GMC in Europe 2008

After close to seven thousand miles traveled and ten days on the road, the GMC Europe touring group returned home safely this evening.

For about half of us, the day started with a 5:30 a.m. (CEST) wake-up call. (That would be 11:30 p.m. EDT, yesterday.) We were packed, through with breakfast, and on our bus by 7 a.m., and from the hotel straight to the airport, where we boarded a 9:25 a.m. flight to Amsterdam. Of course, it was delayed by 10 minutes, which only cut into the four-hour layover time.

We departed Amsterdam at about 3:15 p.m. CEST (9:15 a.m. EDT), and touched down in Boston at 5 p.m. EDT. As I write this, having arrived home about an hour ago, I’m a little surprised to acknowledge I’ve been up for the past 24 hours. Where did the time go?

Of course, there will be much to write, and much to show you…but we did want all of you reading the blog to know we are back safe and sound.

A very short post (because our bus awaits) to let you know we all arrived safely in Prague. We had no internet access in Salzburg, but many stories queued up and waiting to share with you.

Thanks for your encouraging comments!

As the group discussed our transit from Vienna to Salzburg, we realized that we would be passing through Linz, less than five miles away from the village of Mauthausen and its Nazi-era concentration camp. About 40 of us requested the opportunity to deviate from the planned program and visit the camp. (I should add that those who chose to go on to Salzburg had either visited a camp previously, or had other good reasons not to go.)

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I’m in Amsterdam as I write this…in an airport that Alison described as “one giant Ikea.” Euro-style is certainly different. It’s more humane, for one thing…the terminal in which we’re laying over has a whole section devoted to “comfort chairs.” They have foot rests and can recline, and you don’t need to be a member of an elite flying club to sit in them.

Our travel is going well. We departed from First Congregational Church in Cheshire promptly at 10 a.m., on board a bus that just needs wings to be fully competitive with an airliner. We met up with the rest of the chorale in Middletown, and then we were off to Boston.

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When was it? November, 2006? Ahhh, yessss…

We were rehearsing with the terrific choristers of Coginchaug High School in Durham, and singing about snakes and such. (Just to be Candide about it!)

And, following the concert, we started hearing about an idea that sounded wild and attractive at the same time: What if we were to organize a Chorale tour of several European cities?

One thing led to another, and after many meetings, presentations, and plummeting dollar rates, here we are, about to board our planes for the flight to Vienna.

It doesn’t seem like the day should be upon us so quickly, but here we are. It’s time to go.

We’re looking forward to posting lots of photos, perhaps a snippet or two of our performances if all goes well, and following Patricia’s advice about all things pastry (and her other advice that also turned out to be about pastry) and Adam’s intelligence about Czech beer. And most of all, we will be anticipating the day when we return and are reunited with our friends to put on an outstanding concert on May 4.

Because of the flight schedules, we’ll be “teleported” six hours ahead and thus launched into Friday before we know it. I don’t expect you’ll be seeing any blog entries until Friday evening. (Note we’re on Central European Summer Time — CEST — which is Greenwich Mean Time plus two hours. You should add six hours to Eastern Daylight Time to know what time it is in Austria and the Czech Republic.)

Keep reading this blog, and leave us lots of comments. Despite my ritual disclaimers, your comments are very much welcome and will keep us going during our tour!

Hello everyone! Boy was that hard staying by last night knowing I would be missing SOooooooooo much fun with you wonderful people. Then all that Cake and wonderful bread and rolls you will be eating without me! 

I just wanted to chat about a few things that I thought could be useful when out and about. We are amid a bunch of savy experienced travelers so some of  you may know this already. 

There are some big differences with eating out in the States and in Europe. Firstly (and I am mostly speaking from what I remember from living in Germany- and being on tour), the service is slow—waiters and waitresses do not work for tips. So when tipping, you round off to the nearest Euro or giving a Euro is acceptable. Or, two or more if you feel like it was exceptional service.

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We heard some great advice about packing from Ann at Sunday’s rehearsal (thank you!), but I need to see it as well as hear it.

Here are links to relevant packing information from our airlines.

Lufthansa

Checked Luggage (note that 23 kg is approximately 50 lb)

Carry-on Luggage (note that 8 kg is approx. 17 lb; 55 cm ≈ 21.5 in; 40 cm ≈ 15.5 in; 20 cm ≈ 7.8 in)

Northwest/KLM

Checked Luggage

Carry-on Luggage

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Complete information about items accepted and prohibited at airport security checkpoints

Hope this helps!

For those of you boarding the bus at Cheshire, and planning to park your car:

Yes, we will have a designated section of the church parking lot set aside for you. There will be signage when you arrive.

Yes, it’s a safe place to park. No, it’s unguarded. Yes, the Cheshire police often stop in to have a cup of coffee and write reports while they sit in their cruisers. And yes, we like that.

Yes, I’d like to know your license plate number and name when you arrive. Yes, I’ll have a list at the door of the bus. And yes, we’ll hand it to the good people at the church office so they know your car is there.

Yes, this is likely to be much more convenient than driving your car to the airport and back. And no, I am completely not envious of the folks who are driving to Boston (unless of course they’re having a Wednesday evening “out” and having a great time, in which case my answer is Yes, I’m kind of envious).

And finally…

Yes, I made up some of these questions, based on questions I’ve already been asked.

But yes, I hope the questions I made up, and their real answers, will be reassuring to those of you who plan to park their cars here.

Leavin’ on a jet plane,

Don’t know when I’ll be back again…

Well, there is an itinerary. I suppose I could consult that.

We’re leaving one week from today. I’m excited!

I’m also checking to make sure

• I’ve made arrangements for the house while we’re gone
• I can see (heading to the optometrist this morning!)
• I have tickets and passport for the journey
• I’ve memorized my music where called for (why don’t those words stick?!)

We’ve received itineraries in an email from John C., and I plan to post them in the tour pages when I get a breath.

See you Sunday at Trinity, and again on Tuesday.

And again on Thursday morning, a week from today!

I checked the websites of the three hotels where we will be staying, and they all have hair dryers in the rooms.  Fewer electrical doohickeys to worry about!!