Straight into Camden

Jewel decided we were doing this road trip thing. Left to my own devices, I would have sat out Pearl Jam 2008. See Bruce put out an album this year, and it was decreed that 2007-08 was all about Bruce. Yup, I was cheating on Matt Cameron having a full on fling with The Boss. Jewel, however, knows that when it comes to road trips, I can usually let myself get talked into it, and given cash flow, we could do it (relatively cheaply.) And well, it's Pearl Jam. Matt will forgive me my indiscretions.

Hence, on Thursday morning, Jewel showed up at 7:15 a.m. and without any fuss at all we were off. By the time we reached New York state we were pretty astonished how much more quickly we could get to to places without having to stop every 100 kms to let every body else do their thing (everybody else = children running around.. We made to Philly by four and traffic on 76 really wasn't bad. (Last time, we ended up parked on it for an hour.)

We don't get lost. We find parking. We fucking rock.

Hotel, purchased through Priceline 4-stars, $122/night -- chain I'd never heard of called Club Quarters. Given some of the incidence in Philly earlier this year, I was a bit hesitant about it. But it's lovely. Great neighbourhood (Chestnut and 17th.) Water stations with bottles so you don't have to buy the stuff, microwaves in the rooms... lovely flat screen TV and free WiFi. Beautiful. Definitely beats the Microtel in Syracuse -- which is where we crashed last road trip.

But Pearl Jam was calling and we needed to pick up our tickets. (We purchase them through the fan club. Supposed to be better seats -- although I am not convinced. But it's usually a bit cheaper than Ticketbastard.)

Jewel and I feel isntantly in love with the desk clerk at the hotel. He was a little cherub of a man, talked with lisp and wiggled when he walked with hands out by his side. We asked for direction to the Tweeter Centre in Jersey. He gave us the look. The look that I imagine every single one of my Phila friends gave when I told them what we planned to do. Evidently Camden is a dangerous place. (I heard you, that's why we stayed in Downtown Philly. But how dangerous can it be?)

"Well. You know Jersey dangerous you know. And I NEVER go there," he explained. I was expecting a "girlfriend" at the end of that sentence. "But you could take the PATCO." He looked a bit concerned. The other girl at the desk looked equally horrified. Uh oh. We've freaked out the locals. Perhaps we haven't assessed the risk properly. Happens from living in Canada, our concept of danger is a bit off I think. Most hasten to add "if you stick from the train to the venue.

We find our way down to the train, figure out this incredibly complicated fee structure. Figure out, which stop we need, and board. Nice ride. Air Conditionned. Trains are pretty empty. Reminds me of the NY Subway a bit -- those trains that take you from Queens to Manhattan. I forget what they are called. We get off at City Hall. Some guy beckons us from across the way, we can't understand him. A bemused man in a car translates "He wants to know who is playing tonight." "Oh Pearl Jam." "Never heard of them." "You should. Are we going to right way?" (He gives us directions.) Nice guy.

Then we turn the corner.

Let me tell you guys something. Ottawa, as you know, is Canada's capital. There are lots of cops around. All sorts of cops. RCMP, OPP, Ottawa Police, Military Police. I'm used to a police presence. But Camden. Holy Fuck. Cops were everywhere. And people were pretty quick to make sure the two white girls knew where they were going. In six block, we got asked if we need help four times. Clearly, they want to make sure people are safe. Clearly two white women in their 30s do not belong wandering the streets of Camden.

Clearly we aren't in Philly anymore. But walking to the venue feels like any other. We stand in line forever for tickets. They are sorted alphabetically, F-I has the longest line. The kid at the booth is sweet enough, but she need a cheat sheet that was use to help The Boy with his dictionary home work. She has ID so spelling shouldn't be an issue.

The seats are ok, but they'll do. They have to at this point. We grab a drink. Get some merch. Then it hits me. We are here. We actually made it all the way here. We're going to see Pearl Jam in Camden.