In a camp near service centre West, last year’s flooding has shaped this year’s maritime theme.
By Kerstin Bruun-Hansen
Translated by Sara Marie Atkinson
A cheerful “Ship ohoy” greets us as we poke our heads through the fishing net in a camp in camping area west, named “The Seaman’s Tavern”. The maritime theme is not to be mistaken if you step right under the pavilion lined with fishing net, rope, buoys and a lone German seaman’s plaquette.
The camp will not wash away this year
“Our camp washed away last year, so this year we wanted to be prepared for the worst”, says Marie Ipsen, who in the same breath asks if we have seen the camp’s lifebuoy, which was stolen on the first night of the festival. This has not dampened the spirits of the hearty seafarers, however. Their spirits are high as they drink lots of Fisherman’s and Linje Aquavit, sing seamen’s ballads and eat salty liquorice fish and mustard. Although it is heavy going, they show no mercy towards the landlubbers who cannot take it. “Those with scurvy have already gone overboard”, says Rasmus Iversen.
“May you sail well taut”
Like real sailors, who must kill a lot of time on the seven seas, the camp members entertain each other with seaman’s tales. “We camp members met each other when we crossed Cape Horn and went to land to find some harlots. Since then we have sailed hand in hand from Cape Town to Vienna”, one of them tells us with a glint in his eye that reveals that he has not likely crossed many seas. Nonetheless, they play their part in the camp’s setting very well. “May you sail well taut,” is the parting salute we receive as we leave the camp.
