Comments for GMC in Europe 2008

Comment on Sweet suggestions by Matt McCaffrey

Matt McCaffrey — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:21:19 +0000

I really really tried to keep your suggestions in mind, Patricia (and I loved reading about them!). But when I was in Vienna, especially, and they had everything on display, and it all looked so good, and it was good, and all I had to do was point, and they handed it to me…oh, that was sooo much easier.

Two things struck me:

What we think of as the “art of pastry” in this country is really just an everyday routine in Austria. It’s part of the environment — there is no thinking about “what kind of pastry should we make today?”, no novelty to it. They’re just everyday-good at it. Like we’re good at McDonald’s-style hamburgers.
You can go to a cafe or bakery and order one serving of apple strudel (yes, even with vanilla ice cream!), and eat it, and then walk away for two or three miles. While there are some bakeries here that will let you do that as well (though the walking-away part is usually problematic), most want to sell you the whole cake, or pastry, or pie, or whatever. Ignoring the deeper issue of over-processed ingredients…no wonder our proportion of overweight residents is so much higher!

Thanks again for the tips, Patricia…looking forward to a gathering that includes your recipes!

Comment on Sweet suggestions by rickpug

rickpug — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:01:23 +0000

I had a cheese strudel of sorts in a thick vanilla sauce one morning with Margaret and John Tyler, along with coffee in Vienna. While the tour we missed might have been wonderful, the gastronomic tour was phenomenal. And yes, nut rolls, and apple strudel with vanilla ice cream, chocolate anything, a nut torte with cream frosting, sharing desserts in Baden with Colin, Kelly and Jen…what a trip! I also had some kind of strawberry cream roll with whipped cream…the other one I looked at was a cheescake looking deal but the waitress could only say it was filled with what sounded like ‘butter’; could have been and the guy next to me was very large and eating it and I thought that my coronaries and belt would have busted! Thanks Patricia…good choices that made the trip even better!

Comment on A stop at a concentration camp by rickpug

rickpug — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:28:50 +0000

I cannot even begin to enumerate the emotions and thoughts that were in my head leading up to that visit and the experience that day. What I will share is, that although raised Catholic, I was drawn to the Holocaust from a young age. I became intensely aware of the fears of such atrocities that I oft attributed to childhood or neuroses. And yes, I dealt with my feelings in all too many different ways through the years, but most of which was a powerful draw to pay homage and, in some small way, undo the terrible acts of man’s inhumanity against man. Yet shame pervades. I felt only a small portion of that shame in making a large portion of our group have to wait for some of us in departing. If indeed this was only a small portion of what it felt like to be branded a Jew in those times, the feelings of helplessness and isolation were certainly a part of the experience. I so very much thank those who helped make the Mathausen Tour possible, and especially to Matt McCaffrey for words of solace and memory. I for one, whether in feeling weak, walking up a flight of stairs of in thinking about the ongoing acts of inhumanity today, will hopefully never forget. But I am left with one burning question: “What would I have done?”

Comment on A stop at a concentration camp by Adam Perrin

Adam Perrin — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:50:26 +0000

As someone who was raised a jew in the conservative tradition, I was exposed to the horrors of the Holocaust from an early age. The Sunday school curriculum included the classic “Night” by Elie Wiesel and of course “The Diary of Anne Frank”, both of which left me shaken. I am of course hardly alone in this experience. It is one thing however to experience the nightmare of genocide through the written word or visual media, another thing entirely to place oneself at the very site of unspeakable atrocity. Having an opportunity to tour an actual concentration camp was something I have always had on my bucket list. I am grateful for the opportunity to experience Mauthausen first hand and will never forget it. Among the barracks and gas chambers and rock quarry, which Matt described so well, one could truly sense the spirit of those who endured profound suffering. As my wife and I walked the grounds, we repeatedly exchanged thoughts on man’s incredible capacity for evil. At the same time, as we walked through the Memorial field, we felt a true sense of the power of redemption, and man’s incredible capacity for forgiveness. Such experiences as this inevitably enhance one’s appreciation for what we have and how lucky we are to be living in a just society where extreme acts of evil are quickly quashed. To maintain such perspective, we must never forget the horror of the Holocaust. Never forget! -Adam

Comment on In Prague! by susan weschler

susan weschler — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:45:06 +0000

Hello-
Nice to see all the photos (wow, lots of wine glasses and toasting going on there!). Glad to hear that your tour is going well. Where’s Alison-was she shopping in Hermes??

Have fun!

Comment on Two nights in Salzburg by Matt McCaffrey

Matt McCaffrey — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:29:50 +0000

Well, Allan, in fact those wine glasses have been used to reconstruct “glass harmonicas.” We’ve needed several at each table just to get the harmonies right.

We will have more concert postings up soon! We have had tremendous adventures with our first two concerts with the organs in particular.

Comment on Two nights in Salzburg by aconway

aconway — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:25:53 +0000

Hi everybody! I’ve enjoyed reading all about your adventures so far. Sounds like you are having a great time. I’ve reviewed the pictures on the site and I can’t help but notice that in virtually all of them there are a minimum of three wine glasses and several bottles, either being emptied or carefully inspected. I just have one question… Have you sung anything yet??

Ok, my best to all of you- have a couple for me, and if you ever have time for a concert remember to watch the conductor!

Allan

Comment on In Prague! by Anita Bellows

Anita Bellows — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:16:17 +0000

Hello travelers! Today I logged on and caught up with all the news and photos so far. My heart did a little flippy-flop for you all reading about your first concert! I’m sure you did us all proud!! I can’t wait till you are back with all the details. Enjoy the remainder of your adventure! Janet and I will be thinking of you while we practice our scores!!

Comment on Everyone’s well by dawnalger

dawnalger — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:17:00 +0000

I was so excited to login this morning and check on the status of you all, our intrepid travelers abroad! Glad to hear you have all arrived and aclimated well.

Please contiue keep us all posted on your journey. I know I for one, will be living vicariously through your blogging

Comment on Okay, we’re on the way by susan weschler

susan weschler — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:29:44 +0000

Hi,
Just writing to wish you bon voyage! Have a good trip! Gute Reise!
I’ll be following your tour with much interest-the itinerary looks great. Looking forward to seeing plenty of pictures and reading your commentary.

I know you’ll all have a wonderful time, Susan

(is Carlotta coming along for the ride?)