Deckhand diary July 18th    (Excerpts)
 
The Big Day! After breakfast we rushed to work, making the Swedish Ship Götheborg look her best before the arrival of our distinguished guests. We, the girls of the starboard watch, had been assigned to the role of 18th century ladies serving our VIP guests. We put much effort into make-up and hair-styling, to match corsets, lace and beautiful dresses, but there we were much mistaken. We would of course be servants from this century. So all we got was a linen dress each and Hanna and Susanna were also allotted a small cloth hat. They looked like two sweet wood anemones.

Then it was it. The King and his entourage arrived according to schedule and with him some 90 guests. There were baronesses and counts, sponsors and the Swedish Deputy Prime Minister, the Mayor and Swedish TV4 and other VIPs. The King was a very nice man who shook hands with us in the crew and others, and had a little chat here and there. We were offering champagne, wine and fruit, but what seemed to appeal the most to these elated palates was - water.

In Nansha the reception was overwhelming. Music, singing and dancing. Doves were let loose and people were waving with Chinese and Swedish flags, and throwing plastic bouquets to us. The number of journalists present was not to be counted, but I think we have been in every newspaper.

(Ashore) we were nearly drowned in a sea of Chinese who wanted to shake hands, have their photo taken together with us and have autographs. I wrote autographs on caps, T-shirts, paper-money - anything they could find to write on. People even handed us their babies to have a photo taken, but that was a bit too much, for me at least. Finally I had to leave, explaining that I needed my lunch.

Anna Nilsson,
Styrbord