The Domus Aurea. © Rarignac Bordeaux, Midi, La Fête de la Pentecôte, 2012

The Blessed Bay of Eleusis and the destination of the Sacred Way, Iera Odos (© Rarignac). Bordeaux, l’Aube, La Fête de l’Ascension, 2012 The Gothic and the Classic: The Road to Eleusis Arlanda, undoubtedly an admirably efficient airport, was overly full of unboarded passengers the day I set out from Stockholm to Eleusis via Milan.  Corralled by retractable belt barriers into an intestinally-inspired queue, I found myself squeezed into a knotted lump of technology-burdened passengers consisting of myself, ‘The Bad Seeds’, their companions, tour manager, and Nick Cave.  Amidst voyaging Swedes and assorted business persons, our little bolus of the indigestible seemed conspicuously tribal.  As we stood there awaiting processing, paperwork in hand, technology piled at our feet, I explained my mission to the manager.  With his concord, I sought out Cave’s: I wanted to interview them on the subject of Gothicity.  The carefully-groomed, authoritarian Mr. Cave was pleasant enough but refused to make any on-camera pronouncements on the subject of ‘Gothic’ or ‘goths’, seeming to view it, no doubt rightly, as a radioactive topic that could only get him into trouble.  Once he had declared Gothicity an out of bounds subject, none of his vassals would broach it, including those that already had.  Cave wished me success with the project and I contented myself with sharing travellers’ bonhomie.  So much for the business of the Gothic.  Arriving at Milan where Cave was to play, we wished ourselves mutual good luck and good-byes. Fellow traveller on my Gothic quest.