A well-oiled machinery
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We have 18 cases in addition to our hand luggage, and we need five trolleys when we arrive at the airport. We have gradually gotten into this routine: A couple of us unload the car while another gets the trolleys. One puts red adhesive tape around the locks of the instrument cases, so that they won�t open during the flight, another one collects the passports and checks all of us in. Suitcases are delivered at the check-in, and equipment and solid instruments are sent as special luggage.����
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After passing through security, the butterflies finally return. Our sound engineer, who is also our tour manager, gives us an update about today�s schedule. The time for soundcheck, time for dinner, when the concert starts� and how long we are allowed to play.
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When we are on an airplane, the cello becomes a person, Mr. Pettersen to be more specific.�He has his own ticket and his own seat. He is fastened by a large belt, and can choose between coffee and tea as the rest of us. Mr. Pettersen prefers a window seat, and once in a while he gets cold and asks for a blanket and a pillow in his back. He is the perfect passenger, quiet and polite, and willingly lends his shoulder to a tired head.
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The rest of us gather for boarding as early as possible, to make sure that our instruments can fit in the luggage compartment above the seats. In addition to bumps and pressure from other luggage, instruments may be harmed by the low temperatures in the luggage storage in the lower parts of the plane. Accordion, banjo, bass and guitar are carefully put in their places, in a puzzle-like arrangement we have developed and brought to perfection over time.
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To everyone�s advantage, the Marit Larsen travelling troupe is seated together. On longer trips on different transportation devices you adapt to some more or less quirky habits that are not necessarily compatible with proper business traveller�s wishes for an hour on two onboard a plane � loud noises, humour at times suffering from too little sleep (eel jokes are already a classic) � and everything else that characterizes a big family on tour. �
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Business traveller or not, the trip I have embarked on reminds me more of a dream holiday.