Moers, Repelen and our best concert so far.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 by Reece Harley
Firstly, sorry for all the photos in this post... I took so many yesterday and it's 
hard to decide which ones to post and which ones to leave...
hard to decide which ones to post and which ones to leave...Yesterday began with the proverbial continental breakfast. Jo walked down the road to get us fresh, warm bread rolls which we devoured with great interest.
Then the entire group went to Moers which is a small, quaint town about 15 minutes away from where we're staying. We went to the growers market in the main Platz and then on to the Museum 
which is a 600 year old castle. The castle was very creaky and quaint with steep staircases and gilt ceilings... Nothing like Buckingham palace but still rather grand for it's size...
which is a 600 year old castle. The castle was very creaky and quaint with steep staircases and gilt ceilings... Nothing like Buckingham palace but still rather grand for it's size...Then, continuing our culinary travels across the world we went to an Irish pub for lunch... Very good (and the first meal I've had to buy myself so far)! Then we continued our walk through the cobble-stone streets with Cathedral bells chiming resonantly through the air. Past shop fronts with fur coats on sale for a mere 
7, 500 euros and a beautiful Cigar shop with a humidor the size of a small shop itself to keep all of the cigars at the perfect humidity.
7, 500 euros and a beautiful Cigar shop with a humidor the size of a small shop itself to keep all of the cigars at the perfect humidity.In order to impart on ourselves further sensory punishment we stopped off at a small (rather floral) cafe for a cappucino and a slice of Apple Cake. Back to our houses for a well deserved rest before our concert later that evening in Repelen.
Repelen is about 20 minutes from Neurkirchen_Vluyn where we 
are staying and it is on high ground looking over a valley towards the Rheine. The Church that we performed in has been a site of worship for 2,300 years, and beyond that, the remains of a celtic temple have been found beneath the church (with the customary sacrificed horse's head!).
are staying and it is on high ground looking over a valley towards the Rheine. The Church that we performed in has been a site of worship for 2,300 years, and beyond that, the remains of a celtic temple have been found beneath the church (with the customary sacrificed horse's head!).Our audience last night was the best so far! We received five standing ovations, and had to sing two encores to keep them happy as well as having to come back out of the choir rooms 
afterwards to perform another song due to rapturous and unending applause.
afterwards to perform another song due to rapturous and unending applause.We did sing very well, I have no doubt of that, but the performance of classical music in europe is much more admired and appreciated here. As the concert was free entry, the pastor walked around afterwards to collect donations from the audience as they left. We received 900 euros in donations.
Afterwards, in keeping with the generosity to which we are now accustomed the owner of one of the best restaurants and hotels in this region, the Hotel Zur-Linde , shouted the entire choir to a 5 star, buffet dinner...
Fine european cars parked out front and women wearing thick warm coats and stillettos accompanied by their suited husbands were our companions tonight...
Fine european cars parked out front and women wearing thick warm coats and stillettos accompanied by their suited husbands were our companions tonight...
After a few too many German Pilsners the pastor offered to take us on a tour around the church and up into the belltower. Away we went, a group of slightly tipsy, very elated young Australians to take in the view from the top... Except for Matthew (Right) who couldn't quite manage to fit through the miniscule hole at the very top. Very, Very funny!
