and my new buddy at dinner.Bing and his new buddy. There was a whole colony for friendly kittes hanging out at our restaurant.Bing and I decided to do some picking at our hostel and Plovdiv instead of buking or going out and then started quite a little party in the courtyard.
God save our queen
Bing taking the opportunity to pick a little guitar while I was having a breather.
Knoxville girl, a classic murder ballad.
The next day, I went out busking and made about 40 euros in 45 minutes before being run off by the police. It was a bummer too because I had a crowd and was on track to make a lot more money!
My busking spot in Plovdiv on November 12. Not a bad little haul for 45 minutes of playing.
The next day, we got on the road for Valinko Tarnovo. Enroute, we wanted to stop and see a large communist memorial in the mountains, but wound up experiencing some of the worst fog I’ve ever seen!
Treacherous driving through this in the mountains. It was even worse at times.Made it to the communist monument but couldn’t see anything.There it is.Swinging back through Valinko Tarnovo for the night.Had a great local mean in town.
The next morning, November 14, we crossed the border into Romania and headed for our destination of Brasov. We intended to do some busking there, but once again encountered difficulties with the police – so we spent most of our time hanging out in the hostel’s bar where we could jam with the other guests and some locals we met and could pour our own beer on the honor system. Along the way, we stopped in Targoviste to see the place of the trial and execution of the former dictator of Romania.
Enroute to Romania through northern Bulgaria.Goodbye BulgariaStopping by the location of former Romanian dictator Ceausecu’s trial and execution by kangaroo court in 1989. This was in Targoviste.Romanian flag during communist times.The seat where Ceausecu and his wife sat during their trial.The place where they were executed by firing squad on the same day they were found guilty. By nearly all accounts, the trial and execution were a sham and stain on Romania’s history.Hanging out at our hostel’s bar in Brasov.
Picking a little Folsom Prison Blues.The main pedestrian street in Brasov. It was prime busking territory, but the police here were very serious about the permit requirements. I went to the city hall to try to get one, but was told it would take a week to process. So no dice.The black church of Brasov. One of the gates leading into Brasov old town.Bing traversing Rope street, one of the narrowest streets of Europe.Me in front of rope street.
On our second day staying in Brasov, Bing and I took the short excursion to see the most famous tourist attraction in Romania – Bran Castle – where the fictional Count Dracula was said to have lived. It was very touristy, but interesting to see nonetheless.
Bran CastleInside Bran CastleCommanding views of the valley from atop the castle.Some of the stairways in Bran Castle were mighty narrow.Another castle that we came across on our way back to Brasov.
After the excursion to the castle, we went back to Brasov where we took a cable car to the top of the nearby mountain for some great views of the city and then we reconvened with Grant for dinner and some more hanging and jamming back at the hostel.
On our way up Tampa mountainGreat view down to Brasov from the mountainThe boys with some more Sarmale, which are cabbage rolls that were a favorite food of all of ours in Romania.Back to the spot, pouring out own beers.
Bing and I tried out some new songs that I had downloaded, including “Seminole Wind” by John Anderson.
The next day, we checkout out of the hostel and got on the road to Bucharest. We had to get Bing there for his flight home and we wanted to have one more big night out before he took off!
Passing through the mountains between Brasov and BucharestOle Grant was pretty tuckered out by this time.Last dinner together in Bucharest on Saturday night.
We finally got to busk again on Saturday night in Bucharest. We played for about 2 hours and made around $60. The Ushankas were a big hit and got lots of comments from the Romanian people. Some folks even thought we were Russians at first glance 😂
A Michael Jackson impersonator dancing to Bing’s mandolin solo. I think I’ve now seen it all.Bing could get used to the busking life I think.Closing out the night with a couple of drinks at the Mojo pub next to our hostel.
Bing took to feeling some type of way and started doing the Bernie right there in the bar 😂
Yesterday, Grant and I parted ways with Bingman in Bucharest to start making our way to Uzzhorod, Ukraine for another show that I have booked there on Wednesday. Bing stayed behind to relax on his own until his flight out, which was this evening. It was good hanging with my main mandolin buddy and we miss him already!
Yesterday evening we crashed in the medieval city of Sigisoara, Romania and then toured around it this morning before getting on the road to our destination of Cluj. There were some cool old buildings in the city.
One of the 7 towers of Sigisoara, built into the old city walls.City hallStatue of Vlad the ImpalerThis area was settled by Saxons, so there were many German names in the old cemetery. On the road to Cluj.
We arrived in Cluj at nightfall, so I decided to go out and do a little busking since our hostel was basically on the main pedestrian drag. I wasn’t expecting much, as it is cold and it’s a Monday night – but I wound up having the best night of my trip on the streets. I made $171 in 3 1/2 hours!
They were really making in rain on me in Cluj.My location in the pedestrian area. 770 lei = $171Laying out all my earnings in the bar nearby so I could trade it for bigger bills.
In the morning, we’ll be making the 4 1/2 hour drive to Uzhhorord. I will be appearing on the radio for the second time there on Wednesday morning and then on Wednesday evening I will play back at the Egan Pub where I had a great show when I visited about 2 months ago. I’m expecting this to be my biggest show yet in Europe and am very excited for it!
Hope it turns into a big job!
That’s all I have for now – talk to you guys again soon!
Great blog! I have enjoyed following all your high adventures with Grant and Bing,loved all the photos of scenery,statues,buildings,and all the good food you fellas have been eating. Sorry you were ill and had to go through such a long wait in the E.R. before you got the iv,glad I didn’t know about it till the situation was resolved and you were feeling much better!
Linda South
Great blog! I have enjoyed following all your high adventures with Grant and Bing,loved all the photos of scenery,statues,buildings,and all the good food you fellas have been eating. Sorry you were ill and had to go through such a long wait in the E.R. before you got the iv,glad I didn’t know about it till the situation was resolved and you were feeling much better!