Surprise! We have internet!

The connection's ridiculously bad, though, and there aren't enough power outlets (my poor laptop needs one because the battery is gone), so I doubt I'll be posting much. But, hey! Connection to the world: check.

So. I arrived safely today, after a one-night stopover at my aunt's. The train was full of activists and delegates and so on - you could tell by the reading matter and conversations all around. (And some of the activists and protesters did look the part, too. We've all been asked to wear neutral clothing, but I don't think anybody got a special, neutral haircut for the occasion... *g*)

Didn't see anything of the city yet - as expected - but may get some opportunity for that tomorrow. (Plus, possibly we'll be visiting one of the Greenpeace ships tomorrow. Two of them are here at the moment.) After tomorrow we'll mostly be working, though, so there won't be much tourist-like activity.

Accommodation is *very* basic - which is also pretty much as expected. We're staying at this warehouse complex in the harbour area, and we're sleeping on military-issue (I think) bunks. I'm going to go to bed in a moment, as we have to get up really early in the morning.

Food, on the other hand, is unexpectedly awesome. Vegan/vegetarian *and* very tasty! (Interesting discovery of the day: there is a vegetarian/vegan minced meat substitute which looks and tastes pretty much exactly like the original - which is actually not so awesome for me, because I don't *like* minced meat, even leaving aside the 'meat' issue. I don't like the texture, never did. Anyway, the chili-like stew we ate today was still great, even if I had to leave some of the meat substitute stuff.)

Well... and this is me signing off. Good night!

Warmth and hygiene

There's a French tv team here at the moment so we've interrupted/postponed our morning activities and so I've come by an unexpected bit of free time. Hence, a morning update!

Morning is actually a good time to plug in your computer: there are more free sockets in the morning than in the evening...

So. I already know (and knew beforehand, really) why I'll never be a hardcore activist (nor a hardcore archaeologist, either): I don't cope well with bad sanitary facilities.

They're not *that* bad here, really. But there's only cold water (in the showers apparently there is, intermittently, also the option of 'scalding hot'), and - this is my main issue: there are no hooks to put your clothes or any stuff on in the toilet stalls and in the washroom. I've tried balancing my stuff on the toilet paper holder, but that's round, so it's difficult to stack a heap of clothes and a bag of toiletries on it! I've already dropped most of my stuff on the toilet floor... thankfully, not my toothbrush so far. Wish me luck...

Okay, enough whining. It's really not that bad; not as bad as your average dig, anyway! ;-)

What else is there to tell? Mostly good news about warmth, really. No, not climate-related. Just clothes... and stuff. Item the first: I borrowed my mum's thermo trousers and boy, was that a good idea or what. They're fabulous. Super-warm and comfy, like a piece of home you can wear...

Also, tonight was the first time I used my new, warmer sleeping bag (the one I've been using till now was a twenty year old model that was very drafty by now), and that is fabulous, too. Mind you, I still couldn't go to sleep, and as a result overslept and almost missed breakfast and the first briefing - but fortunately the tv team delayed that a bit, so I had a chance to have some tasty organic chocolate spread on tasty organic bread. I'd like to blame my sleep trouble on the fact that the sleeping hall stank of gasoline like a garage, but I think really it was just my chronic sleep problem acting up.

Well, I think I should go get another cup of tea now, and possibly check my e-mail. TTYL.

Eeeek!

I just found the head of Nicolas Sarkozy in my bed!

:D

(They're building a float right next to my bunk.)

I've been asked what my tasks are so far...

Well, I joked, before coming here, about being willing to clean toilets, and I did actually clean a toilet today (just one, though). So, yeah, cleaning - mainly in the four apartments where those who are a bit more equal than others are staying ;-) - is part of my job. I accidentally stole our new Big Boss's sheets... I thought I had to change them and didn't realise we didn't have any to replace them with. Whoops... We thought about leaving a note: "Sorry we stole your sheets. You really should have brought a sleeping bag like we did, though!"

Joking and references to Animal Farm aside, the 'big brass' here don't actually live a life of luxury. They do get to sleep in real rented flats rather than bunks in a warehouse, but those flats are packed, and some people get to sleep on mattresses and even bunks on the floor. So, yeah. Maybe not as egalitarian as one would like, ideally, but not exactly the VIP suite, either.

So... other than those exciting Adventures In Cleaning, I didn't do much today. That is to say, the cleaning today turned out to be a full day's work, mainly because our group isn't complete yet so we only had four people to do that job. Plus, we had to get the flats ready for new occupants today. We'll hopefully be able to divide the work up between more people tomorrow and the days after that, and possibly even end up with some spare time. Possibly. Maybe. *g* (Okay, maybe not.

So... what else is there to tell? I think there's a big meeting tonight, and they've set up chairs and something that looks like it's supposed to be a screen for showing films or pictures, so there'll be... something, later in the evening. First, though, I really need to get some food, because with all the work today, there wasn't actually any time to eat.

And now my computer is acting up a bit and I think I should do a virus check, because I'm in the less secure network connection mode here. The more secure one doesn't seem to work on the laptop. Grmpf.