What a day! Joris and family (Audrone and Vladas) came over for lunch. I made barbecue, cole slaw, mushroom casserole and boiled potatoes. The barbecue wasn't bad, if I do say so. Two handed sandwiches were new to them, I think, but they were good sports and dug in. When we had our picnic at the Spit, the sandwiches were tiny, pretty, tasty sandwiches that I associate with tea parties, or Scandivavia.
After lunch we walked down to the old ferry area to see the ships, military exhibits and crafts stalls. On the walk, I saw a statue I had not seen before. It is a ghostly figure rising from the sea. I am so glad I commented favorably about it, because Vladas, his architecture partner and the 2 sculpturers had designed it. It really is wonderful, though Joris says it is too scary.
The military, both army and navy were out in full force with gun exhibits, hummers, inflatable gun boats, largest boats to tour, etc. Big boys and little boys were having a great time having their pictures taken with weapons. There were also a number of exhibits about ecology, including living exhibits. Young women had on elaborate dresses made from light bulbs, aluminum cans, drink can tabs, and other bits and pieces. They had on bikinis underneath, and not much else. Poor things were covered with goose bumps. It was a windy day and quite chilly by Lithuanian standards.
After a couple of hours, we all went home. Del and I had a nap, got dressed and headed out to meet the Balse family at the fisherman's concert hall for the Moscow Ice Circus. On the way to the bus stop we passed, or more correctly were passed by a slew of motorcycles. I didn't start counting until they had been going by two or three abreast for at least ten minuttes, and I counted 305, so I'm guessing at least 600. They were headed to the old Klaipeda airport for a rally.
But now for the main attraction of the day! The Moscow Ice Circus. And lest you get your hopes up, there were no hippos or monkeys on skates. I know, I was a little disappointed, but don't tell PETA.
We had been to several events at the Fisherman's Concert Hall, including the ballet, and hadn't been able to visualize how they would put down ice. Little did we know that there is a surface that seems rather like a huge cuting board that can be put down and skated on. In fact, I looked it up, and you can have an ice rink in your own backyard for a couple of thousand on up, depending on size and thickness of the polymer.
Based on the performances, most of the people were acrobats who learned to skate. There were a couple of large skating numbers that were not of the quality of the pairs who skated or the acrobatic acts. It was amazing to see people do many of the same acts I have seen in a circus except on skates. I loved it all, but several stood out in my mind:
Three women in beautiful costumes skated on stilts that had skate blades made into them. It was amazing how well they could do. I'm thinking they were at least 4 feet off the ice.
A young woman skated on stage with a partner and proceeded to do a a series of quick changes behind pieces of fabric of various sized that boggled my mind. Each change took only a second. The time element would have been enough, but the costumes did not go from bigger to smaller. The last change was from a typical bathing suit sized costume to a long gown. I would love to see how that act was constructed. Of course they skated together between changes.
There was a rope jumping routine that ended up with about 15 people jumping. There were long ropes going perpendicular across each other with more people jumping and turning ropes for other people to jump who were holding shorter ropes still and jumping. Maybe it makes sense.
Men, if you are squeamish, avert your eyes. Others, forgive my lack of delicacy. The juggling acts were really great and of course the twirling from ropes from the ceiling etc., but the other thing that truly amazed me is how the young women could do the acrobatics wearing costumes that were one piece but ended in a thong arangement. Which would have been beyond uncomfortable in and of itself, I would think, but they were wearing the costumes over flesh colored tights. I'm thinking they should have gotten hazardous duty pay for the resulting war of the undergarments.
It was a full day, and I was worn completely out. So much so that I turned down the opportunity to walk 10 minutes back down to docks to see the fireworks when it got dark at 11 o'clock. You know I'm tired when I turn down fireworks. I was fast asleep and did not even hear them.
Oh, thanks to friend Mark for sending in a food report. His family must have mashed carrots and rutabagas or turnips, equal parts for Thanksgiving and Christmas, no sweet potato concoctions, bless their hearts. As a child he ate green pea soup with Vienna sausages in them, or a combination of tomato soup and green pea soup without sausages. Thanks for sharing family secrets, Mark and Sandy. I'm thinking our other friends are still wandering around in denial, bless their hearts. How will I ever write my future best seller, Food Secrets of the Middle Class and Not Particularly Well Known? My own issues will only fill 98 pages. Maybe if I type big I can stretch it to 110. Plus, I'm just the inquisitive type. Doesn't that sound better than nosy or nosey?
Family brag note. Tracy was just awarded Mableton Community Day Citizen of the Year. Nobody works harder than she does. I'm thinking the School Board could use a little of her energy and skill.
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