10 Days In Italy = Tons of Photos

Hello all,
Now that we have returned, time and internet access has allowed the upload of all the photos taken on the trip. However Picasa has limits so a second account had to be created to upload the rest of the trip. Here are the two links to all the photos...

Day 1- 6: https://picasaweb.google.com/102595021903155164186
Day 7 -11: https://picasaweb.google.com/101517981921849566061

Enjoy!

All Flights Lead To Home

Well it has been a long day but we have landed in Montreal safely and are boarding the bus to home. All of us had a wonderful time and created memories and friends that will last a lifetime. Thanks to all who made this trip possible.

All Roads Lead To Rome

Well like all good things this too must come to an end. We started the morning with a buffet breakfast and then back to the centre of Firenze (Florence)for some more shopping, shopping, shopping. Leather jackets, leather purses, leather boots...You think they sell leather around here. Some great deals were made today. Traditional Florentine pizza was on the menu for lunch, then on the buses to head back to Rome for our final night in Italy. The four hour drive took us back through the mountains and olive groves, right to the Da Meo Patacca for another fantastic Italian dinner while we were serenaded by a three piece guitar band singing traditional Italian folk songs. After dinner it was back to the hotel we began in for a small "last night" party before bed. We'll be up for breakfast early and off to the airport for the long trip home.


Photos to follow

Jewel of the Renaissance

After a late night send off to our Italian friends, we woke to have a late breakfast which is just as well as the weather was an off and on light rain. Then it was time to load the buses (again) and off to Firenze (Florence, which is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance). The three hour drive took us through the mountains, by hill-top towns and olive groves. Once we arrived in Firenze it was straight to the Galleria Dell'Accademia which houses Michelangelo's "David". Another brilliant sculpture out of a single piece of marble. We then departed on a walking tour of the center of Firenze which included the massive domed cathedral called Santa Maria del Fiore or the Duomo. This is an amazing piece of Florentine architecture. We then broke free for a couple of hours to roam the many shops, restaurants and markets in the city centre. Some great buys can be had here if you are a skilled bargainer. We then boarded the buses and set off to our hotel for the evening. In the same grandeur of the sculpture we had just seen, the Michelangelo hotel lived up to it's name. The best hotel yet and they fed us a wonderful Florentine styled steak with risotto. After the meal there was a couple of hours of down time then off to bed for another day in Firenze.

Ducka You Head, Lowla Bridgeda!

What a breakfast buffet! It blew the Rome hotel away. After last night's concert, the orchestra was invited to the Prefect's palace. He is the head of all police/security in the region of Molise (that is probably why the police closed the road so we could get the buses close to the palace). We toured the palace and he gave Mr. Gomez an Italian flag. Once again, load the buses and off to the next town...Terni. That is if we could find our way out of Campobasso. Narrow streets, round-abouts and one-way streets created a bit of turmoil for our poor bus drivers, but nothing more so than a low bridge that we could not fit under. Two very large buses, backing up into some very short tempered drivers who wanted by. Lets just say lots of honking horns were happening, but boy can those guys drive a bus. Once out of Campobasso in the rain, it was a quiet sleepy five hour drive to Terni. Just enough time to freshen up, then off to dinner. Mmmm Italy has good food. After supper, off to the concert venue for another reheasal and concert. This place was interesting...No way to get backstage from the audience except over the stage. This made for some crazy logistics. The musicians played wonderfully again despite the sweltering temperature in the building. Back to the hotel to have a short farewell party for our Italian musicians who have been on tour with us. Gratzi Lorenzo! Gratzi Fabio! Gratzi Alessandro!

Over The Mountains And Through The Tunnels To Campobasso We Go

Sorry for the delay but we did not have internet access in Campobasso last night.

We started the day with a buffet breakfast and straight to checking out of the hotel and loading the buses for a four hour drive to Campobasso. Once we arrived, we checked into a charming hotel that had GREAT food but no hot water in the showers. The Vice-Premier of the Molise Region greeted us at the hotel and sponsored a luncheon for us. Then off we went for a short walking tour of the town, over to the concert hall (which we performed in that evening), to a local museum that housed the history of the Molise people, and up the hill to the church and castle at the top. Don't need a stair-master in this town, just go for a walk. Back to the hotel for another four course Italian meal then off to the Teatro Savoia for rehearsal and the concert. A very old but beautiful hall. Some local dignitaries attended the concert and we presented a Canadian flag to them. The musicians played very well, but due to some speeches and gift giving, the concert ran very long and it was straight back to the hotel for bed.

Ready, Set ... Go

Well after a couple of days of fine tuning this well oiled machine, we finally came to the start of the race. We started the day with a nice breakfast (no rush today). A couple of hours of individual practice time or leisure time followed then a lovely buffet lunch. After lunch it was time to load the buses with all the equipment and a van with the harp. Parco della Musica was our destination. It's a gorgeous hall where we saw the symphony on Saturday night. Once we arrived we unloaded and went straight to rehearsal on stage. What a different view from the stage! The concert began at 5:30 where the OYO started with Rossini's "Overture to Semiramide", then Elgar's "In The South". After our two pieces the Juni Orchestra (Italy's National youth orchestra) played three pieces. Then the two orchestras united on stage to perform Verdi's "Overture to Nabucco". What a performance! After the concert the OYO and the Juni went to Crile - Cucin ai Parioli for some really good pizza. Both orchestras mingled and had a wonderful time. Back to the hotel to pack and get a good night's sleep as we head off to Campobasso for our second concert tomorrow.

Rain But Lots Of Shine

We awoke to the sound of rain today but that was okay because most of our plans were indoors today. We started the day with another rehearsal where Mr. Gomez tweaked the final details before the first concert tomorrow. We then loaded into the buses to go to lunch at the Ristorante Roma where we ate a fantastic salad and lasagna. Just ask some of us who had two helpings. Then on the bus and off to the National Museum of Musical Instruments (sorry again, no photos allowed) which housed some very old and very rare instruments such as a crystal flute, a one of a kind Barberini harp, a violin cane, and a glass harmonica pipe. It was a very interesting tour. Then it was time for "Let's Make A Deal". Everyone had the choice to go on Bus #2 which took you to St. Peter's Basilica for Sunday Mass and Vatican Vespers with Gregorian chants or Bus #1 which went to San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) church to see Michelangelo's highly detailed statue of Moses. Incredible to think he carved it from one piece of marble. The two buses met up with each other at Da Benito's. An Italian restaurant where we enjoyed a five course meal. Throughout the meal we were serenaded by a guitar/flute duo who managed to twist Enrico's arm to join in with the singing. Many of the kids got up and sang as well. Dancing, a mock rehearsal with singing lead by Mr. Gomez and much laughter was had by all followed by birthday celebrations for William, Jonah and Natasha. Back to the hotel for a couple of hours of personal practice, swimming or just hanging out. What a great time for such a rainy day.



More photos at the link shown in a previous posting.

Lots of photos

Here is the url to view a lot of what we seen.
We'll keep adding to it when time is available.

https://picasaweb.google.com/102595021903155164186

Do We Need Our Passports?

After another good morning rehearsal, we loaded into the buses and headed off to another country...The Vatican. There we saw many statues, tapestries, frescos and amazing architecture. The Sistine Chapel was breath-taking (sorry no photos allowed inside the chapel). Then into St. Peter's Basilica...huge and beautiful. For some energetic souls it was up to the Cupola (domed roof) of the Basilica. A climb of 540 of the weirdest spiralling, crooked angled, tight fitting steps you would ever come across. If you survived the claustrophobia, you emerged outside on a catwalk with a gorgeous view of Rome. Others who did not want to partake in this adventure, wandered St. Peter's Square or visited the Catacombs where all the Popes are buried. We then boarded the buses and headed off to the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia conducted by Antonio Pappano. This wonderful orchestra performed Verdi's "Aida", Liszt's "Concerto for piano no. 1", and Mahler's "Symphony no. 1 ". This is the hall that we perform in on Monday. Back on the buses to a late Italian dinner in the hotel and off to bed. Rehearsal comes early you know.

Worn Out Again

Don't our kids spiff up nicely! But they couldn't tell because some eyes were closed through the opera. I guess that's what happens on the way to the Forum. From outside the Circus Maximus, uphill to the Colosseum, spiralling up inside the Colosseum, up the hill to the Forum, past the Victor Emmanuel (Wedding Cake) Monument, uphill through the narrow cobblestone streets to the Trevi Fountain to make a wish that there would be no more uphill walking! After a quick gelato - back uphill past the Victor Emmanuel Monument to the buses where we collected our fancy duds for the opera. Then a short uphill climb to Avenue 60 for a four course Italian dinner which confused most of the kids when the main course came after the lasagne as they thought they had finished their meal. Fabio, Alessandro, and Lorenzo (our rented musicians for the trip) serenaded the group during the meal. Enrico sang backup! Sixty kids changed into their fancy duds in a one stall bathroom, which takes awhile when it is done one at a time. Followed by another uphill walk around the corner to the opera to see Tosca. At least those whose eyes were open. All this happened after a 2 1/2 hour morning rehearsal.

First Day in Rome

Everyone is extremely tired this evening and should be in bed by now. We had a good flight to Munich and a shorter flight to Rome. After a quick lunch at the hotel we drove downtown for a short walking tour. This photo was from the Pantheon. Back to the hotel for a late dinner.

Arrival in Montreal

We have arrived safely at the airport in Montreal. We are waiting at the gate for our boarding call which won't be for another hour. Joel says the percussionists rule.

Concert Photo

Here is a photo from the concert last Sunday at St. Brigid's. Only five days until we leave for Italy.