I woke up at my cousin´s place this morning in Zeist, The Netherlands. He gave me a ride to my bus pick up point. I took a bus to somewhere, then another bus to the Weeze airport. I waited around for 4 hours before I could check in - the only thing there was to do was drink beer. I bought a beer from every establishment possible, then checked in. Then I bought one more beer and left my passport sitting on the bar. Luckily the bartender was friendly and brought it back to me.
Ryanair is truely a no frills airline! I got nothing - not even a hello. Half way through my flight I felt dizzy, light headed and very sick - I think too much beer.
I arrived in Seville and knew I needed to get to hostel - everyone was crowded by a bus, so I hopped on and it took my withing 2 blocks of my place.
This hostel is sweet! I´m in a room with 3 others. I have free internet, air conditioning, free coffee and tea, and a very helpful receptionist. There is a pubcrawl tonight which is tempting me, but I am having flashbacks of my last Spanish pub crawl........
Haven´t eaten in a while - going to find me some tapas!
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Sunday, 26 July 2009
Kinderdijk - A UNESCO World Heritage Site - 19 windmills prevented the surrounding land from flooding by pumping water over a system of dijks. Very interesting!!
Marching the choir through Amsterdam en route to Anne Frank's house.
Europa Cantat Utrecht Festival - On opening day, boats carried entire choirs through the canals of Utrecht as they sang for the observers...
The Choir watching the choir boats go by. It was pink choir t-shirt day. Yes, I wore one too.
While I was waiting at the bus stop...Picture highlights
Mmmmm fresh, warm, giant stroopwaffle.
This is the choir that my girls were in while in Utrecht - they sang Latin American music and the concert was FANTASTIC!
This needs no explaination.
This is Cecile, my new Dutch conductor friend. She laughed at everything I said. The glasses belong to her kids.
A fantastic meal prepared by my cousins... It is great to be back here spending time with the family on this side of the ocean.
This is Cecile, my new Dutch conductor friend. She laughed at everything I said. The glasses belong to her kids.
A fantastic meal prepared by my cousins... It is great to be back here spending time with the family on this side of the ocean.Europa Cantat Utrecht 2009
I am writing to you after 10 days of choral madness at the Europa Cantat Festival in Utrecht, The Netherlands! What an amazing time! The festival is for anyone who likes to sing. 2500 participants gather and form many different choirs which rehearse throughout the week, and perform a a concert at the end.
Of course, I started the festival with my Girls' Choir and parent team. After some initial arrival confusion, we figured out where we were sleeping, eating, and hanging out. I always find that moment of confusion somewhat humorous... The Girls sang in the Latin American choir while I took in the conductors program. So, while they rehearsed tangos and merenges with girls from all over the world, I went to reading sessions, workshops, visited choirs, and shmoozed with conductors from around the world. The rehearsals and workshops were every morning, while in the afternoons, we attended many different choir concerts, and musical events. After 5 days of preparation, the Girls' and their new friends put on their concert. It was fantastic! The salsa rhythms and generally fun music made for a great concert. We, the MHC Girls Choir, also got to put on a performance of our own. I was very proud of myself and the choir for all of our accomplishments and the sounds we made.
So after 6 days, the Girls all headed home. They were exhausted and out of money so none of them complained. I continued at the festival for another 4 days. More concerts, workshops, and listening. I think I heard a total of about 30 choir concerts in the last week. I also got to sleep on a sailing ship! My accomadation changed mid-week and I ended up sleeping on a sailing ship parked in a canal in the town of Maarssen. Pretty cool.
Some quick highlights (and some low points depending on how you look at it)
1) wooden shoe and drumstick rhythmic dancer show
2) open singing - 2000 people sight-reading choir music
3) drinking La Chouffe with Hoop
4) Latin pronounciation workshop
5) African Children's Choir concert
6) MHC Girls' Choir performance
7) Having Dutch family come to my concerts
8) sleeping on a sailing ship
9) taking a PACKED bus full of hot sweaty Germans singing at the top of their lungs
10) Riding on the back of the bike of a Dutch woman
11) making 2 phone calls all bymyself
12) eating a fresh stroopwaffle
13) beer o clock
14) free van ride with Germans to Zeist
I don't think any of what I've just wrote makes any sense, but it could be due to the fact that I've averaged about 6 hours of sleep a night for the last two weeks. I am back at my Netherlands home however - the corner room at my cousin's place - and I hope to get some rest here before the next leg of my adventure begins!
Broodje.
Of course, I started the festival with my Girls' Choir and parent team. After some initial arrival confusion, we figured out where we were sleeping, eating, and hanging out. I always find that moment of confusion somewhat humorous... The Girls sang in the Latin American choir while I took in the conductors program. So, while they rehearsed tangos and merenges with girls from all over the world, I went to reading sessions, workshops, visited choirs, and shmoozed with conductors from around the world. The rehearsals and workshops were every morning, while in the afternoons, we attended many different choir concerts, and musical events. After 5 days of preparation, the Girls' and their new friends put on their concert. It was fantastic! The salsa rhythms and generally fun music made for a great concert. We, the MHC Girls Choir, also got to put on a performance of our own. I was very proud of myself and the choir for all of our accomplishments and the sounds we made.
So after 6 days, the Girls all headed home. They were exhausted and out of money so none of them complained. I continued at the festival for another 4 days. More concerts, workshops, and listening. I think I heard a total of about 30 choir concerts in the last week. I also got to sleep on a sailing ship! My accomadation changed mid-week and I ended up sleeping on a sailing ship parked in a canal in the town of Maarssen. Pretty cool.
Some quick highlights (and some low points depending on how you look at it)
1) wooden shoe and drumstick rhythmic dancer show
2) open singing - 2000 people sight-reading choir music
3) drinking La Chouffe with Hoop
4) Latin pronounciation workshop
5) African Children's Choir concert
6) MHC Girls' Choir performance
7) Having Dutch family come to my concerts
8) sleeping on a sailing ship
9) taking a PACKED bus full of hot sweaty Germans singing at the top of their lungs
10) Riding on the back of the bike of a Dutch woman
11) making 2 phone calls all bymyself
12) eating a fresh stroopwaffle
13) beer o clock
14) free van ride with Germans to Zeist
I don't think any of what I've just wrote makes any sense, but it could be due to the fact that I've averaged about 6 hours of sleep a night for the last two weeks. I am back at my Netherlands home however - the corner room at my cousin's place - and I hope to get some rest here before the next leg of my adventure begins!
Broodje.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Delft, Amsterdam, Utrecht
In a hot stinky basement of a corner store in Amsterdam right now typing this...
Had a great time in Delft! We took a canal tour and learned about some Delft history, and ended up at the Delftware pottery factory. You know those blue ceramic plates your grandmother has?... usually with a windmill or boat on them? Well, those are all made at this factory. It was cool to see how each plate (and everthing else) is handpainted by some guy. I liked watching how it is all made, but I'm not too fond of the actual end product.
We headed over to Delft's Old Church and warmed up and set up for a concert. It was such a fantastic experience to sing in a church that was built in the 1200's! And the church was HUGE! The girls' voices ressonated for a good 4 seconds. Many tourists stopped and listened, and we all had a great time.
After the concert we headed out the the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kinderdijke. This is a place in the Netherlands where a system of 19 windmills pumped water out of a low-lying area to keep it dry. This dry area, which was originally part of a river, is called a polder. It was truely amazing to see how the technology used in the 1700's is very similar to the technology still used today. Nothing much has changed except for the source of the power that drives the pumps.
Of course, that makes for one long day, so dinner and beers were in order. Beer of the day was Dommelesch, and each one drank got you a free hat. I will not tell you how many hats I got.
Today we woke up very early and got on the road to avoid the traffic. Our destination: Anne Frank's house. This is a very interesting and very heavy museum to visit. You have to deal with simultaneous feelings of horror, peace, joy, and disbelief. Anne Frank and her family were Jews who survived almost two years hiding from the Nazi's in an attic in Amsterdam. Eventually, a Dutch informant found out about their hiding spot and they were sent to Auschwitz. They all died except for Otto Frank, the father of the family, who was the one who worked so hard to try and protect them...
And now, we have a few hours of "shopping" time. This is the result of touring Europe with a bus-load of girls. Shoes, clothes, trinkets, chocolate, candy, and even booze are being bought up in large quantities while I sit here and type this. I've been mostly on my own, roaming Amsterdam and just taking it all in.
Tonight we head to Utrecht for the start of the Europa Cantat International Music Festival. 2500 singers are coming together to make music! It should be a fantastic time!
See U singing.
Had a great time in Delft! We took a canal tour and learned about some Delft history, and ended up at the Delftware pottery factory. You know those blue ceramic plates your grandmother has?... usually with a windmill or boat on them? Well, those are all made at this factory. It was cool to see how each plate (and everthing else) is handpainted by some guy. I liked watching how it is all made, but I'm not too fond of the actual end product.
We headed over to Delft's Old Church and warmed up and set up for a concert. It was such a fantastic experience to sing in a church that was built in the 1200's! And the church was HUGE! The girls' voices ressonated for a good 4 seconds. Many tourists stopped and listened, and we all had a great time.
After the concert we headed out the the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kinderdijke. This is a place in the Netherlands where a system of 19 windmills pumped water out of a low-lying area to keep it dry. This dry area, which was originally part of a river, is called a polder. It was truely amazing to see how the technology used in the 1700's is very similar to the technology still used today. Nothing much has changed except for the source of the power that drives the pumps.
Of course, that makes for one long day, so dinner and beers were in order. Beer of the day was Dommelesch, and each one drank got you a free hat. I will not tell you how many hats I got.
Today we woke up very early and got on the road to avoid the traffic. Our destination: Anne Frank's house. This is a very interesting and very heavy museum to visit. You have to deal with simultaneous feelings of horror, peace, joy, and disbelief. Anne Frank and her family were Jews who survived almost two years hiding from the Nazi's in an attic in Amsterdam. Eventually, a Dutch informant found out about their hiding spot and they were sent to Auschwitz. They all died except for Otto Frank, the father of the family, who was the one who worked so hard to try and protect them...
And now, we have a few hours of "shopping" time. This is the result of touring Europe with a bus-load of girls. Shoes, clothes, trinkets, chocolate, candy, and even booze are being bought up in large quantities while I sit here and type this. I've been mostly on my own, roaming Amsterdam and just taking it all in.
Tonight we head to Utrecht for the start of the Europa Cantat International Music Festival. 2500 singers are coming together to make music! It should be a fantastic time!
See U singing.
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
From France to the Netherlands!
Hey all,
Lots has happened in the past few days! Here are some highlights...
In Paris, we saw the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, Louvre, did a boat tour, and of course had to do some shopping with all the girls. We performed a concert in the Luxeumbourg Gardens in a gazebo. It was very well recieved and we had a big crowd! It was super hot wearing a tux in the middle of summer!
And, of course, we went to Paris Disneyland! And, yes of course, we also did a concert there! That was really fun too! We performed on a very Disney-like stage, complete with light effects, a forest set, and a sound system. Not sure how many people stopped to listen, but the choir and I had a fantastic time.
Today we made our way from Paris to Delft, the Netherlands. We stopped in Reims and took a tour of the Champagne cellars and had a good taste of the stuff. Then we went to Vimy Ridge and learned about the WWI memorial. We sang a few songs on the steps of the monument and it was a very moving and fantastic experience.
I've had a few Heinekens, some French wine and Champagne, and a Grand Marnier Crepe from a street side vendor. Also ate some pretty nice food while in Paris. All in all, things are going great!
Looking forward to the Dutch part of our adventure! Until next time...
Lots has happened in the past few days! Here are some highlights...
In Paris, we saw the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, Louvre, did a boat tour, and of course had to do some shopping with all the girls. We performed a concert in the Luxeumbourg Gardens in a gazebo. It was very well recieved and we had a big crowd! It was super hot wearing a tux in the middle of summer!
And, of course, we went to Paris Disneyland! And, yes of course, we also did a concert there! That was really fun too! We performed on a very Disney-like stage, complete with light effects, a forest set, and a sound system. Not sure how many people stopped to listen, but the choir and I had a fantastic time.
Today we made our way from Paris to Delft, the Netherlands. We stopped in Reims and took a tour of the Champagne cellars and had a good taste of the stuff. Then we went to Vimy Ridge and learned about the WWI memorial. We sang a few songs on the steps of the monument and it was a very moving and fantastic experience.
I've had a few Heinekens, some French wine and Champagne, and a Grand Marnier Crepe from a street side vendor. Also ate some pretty nice food while in Paris. All in all, things are going great!
Looking forward to the Dutch part of our adventure! Until next time...
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Paris, Day 1
Hello World!
I have made it to Paris and so have all the Girls Choir members, chaperones, and parent fans! Here is the quick update:
I left Calgary on time, with an uneventful flight sitting next to a friendly Quebecois couple. I knew I had be fast in Montreal as I only had 1 hour to make my connecting flight to Paris. After finding my way through the termanal (and peeing of course), I found the AirFrance counter and told them I was tight on time. I got in shit for that. They checked me in and told me to run. I got in shit for that. I tried to excuse myself through the security line, which yes, I got in shit for. I had to take my belt off because it makes the metal detector ring and then I didn't have time to put it back on becuase I heard the final boarding call for my flight! So I literally sprinted down a VERY long corridor and barely caught my flight!!!
I arrived in Paris's Charles de Gualle airport at 7:30 Saturday morning French time. I couldn't find the guy I was supposed to meet, thus starting the ever so typical airport confusion. I wandered around for a bit, then decided to try and meet my Girls Choir who were arriving a few hours later than I did. Success.
Without a stop, we went straight to Versailles (on a double decker bus which really excited the younger generation) and did a tour of the palace. I was sure to remind the girls that the only conducting causualty happened there: Lully stabbed himself in the foot with his very large baton and died of gangrene. We also got to see the fountain show in the Garden of Versaille - very cool, and something I hadn't been able to see on my last visit here.
We ate dinner at a brasserie, I've had a total of 3 Heineken already. We had a choir parent meeting to decide on how to handle meeting points, etc. tomorrow as we venture off into downtown Paris. I am very tired, but everything is well. The Girls are incredibly exhausted!!! I've never seen them so mellow and grumpy! So, after 30+ hours of being awake, I am off to my huge hotel room. Night!
I have made it to Paris and so have all the Girls Choir members, chaperones, and parent fans! Here is the quick update:
I left Calgary on time, with an uneventful flight sitting next to a friendly Quebecois couple. I knew I had be fast in Montreal as I only had 1 hour to make my connecting flight to Paris. After finding my way through the termanal (and peeing of course), I found the AirFrance counter and told them I was tight on time. I got in shit for that. They checked me in and told me to run. I got in shit for that. I tried to excuse myself through the security line, which yes, I got in shit for. I had to take my belt off because it makes the metal detector ring and then I didn't have time to put it back on becuase I heard the final boarding call for my flight! So I literally sprinted down a VERY long corridor and barely caught my flight!!!
I arrived in Paris's Charles de Gualle airport at 7:30 Saturday morning French time. I couldn't find the guy I was supposed to meet, thus starting the ever so typical airport confusion. I wandered around for a bit, then decided to try and meet my Girls Choir who were arriving a few hours later than I did. Success.
Without a stop, we went straight to Versailles (on a double decker bus which really excited the younger generation) and did a tour of the palace. I was sure to remind the girls that the only conducting causualty happened there: Lully stabbed himself in the foot with his very large baton and died of gangrene. We also got to see the fountain show in the Garden of Versaille - very cool, and something I hadn't been able to see on my last visit here.
We ate dinner at a brasserie, I've had a total of 3 Heineken already. We had a choir parent meeting to decide on how to handle meeting points, etc. tomorrow as we venture off into downtown Paris. I am very tired, but everything is well. The Girls are incredibly exhausted!!! I've never seen them so mellow and grumpy! So, after 30+ hours of being awake, I am off to my huge hotel room. Night!
Thursday, 9 July 2009
The night before!
I think I have everything. Who knows...
Leaving Canada at 12:15 tomorrow. I have a really quick connection in Montreal - I have one hour between arriving and departing. Got to be slick and quick. Six hours after I meet all my Girls in Paris and we're going to Versailles!
Next post from Paris hopefully.
Leaving Canada at 12:15 tomorrow. I have a really quick connection in Montreal - I have one hour between arriving and departing. Got to be slick and quick. Six hours after I meet all my Girls in Paris and we're going to Versailles!
Next post from Paris hopefully.
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Getting the ol' Blog up and running again
Hello World,
Time for another worldly adventure, which means time to dust off the Blog and get going! You know the drill, check back for updates and pictures while I'm away.
Itinerary:
July 10 - July 23 -- Medicine Hat College Girls' Choir Europe Tour!
-- France; Belguim; The Netherlands
July 23 - July 27 -- Europa Cantat International Choral Music Festival
-- Utrecht, The Netherlands
July 27 - Aug 1 -- mucho travel adventure
-- Seville, Spain; Gibralter; Tangiers, Morocco
Aug 1 - Aug 16 -- Morocco Tour
-- Casablanca, Fez, Meknes, Sahara Desert, Essouira, Marakesch
Time for another worldly adventure, which means time to dust off the Blog and get going! You know the drill, check back for updates and pictures while I'm away.
Itinerary:
July 10 - July 23 -- Medicine Hat College Girls' Choir Europe Tour!
-- France; Belguim; The Netherlands
July 23 - July 27 -- Europa Cantat International Choral Music Festival
-- Utrecht, The Netherlands
July 27 - Aug 1 -- mucho travel adventure
-- Seville, Spain; Gibralter; Tangiers, Morocco
Aug 1 - Aug 16 -- Morocco Tour
-- Casablanca, Fez, Meknes, Sahara Desert, Essouira, Marakesch
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