Florida, Florida, Florida!

Okay, I've been out of juice for my laptop since I arrived here on the 24th. So, that made me unable to do a blogpost. However, to be honest, I could have if I borrowed one of my hostesses computers. But I was mostly just too lazy. I've really needed lazy after the long flight. My hostesses are scared I'll grow bored, but I keep assuring them that I like the nice, slow and enjoyable Floridan pace of things.

So, my plans have changed a bit. My original idea was to head back to Sweden around February, however since I paniced when ordering my return ticket, I now have a return flight at the 20th of Marsh. Me, in my panic and without sleep for 24 hours thought that "90 days... that is one and a half month". No idea how I got that. Sooo, I will be staying at each place a bit longer than I first intended. But, then again, it is quite nice to not have to feel stressed out.

So, now I am in Florida, and I've already done some nice things. I've been to a Highwaymen museum. The Highwaymen are a few black people who were influenced by the artist A.E. Backus who was a very famous landscape painter. Google the feller and google for the highwaymen and you'll probably recognize it.

We also went to see a historical museum about Fort Pierce, where I got to learn tons and tons of things about american history. All the way from the native americans to the second world war. The guide who took us though it was completely awesome. Normally the museum takes about 30 minutes, but with his information and enthusiasm the tour took 3 hours. Despite the fact that when he started the tour he said "I'll just get you guys started, and then you can see the rest of the exhibit yourselves". Cudos to you, Peter. I was so caught up I didn't even remember to take pictures.

Apart from that we also went to a water centre where we got to see lots of fishes, a bit of swamp and also got to pet sting rays. One of the rays got really attached to one of my hostesses and was really cuddly and lovesick. Nope, not the one in the picture, but an actual sting ray.

Hustle the hustling hustler!

So, I was approached by a girl who pointed to a paper which in bad engish said something about being the official charity for deaf children. On the very same photocopied paper there were names already written, photocopied. Where it said city someone had written "Alice" where it said "zip code" someone wrote "Paris". About 3 names, the same errors for each name. An obvious scam. She refused to talk in either German or English with me, so she was not even from Germany. So, I scribble on her paper, and for the amount I write down €20. Here comes the hustle! I gave her €10!

Wait, wait, wait. Before you complain and go "Mattias, you stupid bastard, you still gave her money!", sit back and listen. I took a few steps, went out of view for a bit and then came back, all angry-looking and said "Wait a second! You scammed me! That wasn't right!" she looked a bit taken aback an shook her head. I said "I want my money back!" And she shook her head again. I looked around and loudly said "Where is the Police?" in both English and German. Loud enough for people around to hear, but not loud enough to actually call attention. She looked scared and pulled out the €10 I gave her. And I say "No! Look the paper. I gave 20!" She looks and then gives me a 20 instead. I nod and go away. Secretly trying not to cackle in insane glee and adrenaline.

Now I just need to hustle some other scammers out of another 15 euro and I've broken even from the previous one.

In  other news, I messed up a bit with the flight plan and thought the plane left at 3:30, when it actually leaves at 6:30, leaving me effectively stranded in Berlin with no place to stay or go. According to the homepage, the airport close between 00:00 and 04:00. I tried to call to confirm, but something was wrong with my phone. But I managed to get the help of my roomie to double check it (cudos man *fist-bump*). So I've been wandering from about 11 am to now (4:30 pm) before I managed to find a 24/7 café with free WiFi, huzzah! I just hope they won't throw me out, since I'll be staying here some 10 hours or so.

Happy Birthday to me!

zSo, today is my birthday, which I conveniently spend while on the road to avoid having to drink too much coffee with friends and family. Nothing against friends and family, but that much coffee gives me heart burn.

First things first. So, my visit here in Gothenburg is spent mostly with my brother Tobias and his girlfriend Veronica. They got a cozy little flat not too far out of town, some 10-15 minutes by tram or so I believe. And I must not forget Octavia, their very, very, very lovesick cat with a 2 meter trigger radius of her purring.

Erik's hat-moose

Yesterday I met up with my good friend Erik (who had his birthday yesterday) and his roomie Jon. We made home made tortillas and played obscene amounts of "Rayman: Origins". Just simply had an awesome time together.

Today me and Veronica spent going though "Universum". A mixture of a museum and an indoor tropical zoo. Here you can find tiny, tiny monkeys, and

they're outside of their cages, so if you're lucky... or unlucky, you can get one tangled in your hair. There is also an assortment of strange and awesome fish in huge tanks and aquariums. Snakes, spiders, poisonous frogs and so on.

Here be monkeys!

Tiny and very cute =D

 
After that we met up with my little brother and had a lovely supper which ended in lots of really delightful cheesecake. And gods, been a while since my feet were this sore.