Reece's Travels

Paris photos

2008-02-15T03:04:00.001-08:00

Paris!

2008-02-15T02:49:00.001-08:00

After a few short days in Egeln and an overnight stay in Arendsee, a lake-side summer holiday spot where the Egeln Highschool choir have an annual singing camp, Kathi and I were off to Paris.

It had been 5 years since I was last in Paris and my expectations of my favorite city were sky-high. And every single one of them was met...

We stayed in a little hotel in Montparnasse, a charming, arty suburb in Paris's south.

On our first day we went to St Chapelle (right), the Louvre, the Eiffel tower and more... I just can't remember it all. We went ice-skating in front of the Hotel de Ville, we had dinner at the top of Montmatre, so much to do in this wonderful city. Still my most favorite.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

2008-02-15T02:36:00.000-08:00

Wow!

From one picturesque city to the next.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber (on the Tauber river) is post-card perfect in every sense.

The colours are so vibrant, the cobblestones so neat, the streets so hilly and the views into surrounding countryside like a fairy tale. Rothenburg is another medieval, walled city protected by it's high location on a hill overlooking very flat farmland.

The train journey to Rothenburg was interesting enough on its own. after a full days walking around the quaint streets and along the medieval battlements the whole choir gathered for our final night together at a beautiful restaurant in the Romantik Hotel Marrkstum.

The following morning we all packed our bags and hopped on the train towards frankfurt. at the next changeover I bid a rather hurried farewell to Ivoci and boarded my next train back to Egeln.

Nuremburg

2008-02-15T02:17:00.001-08:00

A thousand apologies again...

Nuremburg was astoundingly beautiful. A town that Adolf Hitler described as the most German of German places...

Nuremburg is an ancient city. Surrounded by high medieval walls and overlooked by a picturesque, yet menacing castle (The Kaiserburg), Nuremburg is full of little alleyways, stone bridges, and some of the most amazing architecture in the region.

Nuremburg was devastated, almost completely flattened, during World War two. As the spiritual heart of Hitler's 3rd Reich, and home to the Nazi's annual Nuremburg rallies which occurred in specially built parade grounds just outside the city, Nuremburg is jam packed full of interesting history. You can visit the Hauptmarkt, the town's city square where Stormtroopers once paraded their colours. You can head to the main Cathedral, which during the bombings of world war two was left a pile of rubble. You can go into one of the city's war-time bomb-shelters, dug into the side of the rocky mound on which the castle is built.

Our youth hostel, the castle's old stables and military accommodation, was used by the Nazi party as housing for the Hitler youth. (The Hitler Youth Hostel) ha ha ha.

Bretzels, (the 'breadier' version of pretzels) are sold on most street corners filled with butter, cheese or pickles. The smell of bratwurst fills the air as you meander along the cobblestoned streets. It really is one of the most attractive places i've been too and somewhere that i'd definitely go back to.

Egeln

2008-02-08T01:20:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody! I promise I haven't dropped off the face of the earth... I've been having a wonderful time, albeit without reliable access to a computer!

After my last post the choir travelled to Egeln, a small (rather rural) town situated in rolling green fields about 25 minutes away from Magdeburg. The Young Voices Choir is almost entirely comprised of former students from the local Egeln Highschool which makes for a very close-knit group of friends.

There I met Kathi again (at long last) and stayed with my friend Franzi in her lovely house. We toured the water castle in Egeln, and had a civic reception in the town hall with the mayor before a party in the castle cellar that night. Egeln was great, and it was fantastic to catch up with old friends.

After only a few short days in Egeln, getting re-accquainted with people the choir left for Magdeburg and then onto Nuremburg.

More on that part of the trip later on.

Reece

Marli, Paul, Teresa, Alex, Dallis and me

2008-01-18T02:15:00.001-08:00

Venlo and goodbye to Vluyn

2008-01-17T08:52:00.000-08:00

Today we all went to the Netherlands, not by boat, train or flight, but with a simple 20 minute drive down the autobahn at speeds of up to 195 km's per hour... (not joking!).

Driving to the Netherlands (now part of the E.U.) needs no passport and the former checkpoint is now a flower nursery. The small town of Venlo is the town nearest to the border of Germany and so many of the signs, menus and timetables are all written in both of the two languages...

What struck me first about venlo was the bicycles. I have never seen as many bikes in the one location. The town is largely void of cars as stylish women and their friends ride around the cobblestone streets at a cracking pace. Bicycles, cóffee, cobblestones, jewlers, sho shops and bakeries overwhelm the senses. I would go back to Venlo in a flash if I could.

From Venlo, back across the border to Vluyn and then Margaret was kind enough to invite us to see her studio about ten minutes away in an old farmhouse in the german countryside.

From here Margaret can get some peace and quiet and create her amazing artwork. There are three other artists who have similar studios within the grounds of the farmhouse and we met an artist (whose name eludes me) who specialises on intricate, post-modern woodcarving. He is currently contracted to a local church and is creating 12 modern 'Stations of the cross'.

We are so lucky to be able to have experiences like these that other travellers would find almost impossible to have.

We then performed our last and largest concert so far in the church in the center of Vluyn. It was, of course, completely full with much of the

standing room taken up as well.

We were given 5 standing ovations and had to do 3 encores before the audience were satisfied... That's my kind of audience! Then dinner at 'Alt Vluyn' Brauhaus (Old Vluyn Brewery) for Wiener Schnitzel and Pilsner.

Tommorrow, our last day in Vluyn and a sad farewell to our Gaestparentes who had been so generous and accomodating... Next stop, Magdeburg!

Köln

2008-01-16T13:01:00.000-08:00

So today, another huge breakfast (photo right) and then off on a one hour bus trip to Köln (or Cologne as we Australian's refer to it).

Köln is perhaps most famous for it's Gothic Cathedral situated right in the herart of the old city and just a stone's throw from the Rhein. For many hundreds of years the Cathedral was the tallest building in the world, its construction beginning nearly 600 years ago. Today, the Cathedral is the region's biggest tourist attractions and still one of the biggest cathedrals on the planet.

We were lucky enbough to have organised a guided tour around the cathedral which gave us a very in-depth understanding of the Cathedral's history and its importance in the area. During WWII alomost every building around the cathedral was razed to the ground but the cathedral itself stood intact apart from minor and superficial damage to the facade... Whether by an act of god, or lady luck, or by a benevolent allied presence in the area, today the cathedral in cologne is one of the most awe-inspiring human constructions that you will find anywhere.

My photos do no justice I am certain, mostly because it is hard to see in the photos I have taken just how immense and detailed the building is.

After our tour, we asked the 'Swiss Guard' if we could sing, and thankfully we were allowed... An impromptu concert commenced with a very appropriate rendition of Locus Iste... a latin piece by Bruckner written for the anniversary of the dedication of a church. Very quickly a crowd of people gathered around to hear us sing and we received hushed applause under the watchfull eye of the Swiss Gurads. we shuffled off, in the cold amazed at our luck to have been allowed to perform such a beautiful piece of musioc in one of the most impressive buildings in the world.

Perhaps it is human nature to want to conquer challenges as they present themselves to us, so the 550 stairs to the top of the belltower was an irresistible opportunity to prove our worth... By the end of this tight, clockwise vertical march high above the city we were filled with a mixture of physical exhaustion, visual awe and draed at the trek down. The view from the top, looking over the Rhein and 360 degrees around the city is an absolute must-do though we were pleased to be at the bottom again.

Then onto a late lunch at Fruh Brauhaus for traditional German fare and then an hour-long bus ride home again.

Tommorrow we are off to the Netherlands (about 20 minutes away) for the day before our final, and biggest concert in Vluyn. The church here seats about 500 and the last time that we came to Vluyn to perform in 2004 people were turned away at the door and a traffic jam ensued. Hopefully we can top it! ha ha...

Reece :)

Moers, Repelen and our best concert so far.

2008-01-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

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...

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...

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.

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!).

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.

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...

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!

Hospitality in bucket-loads!

2008-01-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

So much has happened in one day!

This morning, after my last post I went down stairs to find a 'simple' breakfast... ha ha ha! not likely!

More bread rolls, fresh sliced meats and cheese, strawberry juice, coffee with cream, jam, and tea in big blue and white teapots kept warm by little tea lights underneath! (As you can see, food rates very highly on my list of experiences, and i'm sure it will continue to.)

Then we went to the Rathaus (Town Hall) of Neurkirchen-Vluyn where we met with the mayor and performed a concert in the foyer. Then a civic reception in the council chamber with Champagne!

Then, onto lunch at a buffet Chinese Restaurant. Suprisingly good for a German, Chinese restaurants serving Australians... :)

Just a short walk away from the restaurant was a beautiful, 600 year old Castle surrounded by a moat called 'Schloss Bloermersheim'. The family that built the castle still live there 600 years on and we saw the Barron drive into the Castle (across his own braw bridge!) as we walked past the entrance. One of our tour guides managed to negotiate a bag of Apples from one of the farm hands and we munched on these all the way back to our cars.

Then we travelled to a Senior-Citizens centre in Neurkirchen where we sang again, and the audience sang us a few songs as well. It was probably the funniest moment yet... A bevy of white haired, German fraulines singing us folk songs with linked arms...

After that? more coffee and cake of course!

Then we went back to Vluyn where we got to walk around and see some more of the town centre... It appears that in Vluyn we are a bit of a novelty. Our posters are in many shop-front windows and a group of teenagers shouted out "Hej! Are you the Australienes?".

Then we went to the 'Culturehalle' (Town Performance Hall) where we met up with members of our sister choir, and got slightly intoxiated on the free beer...

We have been looked after since the very first moment we stepped onto German soil. We have been plied with alcohol and food, driven everywhere and been put up in lovely houses. Certainly a great way to see a city!

Neurkirchen-Vluyn

2008-01-13T21:55:00.000-08:00

It's 7 am and i'm up, awake and checking my emails...

The flight was long and exhausting but we all arrived safe and sound in Dusseldorf about 20 hours after departure!

I'm staying with a lovely couple in their early 60's who are friends of people in a choir over here that we have a relationship with... The woman (Margaret) is an artist and art teacher and her husband (Jo) is an engineer. They live in Neurkirchen Vluyn which is just North of Dusseldorf. Here we're about 25 minutes drive from The Netherlands...

Travelling down the autobahn at 160km's per hour was pretty scary, but it doesn't seem to phase the Germans.

Yesterday morning we had a 2 hour long breakfast! It was one of the most amazing meals i've ever had... fresh bread rolls with cold meats, cheese, spreads and soft-boiled eggs. Coffee with cream, orange and carrot juice, home-made kiwi-fruit jam, chocolate sprinkle-spread and sweet breads.. Then for the second course, wedding soup, pancake and omlette strips with beef. It was excellent. We're surrounded by Margaret's paintings, wood-carved furniture, little paintings of the German country side and Vienese classical music playing on the stereo..

Vluyn's city hall 'Culturehalle' is an old building with a tricking modern facade. There we participated in a very colourful annual carnival where most of the people were wearing ridiculous jester-like hats with bells on them... There was dancing, singing, beer-drinking and much indoor smoking (right next to the no-smoking signs.. ha ha). We had to get up and sing 2 songs in German to this hall-full of enthusiastic Germans and apparently we did a pretty good job... We got lots of applause, shouts of Alla, Allo! and a medal presented to our choir director.

Then it was back home for Hot waffles with walnut ice-cream with sweet, hot plums... (sounds pretty iddylic huh?)

Last night we performed a concert in a very old church in the adjoining town. It's hard to describe how beautiful this place was. An old sand-stone church with beautiful frescoed walls, gold gilt everywhere and a huge organ.

The place was completely full and the audience loved us. They gave us two standing ovations, there were people crying in the audience (hopefully because they liked us, not because they thought we were terrible!) and we had to do two encores to keep them happy. European concert-goers truly appreciate classical music, and it makes it a joy to sing.

Then, home for dinner (more food, it never stops!). A majorcan fish bake with tuna, salad and plenty of german beer.

Today we're off to see the local mayor and perform a few songs for him, then to a chinese restaurant 'Peking Gardens' for lunch ha ha... then another concert and then we're meeting another choir and having a rehearshal with them..

So, It's my second day in Germany and I've already eaten about 3 days worth of food, sang at an annual carnival with crazy, festive beer-swilling, smoking, hat-wearing germans, travelled at light speeds on an autobahn, performed to a packed house and walked around the city centre...

If this is an indication of the rest of my trip i'm sure i'm going to come back a changed person..

:)

London

2008-01-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

So, it's all booked. In London i'm staying at the Eden Park Hotel which is on the edge of Hyde Park.

I've got just over a week in London so that should be enough to get a pretty good feel for the place... I'm planning to head to Oxford for a day and check out all of the Colleges and maybe Windsor Castle if I can fit it all in.

From London, then on to Glasgow :)

Less than a week away!

2008-01-05T23:57:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how soon i'm leaving for Europe again... Four and a half years since I last went overseas, and long overdue!

So, here's a draft itinerary...

First two weeks: Germany
Third Week: Paris
Fourth Week: London
Fith Week: Edinborough / Glasgow
Last week and a half: Chester (North West of England), Wales or maybe even Ireland

The first two weeks I'm travelling with my Choir http://www.ivoci.org.au/ and performing throughout central Germany. We're being billeted with the families of members of other Choirs that we have friendships with like the Young Voices choir of Egeln www.youngvoices.de

From there, I head off with my friend Kathi to Paris and London... and then, i'm staying with a friend in Glasgow and another in Chester. From Chester i'm going to try and get to Ireland and Wales.

Should be wonderful... My first time seeing snow, and winter in Paris...

If you have any suggestions about where to go and what to see, let me know: reecejharley@gmail.com

Reece :)