Living Life With Passion & Purpose!
After wandering around with nowhere to stay, I spotted the lights on inside the World Trade Center. Even though it wasn’t nearly as big as the one in New York, something about it felt safe and solid. I ended up sleeping in the stairwell underneath the building that night. It wasn’t the most comfortable, but at the time, it felt like the best option I had.
As I watched the people in tuxes and gowns moving through the main floor, I knew this was a classy, safe space. I spotted a staircase leading down, and quietly slipped over and followed it. When I reached the bottom, I felt strangely at ease. I was confident no one would find me here, and even if they did, I didn’t think I’d be robbed or hassled. If the police happened to discover me, I figured they’d understand my situation and probably be helpful. It felt like the safest and smartest option I had. As I lay in my sleeping bag that night, I was actually kind of proud of myself for finding it.
With my fear of open water and the sinking of the MS Estonia still fresh in everyone’s mind, the first thing I did after boarding the M/S Silja Scandinavia was look for the lifeboats. Seeing them lined up along the side of the ship gave me a small sense of relief. At least if something went wrong, I had a plan.
This was the large central atrium of the ferry. From where I was standing on an upper level, I could look down and see all the activity below. With the lights strung across the space and people moving around, it really did feel like a party was going on underneath me. All those windows around the sides were cabins overlooking the area.
This was the central gathering spot on the M/S Silja Scandinavia. Everyone seemed to end up here at some point — whether it was for announcements, live entertainment, or just to sit and have a drink. It was loud, lively, and constantly busy. Standing in the middle of it all felt like being inside a floating nightclub.
The ferry also had a casino, and quite a few people were gathered around the tables playing. I didn’t have any money, and even if I did, I probably wouldn’t have gambled. Still, it was entertaining to stand back and watch everyone else try their luck.
