tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9468919382055745802024-02-01T21:47:17.611-08:00Composer Travelsfollow composer Elizabeth Knudson's musical adventures...ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-6348471683473640782018-09-12T05:25:00.004-07:002018-09-12T21:25:33.477-07:00(April 7, 2018) Exploring the Green SpacesToday was a marathon of walking-- Fraser and I explored quite a bit around town. Having already been to the major tourist attraction (the Acropolis), we were free to explore the rest of the city. Athens really does have some beautiful parks and green spaces.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angel in the park</td></tr>
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We passed by the Olympic Stadium, had then a bit of a challenging time finding coffee and an afternoon snack, since it was Sunday, and many places were closed. Somehow, we ended up strolling through a cemetery. It was a beautiful and peaceful spot-- and I would say the cemetery was also pretty ornate compared to the simple tombstone markers we're used to seeing back home. It felt like a living place, though-- there were quite a few people coming in with flowers and gifts to pay respects to their departed loved ones.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olympic stadium</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing out a phone booth</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tombstone of a musician?</td></tr>
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It's time to say goodbye to Athens, and to Greece-- I've had a wonderful holiday here, and I'll go home feeling relaxed. Tomorrow I fly to Istanbul, Turkey, where I'll spend one night before flying home again via Montreal. Fraser is staying on for a bit longer, though I have to return home to work. It has been a fantastic past few weeks, and I can't wait till our next adventure together!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love you, Athens... till next time! <3</td></tr>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-37300697239063552312018-09-12T05:04:00.001-07:002018-09-12T05:04:21.155-07:00(April 6, 2018) Return to AthensIt was a morning of packing up-- we said goodbye to this little piece of relaxing paradise that we'd been fortunate enough to enjoy for the past few days. We returned the rental car, and caught the ferry back to Athens. We arrived back in the city by evening, checked into our hotel, and then did a bit of exploring around town. We did pass by an interesting-looking music store, among other things, though it was closed for the day. Tomorrow we'll have another full day to explore around the city.<div>
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ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-9651871177127657302018-09-12T04:55:00.002-07:002018-09-12T16:24:30.665-07:00(April 5, 2018) Another Beach DayYesterday was wonderful... I think I am really starting to get into relaxation/vacation mode. Today we decided to go explore the beaches near Plaka, in the northern part of the island. We found a nice, undisturbed spot on the sand, and rolled out our beach towels under the shade of a small tree. We did see one ferry pass by, but other than that, we had the beach entirely to ourselves!<br />
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Later in the afternoon, we decided to dry off and explore a bit more. We ended up near the catacombs-- though we didn't go exploring underground, since it was too nice of a day to not be enjoying the beautiful scenery above ground. We did a bit of hiking along the hillside, and found the perfect spot to watch the sunset. I don't even want to contemplate the idea that tonight is our last night here on this beautiful island. This is a little piece of paradise. Tomorrow, we take the ferry back to Athens.</div>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-43576060446257990152018-09-12T04:30:00.001-07:002018-09-12T16:25:22.835-07:00(April 4, 2018) Provatas Beach- A Day to RelaxToday, Fraser and I slept in and had a leisurely breakfast, before packing our beach towels and swimsuits for a day on the beach. We decided to explore the southern side of the island, and ended up at Provatas Beach-- a beautiful, sandy beach with gentle waves coming in. For the most part of the day, we were the only human beings there. <br />
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As a freelance musician, who normally works very long, irregular hours, and juggles as much as I can possibly handle to make ends meet-- it's a challenge to just let go and relax. Today I did my best to just envelop myself in all the simple pleasures: sea, sand, sunshine, a good book, and great company. It's totally fine to just let go, and to be silly. </div>
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This is what we (adults) all need more of-- unplugging from the work world, and connecting with the natural world. Just stretching out on the beach with a good book, running into the ocean waves, curling your toes in the sand. Enjoying the present moment. It was a perfect day.</div>
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ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-23363130212551628272018-09-12T03:33:00.004-07:002018-09-12T22:34:29.170-07:00(April 3, 2018) Moonscapes, Venus, and the AmphitheatreOur first adventure today was a drive to the north side of the island, to visit Sarakiniko Beach. It is a pretty surreal place, described in travel brochures as being like a moonscape. The beach is not sandy and soft as I think I'd expected-- instead it's hard, smooth, white volcanic rock, sculpted by the ocean into some strange shapes.<br />
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After experiencing this surreal moonscape, we drove back to the town of Plaka, which is where the famous Venus de Milo marble sculpture (or Aphrodite of Milos, as she was originally called) was discovered. The sculpture itself is now in the Louvre Museum, Paris. </div>
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Just up the trail, not too far from where Venus/Aphrodite had stood, was an old Roman Amphitheatre-- with a gorgeous view of the ocean. We decided to have some fun testing out the acoustics. I tried singing a bit, while Fraser gave a short Shakesperean monologue, before breaking out the jaw harp from his jacket pocket! The acoustics were excellent, and I can't imagine a more beautiful venue to sit and listen to a play, a speech, or some music. </div>
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We did some more hiking and exploring around the hills, and even tried driving our small car along the labyrinthine, steep, very narrow roads of the town of Plaka-- that was definitely an adventure! The roads were originally designed like that, to make it as challenging as possible for pirates or other invaders from getting to the town centre easily. We eventually ended up back in Adamas, as the sun was going down. All in all, a beautiful day-- with some great rustic soundscapes: ocean waves, church bells, sheep, and a jaw harp!</div>
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ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-13763265233353140352018-09-12T02:53:00.002-07:002018-09-12T22:35:33.007-07:00(April 2, 2018) Milos IslandIt's easy enough to see why the colours of the Greek flag are blue and white: these are the colours of the ocean and its waves, the sky and its clouds-- the sea and the white houses dotting the Island of Milos. We got on the ferry this morning, which stopped first at the islands of Serifos and Sifnos, before we arrived at the harbour of Milos, a beautiful island in the Cyclades.<br />
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We rented a small car, to help us get around and explore the island. We checked into our hotel (Konstantinos Bed & Breakfast), and then walked a bit around the harbour town of Adamas, which is where we are staying.<br />
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It's already warm and springlike here-- the flowers are in bloom, and the beaches look inviting, but it seems like we've made it here before the tourist season starts, which is wonderful. The pace here seems very relaxed, which is perfect for our short holiday. There is a 600-year old church in town, with a bell tower, which we walked around and admired. There were some local cats curled up and purring on the church steps. It was a day to just relax and enjoy every moment, up until the sunset streaked its vivid colours across the sky.<br />
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-74916339183477008252018-09-12T01:42:00.001-07:002018-09-12T01:54:20.252-07:00(April 1, 2018) The AcropolisWhat a gorgeous day... after a morning coffee near our hotel, we walked up to see the Acropolis (before the large tourist crowds showed up!) Part of it was bring restored-- there was some scaffolding in place, but that didn't spoil the magic of seeing these elegant ruins up close.<br />
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There was so much to see! We spent the day wandering around the various sites, and taking in views of the surrounding area, from the highest vantage points in the city. I loved seeing some of the intricately carved sculptures, and admiring the powerful, precise structure of the ancient amphitheatre.<br />
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I took plenty of photos, so as not to forget this elegant, majestic place... and I don't think Fraser minded posing for a few photos along the way! We wandered until the sun went went down, which was pretty spectacular to witness from the top of the hill. Then, back to our hotel for an early-ish night, since we're planning to take the ferry tomorrow over to the island of Milos.<br />
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-75430263080471495602018-09-11T18:42:00.000-07:002018-09-12T22:37:44.922-07:00(March 31, 2018) From Tirana, Albania to Athens, GreeceAfter checking out of my hotel, I shared a taxi to the airport with another orchestra member, headed off to Florence. I got to the airport around 11:30am (for a flight at 4:45pm), but this gave me plenty of time to enjoy a cappuccino, check out the gift shops, and catch up on some reading and writing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back to the airport</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An exciting Albanian novel...</td></tr>
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(Later): Although the physical distance is not far from Tirana, Albania, to Athens, Greece, by the time I arrived, it felt like an exhaustingly long day of travel. In Athens, I took the subway (which was extremely crowded), and met up with my partner Fraser, who was waiting for me at our hotel (Neos Olympos). It was a relief to arrive, and to know that a week of pure relaxation awaited. The only thing I hadn't anticipated was having my wallet disappear on the way over! My best guess is that it was expertly swiped out of my purse, while riding the crowded Athens subway into town. Not an auspicious way to start my holiday-- but we were able to make it work, somehow. At least the larger purchases (i.e. our hotel bookings for the week) had already been made.<br />
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We enjoyed a leisurely late-night walk through town, before returning to our hotel. The plan was to get up bright and early in the morning, to go tour the Acropolis before the large crowds arrived.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athens by night</td></tr>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-62257870544240371972018-09-11T18:40:00.000-07:002018-09-12T00:53:56.322-07:00(March 30, 2018) Back to TiranaWe packed our bags, and after a quick breakfast at the hotel, we took off on the bus from Prishtina, Kosovo, back across the border to Albania. After a couple of short rest stops in the mountains, we arrived back in Tirana around 4pm. There are so many more traffic signs, painted lanes, and lights in the city than I remember from five years ago-- and yet, the driving here is still very "interesting".<br />
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I checked back into the same hotel as I'd been in at the very start of the tour (Vila e Arte), and then a small group of us went for a walk around town. A larger group went to check out a new Albanian Bunker Museum (which was of course underground), but I thought it was much too nice an afternoon to be indoors. We crossed a large, new pedestrian plaza near the Opera House-- this area had been a traffic circle last time I'd been in Tirana. There seems to be lots of new landscaping/developing of public spaces in the city, which I imagine will be quite beautiful in a couple years' time. We walked down the pedestrian boulevard and found some coffee and lunch at an outdoor café, and then returned to our hotel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Opera House in Tirana</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the main square</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring around town</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><< ♪ ♫♪ ♫♪ ♫♪ ♫ >></td></tr>
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In the evening, most of the orchestra went to dinner at a seafood restaurant, while I'd gotten a very special invitation from a friend. Ilir, a horn player I'd met five years ago in Tirana (the time that my horn concerto was performed by Oliver de Clercq), had invited me to a rehearsal. I invited a couple of WCSO horn players (Ken and Marianne) along, and the three of us walked over to the Palace of Congress. The rehearsal turned out to be the dress rehearsal of the opera "Die Fledermaus", which we found out opens tomorrow, and is sold out!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colourful chorus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tjhJlSOMTGXvl63GFlbzWqefxZSRuREAHgOxNGP7kqyjvyPjvizROH_J6HVCyl3bmzTiH6O8xAnKBidVP0hIQW75fQUGekQrRPlC5AIVwDI8eWS1YsUXY0iL9NwSdC0HpZynFgYc2Ux7/s1600/IMG_2591+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tjhJlSOMTGXvl63GFlbzWqefxZSRuREAHgOxNGP7kqyjvyPjvizROH_J6HVCyl3bmzTiH6O8xAnKBidVP0hIQW75fQUGekQrRPlC5AIVwDI8eWS1YsUXY0iL9NwSdC0HpZynFgYc2Ux7/s320/IMG_2591+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nighttime</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QupTuBSVcUpwivsN7b9DMe-19bCcZBCGDNiJyM3lEPFhAew9jgfKJC-P7s6Bk6-mohhHhFnUdxvLj8RvkSqNpWTJGbuKdIMzPFmUASsEPmFPjnrPK4dhJ6GMO1KXs6GRNlL69qTOMCKg/s1600/IMG_2618+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QupTuBSVcUpwivsN7b9DMe-19bCcZBCGDNiJyM3lEPFhAew9jgfKJC-P7s6Bk6-mohhHhFnUdxvLj8RvkSqNpWTJGbuKdIMzPFmUASsEPmFPjnrPK4dhJ6GMO1KXs6GRNlL69qTOMCKg/s320/IMG_2618+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A serious character</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorQ_mYcMRVOrwVJ_x29VQeMeZ8Ro356WSuRg_H7QR5pyWImIp5luA7BUkUmrCuasv94L79NcwpDtdgOgbE3DLyGeKH_F5eL2LaZgUyEICRGIJ03jv0-HgqXY-69CxPUnKjNRTM6DhgiSc/s1600/IMG_2631+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorQ_mYcMRVOrwVJ_x29VQeMeZ8Ro356WSuRg_H7QR5pyWImIp5luA7BUkUmrCuasv94L79NcwpDtdgOgbE3DLyGeKH_F5eL2LaZgUyEICRGIJ03jv0-HgqXY-69CxPUnKjNRTM6DhgiSc/s320/IMG_2631+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building up to the finale</td></tr>
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<br />It was a beautiful theatre, and gorgeous costumes and set design-- we sat in the audience right next to the orchestra pit (and the horn section). Interestingly, the singing was in German, while the spoken parts were in Albanian. The conductor spoke to the orchestra in Albanian, while the choreographer gave directions in Italian. Ilir came over to say hello to us during the break in rehearsal, and afterward, we also met the 3rd horn player, who spoke Italian (but not much English). Ilir is now the principal horn of the opera orchestra. It was such a special treat to have been invited to rehearsal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70CK9Kg8613pdEkf-tWEov2WV0ia9LvGgtH6loHXOBXKRC_lm0R4mSeUPKnbNnjDWOthKL55_5GRJj7ZJkHjak0Uk6o1y1bH1rGNSH3OBqlRdo2oK1rAUX9zUQacqxnr6_JsA2KjAA9ow/s1600/IMG_2635+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70CK9Kg8613pdEkf-tWEov2WV0ia9LvGgtH6loHXOBXKRC_lm0R4mSeUPKnbNnjDWOthKL55_5GRJj7ZJkHjak0Uk6o1y1bH1rGNSH3OBqlRdo2oK1rAUX9zUQacqxnr6_JsA2KjAA9ow/s320/IMG_2635+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on the horn section in the pit...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four horns!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQx9o_-WEvtILxszib2qNuR0PPCwX-IMYrxx2LBuPPoM27pRjl_dVVXDqP1C28UW6P5Buu5O09rYp9jRoj7WjE8l_FASF3A92F94DUgP98yaROn2PZCa6SsbrOhjABMRS92f3zqJ2JEGBf/s1600/IMG_2647+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQx9o_-WEvtILxszib2qNuR0PPCwX-IMYrxx2LBuPPoM27pRjl_dVVXDqP1C28UW6P5Buu5O09rYp9jRoj7WjE8l_FASF3A92F94DUgP98yaROn2PZCa6SsbrOhjABMRS92f3zqJ2JEGBf/s320/IMG_2647+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fun evening...</td></tr>
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<br />After rehearsal, the five of us went out for drinks, and then a delicious dinner at King House Restaurant. It was great to talk, and we had a wonderful time. After the two local horn players left to go home (around midnight), Ken, Marianne, and I wandered around town a bit more, before returning to our hotel. It was Friday night, but Tirana seems to have a vibrant night life!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbfhiqtVigZmAiWnHGgw_MJTbH11Qo9CNirSYy02JeA5V3d-18oTNpxSoc22CV7s7pQE6czToNt35X8s4v0uAImaVn8rJE8aguiExeg7IbVrdAxtPUA0n2Yd_sr9cGFvHpX26ODb4mqYv/s1600/IMG_2648+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbfhiqtVigZmAiWnHGgw_MJTbH11Qo9CNirSYy02JeA5V3d-18oTNpxSoc22CV7s7pQE6czToNt35X8s4v0uAImaVn8rJE8aguiExeg7IbVrdAxtPUA0n2Yd_sr9cGFvHpX26ODb4mqYv/s320/IMG_2648+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out with the horn section</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYHpgDAdkW7xlirLVbB5xjTIvOMIpL04zCPie0EQlnIN7bRMvMacL8s6ftF1rVlBd8px4Fl1JGPqKhM6Ajaq9C48pGRy8e3RbCpwy5uqrVNh4R5vZjx4syR9URkhiv2FOA-PiEV45CfI0/s1600/IMG_2661+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYHpgDAdkW7xlirLVbB5xjTIvOMIpL04zCPie0EQlnIN7bRMvMacL8s6ftF1rVlBd8px4Fl1JGPqKhM6Ajaq9C48pGRy8e3RbCpwy5uqrVNh4R5vZjx4syR9URkhiv2FOA-PiEV45CfI0/s320/IMG_2661+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Natën e mirë!" (Goodnight!)</td></tr>
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<br />The main group (most of the WCSO) has to be at the airport for a 4:00am flight back home-- while I get to sleep in! Onwards to Athens, to meet Fraser, and enjoy a week's holiday together, starting tomorrow!ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-55935195618057670632018-09-11T18:27:00.002-07:002018-09-12T22:41:00.142-07:00(March 29, 2018) Exploring PrishtinaAfter breakfast at our hotel, a small group of us did some exploring around town. We walked down Mother Teresa Boulevard, a long pedestrian street, and peeked into a church with beautiful stained glass windows. Another church, this one abandoned, sat nearby. We tried to peek inside, but nothing was there except the sun pouring in through windowless openings. We passed the library, which was also a very architecturally interesting structure. The outside is made up of many small white domes, and what looks like an elaborate metallic grid.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4WXHhVSgZygwRGr20VrxQ6ooCe8K_86U9hDbJ62CrDsJnQdSsAox3zLeHAidwZsIK9oy79snJBhzn0mvSE8gtVlk-gDXhTSgPvRK8IKpNsXhXFJlPiwjf-A7bSoHPjpUD4hPEz0bCVDV/s1600/IMG_2847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4WXHhVSgZygwRGr20VrxQ6ooCe8K_86U9hDbJ62CrDsJnQdSsAox3zLeHAidwZsIK9oy79snJBhzn0mvSE8gtVlk-gDXhTSgPvRK8IKpNsXhXFJlPiwjf-A7bSoHPjpUD4hPEz0bCVDV/s320/IMG_2847.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside a church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5q40QfdvR933KugKc871EnZGUrt6hk4utv1bstsjE0ZCjVcvsS4f9ujiBE1lxmjUiREHu0mOMWUgWwKybo_w7gJSUn154u638iZLB0ct0aaIjdOmGgfSglgJLXhRO2MiyPukAuuoPw8FZ/s1600/IMG_2850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5q40QfdvR933KugKc871EnZGUrt6hk4utv1bstsjE0ZCjVcvsS4f9ujiBE1lxmjUiREHu0mOMWUgWwKybo_w7gJSUn154u638iZLB0ct0aaIjdOmGgfSglgJLXhRO2MiyPukAuuoPw8FZ/s320/IMG_2850.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous stained glass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An older, abandoned church</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing empty...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyKAZRg3jczL3sLpa0fkOJyYPsFfuyMvQuaO9m4jh9jLzwjhjn7TJDzXOWrFIR72ZtnxGVqSnx8w6IgkFYUH4ryXAhiTd_-9HPYVduzRLN69KZUv0n4qOHgaCsSsc4pyuGJ58J3t4e26z/s1600/IMG_2855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyKAZRg3jczL3sLpa0fkOJyYPsFfuyMvQuaO9m4jh9jLzwjhjn7TJDzXOWrFIR72ZtnxGVqSnx8w6IgkFYUH4ryXAhiTd_-9HPYVduzRLN69KZUv0n4qOHgaCsSsc4pyuGJ58J3t4e26z/s320/IMG_2855.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the library</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the library</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art on the wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exterior of the library</td></tr>
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We found lunch nearby at a lovely little café. The food here is delicious and inexpensive, though the only thing I'm not a fan of is the indoor smoking in cafés. After an afternoon rehearsal, several of us found a little sweet shop, and some delicious coffee. After another short walk around the bazaar near our hotel, we left for our last concert of the tour.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30heP8cssE0H6nQZWe__qMrVcAUgt2WzZajaRowDeuzAJzY9MjtjRoEd3DVcJM6bD_ic3LhG7dtM0qWjsFQrV7EqOBK-ulwG455gGPpk-TvsMvH_L0WTwHXT3xNFtK788BuFouBKmDAKN/s1600/IMG_2888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30heP8cssE0H6nQZWe__qMrVcAUgt2WzZajaRowDeuzAJzY9MjtjRoEd3DVcJM6bD_ic3LhG7dtM0qWjsFQrV7EqOBK-ulwG455gGPpk-TvsMvH_L0WTwHXT3xNFtK788BuFouBKmDAKN/s320/IMG_2888.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying lunch!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing in the plaza</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a sunny day!</td></tr>
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(Later): We found out that our last concert of the tour was also going to be nationally televised-- it was part of the DAM Festival. Despite limited rehearsal time on Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" (our only performance of this piece on our tour), I think everything went quite well! Paskal, my stand partner, pointed out many important people in the audience: the minister of culture, the festival organizer, a couple of composers and conductors...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kosovo Radio</td></tr>
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After our final concert, we went out to dinner (as a full orchestra) to celebrate. It was a feast! Back at our hotel, a smaller group of us got together to drink some raki-- there was still plenty of the fiery clear liquor to go around!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPdlOIMqHMn_Uym3FIbCfhWYvmS2kQ6EmzWcEy5SbuQ7w6HiyTQjZbwcP_GTqsXJyCq-9685fMDvV_ollA4DX5fsq-m1NzhBhLkDVLg1EbIdjPpLor_pzD9OgyrbR4d-rqU3ZpeCa9qzg/s1600/IMG_2523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPdlOIMqHMn_Uym3FIbCfhWYvmS2kQ6EmzWcEy5SbuQ7w6HiyTQjZbwcP_GTqsXJyCq-9685fMDvV_ollA4DX5fsq-m1NzhBhLkDVLg1EbIdjPpLor_pzD9OgyrbR4d-rqU3ZpeCa9qzg/s320/IMG_2523.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A well-earned party after the concert!</td></tr>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-7717484499308018132018-09-11T16:12:00.000-07:002018-09-12T00:17:28.180-07:00(March 28, 2018) Prishtina, KosovoWe left our hotel in Skopje in the morning, and drove to Prishtina, the capital city of Kosovo. The border crossing with our tour bus took only about 20 minutes this time-- not bad compared to some of our previous border crossings. After checking into our hotel, several of us wandered through the nearby bazaar area and found some delicious and inexpensive lunch. We are off to rehearsal again soon-- and then we have one last concert on this tour, here in Prishtina, tomorrow evening.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVinE9olzlRgUBRToFagUwb0Yj6dRUtwZMrTo75cZlzWYuq-Lhub7_WPpSpBUKCGYFH7cXc2n21pw38PClp7vNUOLtOSgnIC3uYrd7tzM3A_2zCKfYJpvOYKbAcqfJeIF8VwOwHdP5AOY/s1600/IMG_2505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVinE9olzlRgUBRToFagUwb0Yj6dRUtwZMrTo75cZlzWYuq-Lhub7_WPpSpBUKCGYFH7cXc2n21pw38PClp7vNUOLtOSgnIC3uYrd7tzM3A_2zCKfYJpvOYKbAcqfJeIF8VwOwHdP5AOY/s320/IMG_2505.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the bazaar</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey there...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBR5_n_VjVF4IoD_NRvYq88txRLp5QVuRTXaCn-GGXhfDmehfTGlRf3t2W1x1Z9SrBzBZCNI9VRsdIs7v5pbQ61v6NsiK9qS5v1q8h5cX2HXNKxA4jhl06m9cRVlMA0GQPtIJc7i4Mzjvd/s1600/IMG_2507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBR5_n_VjVF4IoD_NRvYq88txRLp5QVuRTXaCn-GGXhfDmehfTGlRf3t2W1x1Z9SrBzBZCNI9VRsdIs7v5pbQ61v6NsiK9qS5v1q8h5cX2HXNKxA4jhl06m9cRVlMA0GQPtIJc7i4Mzjvd/s320/IMG_2507.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm... hot peppers!!</td></tr>
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(Later): After an evening rehearsal at the theatre where we'll be performing tomorrow, we took the bus to a small reception, with some light snacks. I was thrilled to find some wild cherry juice! Back at our hotel, several of us had a small "raki party" and talked for a bit, then headed to bed-- another busy day ahead!<br />
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-18941496564674252012018-09-11T15:55:00.002-07:002018-09-12T22:43:09.895-07:00(March 27, 2018) A day in Skopje, MacedoniaWe had breakfast at our hotel in Skopje, Macedonia, and then a large group of us took the bus into town to the Old Bazaar, where we split up into smaller groups and explored for a few hours on our own. I wandered around with fellow cellist George Shipley and his wife Veda-- we enjoyed some wonderful Turkish coffee, and found a small jewellery shop where I purchased a beautiful pair of handmade silver filigree earrings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidP5G-jd_Fpx_F84fXmFhVewunLBHxmj7yQ9f8pYkDmzovAhvjMVc38pOBWTzw_Bi1oOtftmjLLjshGfu4x7FYa65U5KWy7HxfLDey8rctlxIkDAqEFayqFuETzhxeGjk8iyhaTQGgDv2D/s1600/IMG_2762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidP5G-jd_Fpx_F84fXmFhVewunLBHxmj7yQ9f8pYkDmzovAhvjMVc38pOBWTzw_Bi1oOtftmjLLjshGfu4x7FYa65U5KWy7HxfLDey8rctlxIkDAqEFayqFuETzhxeGjk8iyhaTQGgDv2D/s320/IMG_2762.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old Bazaar in Skopje</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXmRn5-VevEQRKljamf5FBS4vh8qUjmOaJxqSsL-DRfbI8uabqx-1HZanZdzR7QMYL5DCHcN-KzIL9GUjBe2qRuGgJO89ZlUblRzbHEX2-epvDQNZHnMdb5FPLJhh52ItXHJV7ZlInfhg/s1600/IMG_2763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXmRn5-VevEQRKljamf5FBS4vh8qUjmOaJxqSsL-DRfbI8uabqx-1HZanZdzR7QMYL5DCHcN-KzIL9GUjBe2qRuGgJO89ZlUblRzbHEX2-epvDQNZHnMdb5FPLJhh52ItXHJV7ZlInfhg/s320/IMG_2763.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many antique shops</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A street musician</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexander the Great</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City square</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCvp-qBmmvsHRNezZ6nTHKHkk0sUEb3hct-isPCP4hE8oDbwannu5jM0Sfro4FuCoOzXHlvund2XgWo7zUbmQ-5Bw_qt30ikqKEvJTHT-WLRkgG2p9F6XUBaIZmXBwjwoy19bui4K7e6v/s1600/IMG_2789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCvp-qBmmvsHRNezZ6nTHKHkk0sUEb3hct-isPCP4hE8oDbwannu5jM0Sfro4FuCoOzXHlvund2XgWo7zUbmQ-5Bw_qt30ikqKEvJTHT-WLRkgG2p9F6XUBaIZmXBwjwoy19bui4K7e6v/s320/IMG_2789.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veda making a deal with a "Ray-Ban" seller...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiHN2A_IjE9Mhi9fho3qpI5lI-t-KcrUVUytqm63MbsCa0KLgURv4WwADq1zK0ib0JANfx5tgZ-mD7LB99DfGOWQHQN2lal3NBk1xrKuG-wN8Nf3rdttNYmD-p4cfl-evybUMPyCkVILJ/s1600/IMG_2792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiHN2A_IjE9Mhi9fho3qpI5lI-t-KcrUVUytqm63MbsCa0KLgURv4WwADq1zK0ib0JANfx5tgZ-mD7LB99DfGOWQHQN2lal3NBk1xrKuG-wN8Nf3rdttNYmD-p4cfl-evybUMPyCkVILJ/s320/IMG_2792.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a lovely time with George & Veda</td></tr>
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The three of us had lunch together in the circular pedestrian plaza, right near a giant statue of Alexander the Great. After a delicious lunch, we walked back to our hotel, and admired the massive number of statues and public art along the way. We walked along the river, past the opera and ballet house. One of several pedestrian bridges along the way had about a dozen statues, each one commemorating a Macedonian poet, author, musician, or composer. There were several composers (all of whom died in the past 30 years or so), whom I'd never heard of. I will have to look them up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODgR0FUUsRinjd2J3sFAd2STguhMrfymHQeTpUzqW1BKrTpxjhYEt_ytLLGGuoMzNVj52F_NYX2__JXlkHOGJ_mjTCkSi-7kwY1-NMeGNYLfeUasy_aTIIHBrVaT8mCFJH6wZW6AMAs0C/s1600/IMG_2797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODgR0FUUsRinjd2J3sFAd2STguhMrfymHQeTpUzqW1BKrTpxjhYEt_ytLLGGuoMzNVj52F_NYX2__JXlkHOGJ_mjTCkSi-7kwY1-NMeGNYLfeUasy_aTIIHBrVaT8mCFJH6wZW6AMAs0C/s320/IMG_2797.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many bridges...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kPBKEzxooZ00fbFtV2RK9ZpGltUhBMbYj-yhc-wAfYrr7tnhqFOh-qjLvV4Gu827z9gBxGZoxf0MWqO3tOxlcH0VBEWVu9UWVyU2Xxv3ZU5biQa1IZTk1q4arLp8hD_yjvbpes3a1nwK/s1600/IMG_2820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kPBKEzxooZ00fbFtV2RK9ZpGltUhBMbYj-yhc-wAfYrr7tnhqFOh-qjLvV4Gu827z9gBxGZoxf0MWqO3tOxlcH0VBEWVu9UWVyU2Xxv3ZU5biQa1IZTk1q4arLp8hD_yjvbpes3a1nwK/s320/IMG_2820.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bridge of writers and composers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaal4qeZnTmsvWuURWYGmhFXgxwljVaVwOYGWG6Aod8a79UTCpTzYeqOBW1GKSPrNhbsL_-xYGYLXlSpK6rTzAWfPKH8tVAhPugV4MHFSih3M3a5TauyTWa2m2S4jkGs4n0uhFDqhpWAI/s1600/IMG_2815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaal4qeZnTmsvWuURWYGmhFXgxwljVaVwOYGWG6Aod8a79UTCpTzYeqOBW1GKSPrNhbsL_-xYGYLXlSpK6rTzAWfPKH8tVAhPugV4MHFSih3M3a5TauyTWa2m2S4jkGs4n0uhFDqhpWAI/s320/IMG_2815.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Com)posing...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Opera & Ballet House</td></tr>
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The sun has come out now, and it's warmed up a bit-- we're back at the hotel for a short break before evening rehearsal. Our hotel room overlooks a busy boulevard, and a giant Macedonian flag. Earlier, while walking back here, we saw the strange juxtaposition of a man with a horse-drawn wagon crossing a busy highway near our hotel. That is just the sort of interesting place that Macedonia seems to be-- modern technology existing alongside older traditions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsdEv0gfDhxWqvisKqgoyN13rCgMnFrntou3m0bJuK7rdtm9vdmp2P31GyzCL6R4jsbsWZFTkL1fe_4jgx71uGvbZRVf_w3wSwKZa7X78QXJdTNYr0XdQj4iUU1hZyLP7Pl1FsROpTJcF/s1600/IMG_2826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsdEv0gfDhxWqvisKqgoyN13rCgMnFrntou3m0bJuK7rdtm9vdmp2P31GyzCL6R4jsbsWZFTkL1fe_4jgx71uGvbZRVf_w3wSwKZa7X78QXJdTNYr0XdQj4iUU1hZyLP7Pl1FsROpTJcF/s320/IMG_2826.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horse-drawn wagon crossing the highway</td></tr>
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(Later): We had an evening orchestra rehearsal at the university-- the same space I remember rehearsing in six years ago, on the last WCSO tour. After rehearsal, a few of us went for dinner at a local craft beer restaurant. Apparently, it's the first craft brewery in Macedonia, and it opened in 2015. After a short walk to the bridge with all the statues of Macedonian writers and composers, we got back on the bus to our hotel. Tomorrow is another long day of road travel.ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-16004531742531710552018-09-11T15:00:00.001-07:002018-09-11T19:26:30.679-07:00(March 26, 2018) On to Macedonia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We checked out of our hotel in Prizren, Kosovo, and waited for our tour bus, while standing near the bridge adorned with love locks. I think most of us would've loved to have stayed at least another day to explore this interesting city. We headed through the mountains to the border, to Macedonia-- at least the border crossing didn't take so long this time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaU0Mt4AGcfE7WnzY6kOjvryCTF5UcMXIYv3TqBygQoC9jFdIA_5OOWiIYNJx8KXHzV7BeWruS99K3zRCrZKH4qSygmJFccw3eMJMMdvPHjC5AModmdC9CcElTZjPtbvTPINq33Z8LN9F/s1600/IMG_2458+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaU0Mt4AGcfE7WnzY6kOjvryCTF5UcMXIYv3TqBygQoC9jFdIA_5OOWiIYNJx8KXHzV7BeWruS99K3zRCrZKH4qSygmJFccw3eMJMMdvPHjC5AModmdC9CcElTZjPtbvTPINq33Z8LN9F/s320/IMG_2458+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loading the bus<br />
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It was still a long day of travel. We checked into our hotel in Skopje in the late afternoon, and almost immediately headed back on the bus to our evening rehearsal and concert in Tetovo, Macedonia. My piece was on the programme again, and it went well. The concert was also televised live!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m-HlRZnngotspnzQBXL1dIGpwHgK7JjII6_Y9PCDq7bqgU67O6iFOLquvcnmFRICiAQv5HwEytbapZB1adCwSFY8bx2SpMK5wWxrVD-OE8CmwG9-ptUPCgGN2aKf2s_8H72L_2VMHrE6/s1600/IMG_2472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m-HlRZnngotspnzQBXL1dIGpwHgK7JjII6_Y9PCDq7bqgU67O6iFOLquvcnmFRICiAQv5HwEytbapZB1adCwSFY8bx2SpMK5wWxrVD-OE8CmwG9-ptUPCgGN2aKf2s_8H72L_2VMHrE6/s320/IMG_2472.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performing my piece, "Equinox", with Music Progressive Quartet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSQMyU5e38_Dz4FzP4jVOZ4DNvLA6TTYrsLLTDk1fAVmU3IymwEwIMzey2HDsyZt4ZR0mZvaYQRhvHS_gHNR-FZH39QDlmilw7IILK9NGz0Un6OZAmJWNu1x2S7p-w1lbsuTjFzUuqAXd/s1600/IMG_2473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSQMyU5e38_Dz4FzP4jVOZ4DNvLA6TTYrsLLTDk1fAVmU3IymwEwIMzey2HDsyZt4ZR0mZvaYQRhvHS_gHNR-FZH39QDlmilw7IILK9NGz0Un6OZAmJWNu1x2S7p-w1lbsuTjFzUuqAXd/s320/IMG_2473.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marko and Paskal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyDf74rluU3kKTb-rZqn46FHyE4kw_tvffJntndWy4ucCqbWVwtXncOdlu7U6YZOFsqQezTLX7SK9vi9twa4E-FgEKOnaax7Xk-shgPTyItl08IxIqJQJXUZiwu0Qc6tESJyZdKIw4wkx/s1600/IMG_2477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyDf74rluU3kKTb-rZqn46FHyE4kw_tvffJntndWy4ucCqbWVwtXncOdlu7U6YZOFsqQezTLX7SK9vi9twa4E-FgEKOnaax7Xk-shgPTyItl08IxIqJQJXUZiwu0Qc6tESJyZdKIw4wkx/s320/IMG_2477.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violas!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUICzL0F5tuPZC3B3pMB3R_ZyoCWZUb8JgnTFqKe09wOb5h_IbRQUBLtWSVxIqhKQEse1j8-WCae-J3SD9hKUTSyNuMyvOqAyYvYs0Rgz0cAORWtuIPjDBqcFPrtCFDhgBqlNdAlBaxAtR/s1600/IMG_2482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUICzL0F5tuPZC3B3pMB3R_ZyoCWZUb8JgnTFqKe09wOb5h_IbRQUBLtWSVxIqhKQEse1j8-WCae-J3SD9hKUTSyNuMyvOqAyYvYs0Rgz0cAORWtuIPjDBqcFPrtCFDhgBqlNdAlBaxAtR/s320/IMG_2482.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celli!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYO4vsQfmFTc1ta8iL8svOvkfiuLiF5fAVYkd9aEljKdc2nPmWvKbUDoQVpj4n_9fVulXHa_EBlsjkWipUboJS74c95RzMQmQuhYGcPZvH6PTmYRYgeX-0F2WeO5pDEBzVTS2xS60EMYbE/s1600/IMG_2484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYO4vsQfmFTc1ta8iL8svOvkfiuLiF5fAVYkd9aEljKdc2nPmWvKbUDoQVpj4n_9fVulXHa_EBlsjkWipUboJS74c95RzMQmQuhYGcPZvH6PTmYRYgeX-0F2WeO5pDEBzVTS2xS60EMYbE/s320/IMG_2484.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trombone section</td></tr>
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After the concert, we all went for dinner at a restaurant nearby-- my first real meal of the day. Then, we headed back to our hotel in Skopje, and I think most of us were half-asleep by the time we got back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyR2GCuYkDOQ1EcEqDXg1tUIxifA5TqL_yC2F7b1aJ-0MTMGSZlTTS2BxmDVKnd2mlBSKufdIFCFHxqwbXD2_7de1YxOyFSh7i5RpWtT4dZVQhqsos0VG07zuMwyhlP9g5M1uDkTLdCFUV/s1600/IMG_2488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyR2GCuYkDOQ1EcEqDXg1tUIxifA5TqL_yC2F7b1aJ-0MTMGSZlTTS2BxmDVKnd2mlBSKufdIFCFHxqwbXD2_7de1YxOyFSh7i5RpWtT4dZVQhqsos0VG07zuMwyhlP9g5M1uDkTLdCFUV/s320/IMG_2488.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skopje by night</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7l2p-cGRt-rGWO7gQupvibRrbuFAy6B6rshxMjE5VgCR9F6cVwcnHGU6ib_2RrbRDyrBEqHFTdCORce-smTXwcgeeJTK0w3RKGJn8quiIOW2utYu9v-Np9ZAg7xAoTUhEerIOynJe5ld/s1600/IMG_2489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7l2p-cGRt-rGWO7gQupvibRrbuFAy6B6rshxMjE5VgCR9F6cVwcnHGU6ib_2RrbRDyrBEqHFTdCORce-smTXwcgeeJTK0w3RKGJn8quiIOW2utYu9v-Np9ZAg7xAoTUhEerIOynJe5ld/s320/IMG_2489.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild creatures...</td></tr>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-58028429369517481512018-09-11T12:38:00.002-07:002018-09-12T22:45:25.826-07:00(March 25, 2018) Prizren, Kosovo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We all managed to get up early, and after breakfast we headed by bus to Prizren, Kosovo. After checking into our hotel in the early afternoon, we had a couple of hours to explore. Prizren is really a lovely city, nestled below a mountain, with both churches and mosques, a pedestrian walk along the river, and many bridges. One bridge was covered in "love locks".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5v4a_h5Kon6er_6AkgdkJIGgc3aNOt-qjkYFbSkWS_DuVM6o9uYxaOfweTkA5_IssurDGs-89W-WqDdm-irL__Hq5NOvUgfyxfXMEUte38MXNeUWH2cFOArtMiZeV3ZFx9KJP9DM78Cs2/s1600/IMG_2694+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5v4a_h5Kon6er_6AkgdkJIGgc3aNOt-qjkYFbSkWS_DuVM6o9uYxaOfweTkA5_IssurDGs-89W-WqDdm-irL__Hq5NOvUgfyxfXMEUte38MXNeUWH2cFOArtMiZeV3ZFx9KJP9DM78Cs2/s320/IMG_2694+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some colourful yarn!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj7V4zCzM6cVb5BF_XrhRXAXSnlFJibxLC7MKIJ91UmA8ULB8ww-a4zSd_-eCF584s-5UryZQR6I2UzJsj7-OHCGOJFBc_KFBWey6Ts4UK0gsbBpYN6kLksUUgFu4R6FN24l3NdfKvQIV/s1600/IMG_2441+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj7V4zCzM6cVb5BF_XrhRXAXSnlFJibxLC7MKIJ91UmA8ULB8ww-a4zSd_-eCF584s-5UryZQR6I2UzJsj7-OHCGOJFBc_KFBWey6Ts4UK0gsbBpYN6kLksUUgFu4R6FN24l3NdfKvQIV/s320/IMG_2441+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge with love locks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkEmnZrgbphUi3u6JL1ztjdo4xK1BTFXHWLLWskMYG8P2x880c4DiZNsOuXWHqJHDrUbt0RdPIsZRrnLs40CwL5uNk_EI70grWCj-qigbXcyDaq7A5no-jjdXku1GARNCdWgpGbnlEVOS/s320/IMG_2700.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elegant lamppost</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkEmnZrgbphUi3u6JL1ztjdo4xK1BTFXHWLLWskMYG8P2x880c4DiZNsOuXWHqJHDrUbt0RdPIsZRrnLs40CwL5uNk_EI70grWCj-qigbXcyDaq7A5no-jjdXku1GARNCdWgpGbnlEVOS/s1600/IMG_2700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnsZfhpR5fWosFcpYdO9lqc7O4KQzYi3zICOhDlXlz3tioVgTN-0Vg9Qe9ATBtv11xGSIeaDWYCi3ypyf6j8KqKrNz26Ny38KkPCpAqrJu-YlbDjFDhclsyG3hH9KGbSkYAQypL7Fxiyy/s1600/IMG_2709+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnsZfhpR5fWosFcpYdO9lqc7O4KQzYi3zICOhDlXlz3tioVgTN-0Vg9Qe9ATBtv11xGSIeaDWYCi3ypyf6j8KqKrNz26Ny38KkPCpAqrJu-YlbDjFDhclsyG3hH9KGbSkYAQypL7Fxiyy/s320/IMG_2709+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing on one of the many bridges</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doves on the roof</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ken Underwear"<br />
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An ad for Danish beer (Tuborg)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City tractor!</td></tr>
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Several of us went to lunch-- and I enjoyed some excellent vegetarian fare, including a hot pepper-- though not as hot as the Macedonian peppers I remember from WCSO's 2012 summer tour! We walked around and explored a bit before our rehearsal and concert in the evening. The concert went well, and was part of the DAM New Music Festival. We had almost a full house. My piece wasn't on the programme, though-- MPQ will be meeting us again tomorrow in Macedonia. After the concert, we had a delicious dinner, at the same restaurant where many of us had lunch! Then, off to bed-- another long day of bus travel, and another concert ahead!ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-2989854042619250362018-09-11T12:23:00.000-07:002018-09-12T22:48:56.702-07:00(March 24, 2018) Shkodër, Albania<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've just finished breakfast in our hotel... the one thing I absolutely love about Albania (and missed during our short visit to Montenegro) was the fresh tomatoes! It's perhaps a little strange to have crèpes and tomatoes for breakfast, but they were delicious. I am just waiting at the hotel, getting ready to join some of the orchestra for a tour of a nearby castle. Mini power outages are common here-- the lights just went out and came back on while writing this, but you get used to it. The one thing that was a very pleasant surprise since my last trip to Albania five years ago is having hot water in the shower!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSJ6zKj-VPDD8w9_IGX9r8W5NmoNrgyB2MjJntNUmowyzbQJaouYDb8irDCLMZWCtuqr-x0QnLlz-YMec1IBs2YL24okNdCX_7bZn6rg1X2kYOiyqTnNGuyAnl-mQ8y067SPhheaArXo8/s1600/IMG_2409+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSJ6zKj-VPDD8w9_IGX9r8W5NmoNrgyB2MjJntNUmowyzbQJaouYDb8irDCLMZWCtuqr-x0QnLlz-YMec1IBs2YL24okNdCX_7bZn6rg1X2kYOiyqTnNGuyAnl-mQ8y067SPhheaArXo8/s320/IMG_2409+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zella and Marissa at breakfast</td></tr>
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Apparently my piece will not be on the programme tonight, since three of the members of Music Progressive Quartet (minus Paskal, the cellist), had to return to Macedonia for a family emergency. They should be rejoining us for the concert in Tetovo, the day after tomorrow.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YoY8q-sMj89wdXrl0jbKfTtwvNy667kfwiHGo2OxYa3i3kennz6LwZjyCPrRCuBPMZKYELp7UZnhpmyZdj-K6gsf0eXAh-oRVbbnABWy_LZUKTHpJtQ9OLRsw1c2mcK2fxly1ijVa126/s1600/IMG_2434+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YoY8q-sMj89wdXrl0jbKfTtwvNy667kfwiHGo2OxYa3i3kennz6LwZjyCPrRCuBPMZKYELp7UZnhpmyZdj-K6gsf0eXAh-oRVbbnABWy_LZUKTHpJtQ9OLRsw1c2mcK2fxly1ijVa126/s320/IMG_2434+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh snow on the mountains<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4Z0tE_mevd4TBEWJu_GFC_0gmWtDdI0TFA3EK9zuZWgGdYX7YzzxKvMz3_-Kn38w4pT0r7JwFwW-vtZq_u2H1SZ28RbMXmfjbVy9Z1yuR3GjkY5dWcKE467x6nXNt1Vwuorbm7LT9awW/s1600/IMG_2670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4Z0tE_mevd4TBEWJu_GFC_0gmWtDdI0TFA3EK9zuZWgGdYX7YzzxKvMz3_-Kn38w4pT0r7JwFwW-vtZq_u2H1SZ28RbMXmfjbVy9Z1yuR3GjkY5dWcKE467x6nXNt1Vwuorbm7LT9awW/s320/IMG_2670.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Golden chariot restaurant</td></tr>
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(Later): We took the bus over to tour Rozafa Castle in Shkodër in the morning-- it was sunny but cold, and the panoramic views from all sides of the castle grounds were spectacular. We could see fresh snow on all the surrounding mountains, as well as extensive flooding in the river down below. For lunch, we went to a place up on the hill opposite the castle, with a golden chariot in front, and rococo musical décor inside. I had a delicious fish for lunch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAMZVjMW1yMmrnGvEcDQdq5GBtZNgHF7wKo2CLmYWg-85Qxt0nX3fAhCTVGFWI1_1Y4U_mPzOESMBMVMC4xOMzuVvgV1GnpLbS3ZbPid5sJPpGEpAV9E9T1y5kHEGpMXsrJEygfx7noJZ/s1600/IMG_2627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAMZVjMW1yMmrnGvEcDQdq5GBtZNgHF7wKo2CLmYWg-85Qxt0nX3fAhCTVGFWI1_1Y4U_mPzOESMBMVMC4xOMzuVvgV1GnpLbS3ZbPid5sJPpGEpAV9E9T1y5kHEGpMXsrJEygfx7noJZ/s320/IMG_2627.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rozafa Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76mXKp2xI3fgQSuY3hYjLG4TD8I0_7jvZIKHmlKlvBD3SfyK2q0kNiIEKe0LF499BxAxD0wEoef8mJzjSlTJ7xkH7XEVIh47ssrazTGPjs8MdJ5heIwj36puNaGpqoLCKw01RFqaFiMCa/s1600/IMG_2588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76mXKp2xI3fgQSuY3hYjLG4TD8I0_7jvZIKHmlKlvBD3SfyK2q0kNiIEKe0LF499BxAxD0wEoef8mJzjSlTJ7xkH7XEVIh47ssrazTGPjs8MdJ5heIwj36puNaGpqoLCKw01RFqaFiMCa/s320/IMG_2588.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flooding below</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX7Ed8yNDakAdUD00QpZZLKQ4iTRb_zftThxC74G3rErDPJQXqHMb8IGNFy-586MDaeZoPAoGvWsp4Svn51u3QlyDgn_RgYZlPMyA02uO3Icp1Ww_U1CUYEJZ7DkVFr_dj7NWToqXEmZx/s1600/IMG_2600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX7Ed8yNDakAdUD00QpZZLKQ4iTRb_zftThxC74G3rErDPJQXqHMb8IGNFy-586MDaeZoPAoGvWsp4Svn51u3QlyDgn_RgYZlPMyA02uO3Icp1Ww_U1CUYEJZ7DkVFr_dj7NWToqXEmZx/s320/IMG_2600.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two lovely ladies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafVnppurmFb7akKf0OGTPpZlRKWfu7mpMd-nh5QcM3k4hty3-Tncybo51i6NBCTLTUvHVXkIiwSD6OGBQ5STvxtosCWOMJ-d_GGH93mKwEYUY_zr5Ywgerws_zp89J6xnHAit51JtmtHl/s1600/IMG_2605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafVnppurmFb7akKf0OGTPpZlRKWfu7mpMd-nh5QcM3k4hty3-Tncybo51i6NBCTLTUvHVXkIiwSD6OGBQ5STvxtosCWOMJ-d_GGH93mKwEYUY_zr5Ywgerws_zp89J6xnHAit51JtmtHl/s320/IMG_2605.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aQihFeBgll8Ge6k3gShmIebAC-NlMBXXh01oeDUoOwVLK19wZ-QqIto4qW8KQMm0wApjDkEEpsrkZeC_tqUuOEGtTvwqrANUlkxSciHJLOv-nwxMatfWjel2bpcO55DHn1ladTceEaLG/s1600/IMG_2648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aQihFeBgll8Ge6k3gShmIebAC-NlMBXXh01oeDUoOwVLK19wZ-QqIto4qW8KQMm0wApjDkEEpsrkZeC_tqUuOEGtTvwqrANUlkxSciHJLOv-nwxMatfWjel2bpcO55DHn1ladTceEaLG/s320/IMG_2648.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window to a spectacular view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFjbR5T38-6ebOB3U0Z2OmldF3vxhOoDOsk_xJxdLGA6ZxFB_m__-iBiVQmIlyk497st-5Z7nLTcnjyOmoxDxQZRfQq0ZNdN6ysntLFsEvv5sKwYJNDRqawih7B17nm8E8KjT1nI09rtT/s1600/IMG_2660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFjbR5T38-6ebOB3U0Z2OmldF3vxhOoDOsk_xJxdLGA6ZxFB_m__-iBiVQmIlyk497st-5Z7nLTcnjyOmoxDxQZRfQq0ZNdN6ysntLFsEvv5sKwYJNDRqawih7B17nm8E8KjT1nI09rtT/s320/IMG_2660.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtyard well</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixygeos1KzC2FHGsAOJOt4-epNvg1CToL3W_gFX_rBYARuLzgRLhEoLvcye-1d1qXp5fq4TdjkeH5MNrQu0OQAlA_Hpyozymj3eC3BBq5_cKhdpHEPkmTUDITuSJFA-qmeouKboX2HyT1h/s1600/IMG_2666+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixygeos1KzC2FHGsAOJOt4-epNvg1CToL3W_gFX_rBYARuLzgRLhEoLvcye-1d1qXp5fq4TdjkeH5MNrQu0OQAlA_Hpyozymj3eC3BBq5_cKhdpHEPkmTUDITuSJFA-qmeouKboX2HyT1h/s320/IMG_2666+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring...</td></tr>
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In the afternoon, we had some free time before rehearsal, so I explored a bit along the lovely pedestrian street running through the centre of town. It's nice not to have to worry about traffic, since as a pedestrian in Albania, there aren't many traffic rules-- normally you have to run for your life crossing the street!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97oe7o-898d0NAG-sOv5UuNSktcEdbw0eaZL0WVrnOZ5L94sYxgozhtRV6F3Exkm0U7oirDQGQ0VzraRd65r0a-rwhjyHyuxpLok0AyYPdU6FfuvAZYuj-jtHIFJLcoFuNVVstbPRTpX3/s1600/IMG_2682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97oe7o-898d0NAG-sOv5UuNSktcEdbw0eaZL0WVrnOZ5L94sYxgozhtRV6F3Exkm0U7oirDQGQ0VzraRd65r0a-rwhjyHyuxpLok0AyYPdU6FfuvAZYuj-jtHIFJLcoFuNVVstbPRTpX3/s320/IMG_2682.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pedestrian street</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colourful wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parked bicycle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring around town<br />
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Tattoo studio </td></tr>
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We had an early evening rehearsal, followed by a concert at the theatre across from our hotel. The theatre wasn't well-heated, so some of us clustered around a couple of heating vents before the show to keep warm. The crowd wasn't huge, but was very enthusiastic. We found out later that a couple of Bujar's former conducting students, and one border guard we'd met earlier were at the show. After the concert, we walked across town to a restaurant where we were treated to a feast, along with some excellent live music. Our maestro even sang for a bit! We were stuffed, happy, and exhausted-- returning late to our hotel, where we lost one hour of sleep due to (Balkan) daylight savings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WCSO concert poster<br />
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Maestro Bujar, singing along with a trio at the restaurant, after the concert</td></tr>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-3254620170234827922018-09-11T05:19:00.000-07:002018-09-11T05:23:45.605-07:00(March 23, 2018) On the bus to Shkodër, AlbaniaAfter breakfast at the hotel, I had the opportunity to be a translator (German --> English) in a conversation in the lobby with the hotel owner, who could speak German. I didn't understand everything, but it was fun to try. Language skills certainly come in handy here, and most locals know at least three or four languages. We took the bus back across the border to Albania-- through narrow, winding roads, alongside tiny villages with green fields, past some sheep and livestock, plenty of old Volkswagen cars, and majestic mountains in the background, covered in snow. There was a bit of snow mixed in with the rain this morning-- so if anything, it was a good day to be on the bus, keeping warm.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glad to be travelling on a warm bus...</td></tr>
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We checked into the hotel in Shkodër in the early afternoon, and had a late lunch at the hotel restaurant. Food was slow to arrive (leisurely "Albanian-style"), but at least there was good company. A tour like this is wonderful for getting to know people you wouldn't normally sit beside or talk with in orchestra rehearsal. The snow continued to fall, and I enjoyed watching people dressed in suits elegantly ride by on bicycles. It seemed almost Danish! Curiously, Albania has some Danish beer (Tuborg and Carlsberg) among its offerings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Countryside and mountains on the way to Shkodër, Albania</td></tr>
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Our planned rehearsal was cancelled this evening-- apparently the hall was not heated. I am happy to stay in tonight. I've done some laundry in my hotel room (a single room this time), and enjoyed some of the raki generously given to us a couple of days ago by Bujar's brother. It is strong stuff! I think I will go to bed early tonight, to be ready for tomorrow's concert.ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-69704780377518595752018-09-11T04:49:00.001-07:002018-09-12T22:50:46.080-07:00(March 22, 2018) Ulcinj, Montenegro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After breakfast at the hotel, three of us went for a walk to explore one of the beach areas. It was totally deserted, other than local workers fixing it up for the coming season. It was still interesting to see-- I can imagine this area being a popular, affordable option for tourists from nearby. Many of the signs are in German and English, as well as Montenegrin and Albanian (the two official languages of this region).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empty beach below the city</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia and Ken</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea fisherman statue<br />
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Walking through town in the rain</td></tr>
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In the later morning, we joined a guided tour through the old fortress on the cliff in Ulcinj, and had lunch near the beach. There is lots of delicious pasta here, though I do miss the fresh vegetables we enjoyed every day in Albania.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethnographic museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Child's bed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out to sea</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFYwyKxkoSzlx7oeC7sSFfzvBVJ7idGzIv6P-i6YF3yv_gN3NkeholZLgGlKdOFZ6CFVVeDZ-BBwi6BsgM9FyszTmjxLl3GI_FB9o0K5zUWESLMjI8zoUVok6o14kro6CrmnyakZHmw0S/s1600/IMG_2523+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFYwyKxkoSzlx7oeC7sSFfzvBVJ7idGzIv6P-i6YF3yv_gN3NkeholZLgGlKdOFZ6CFVVeDZ-BBwi6BsgM9FyszTmjxLl3GI_FB9o0K5zUWESLMjI8zoUVok6o14kro6CrmnyakZHmw0S/s320/IMG_2523+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone carvings</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional costume</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three friends!</td></tr>
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After a short afternoon nap at the hotel, we went to the theatre for a short rehearsal, followed by a concert. The hall had quite good acoustics, though it was not heated (and it was a rather cold, windy day here), and the power went out for a few minutes during our rehearsal. This was not an uncommon occurrence in the Balkans, as I'd learned from previous visits. The concert itself went well-- and I sat in the audience for my own piece, "Equinox" (played one day after the spring equinox)-- and was able to get a recording. After the concert, we had a reception at the theatre, followed by dinner around 11pm back at our hotel.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another performance of "Equinox"-- one day after the spring equinox</td></tr>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-37004105968094012962018-09-11T03:41:00.001-07:002018-09-11T14:07:51.511-07:00(March 21, 2018) Ancient Village of AntigoneYesterday, a group of us drove up the narrow, winding mountain road to the ancient archeological Village of Antigone. It was a gorgeous, sunny day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tour guide, showing us around the ancient village</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgtSEyUaOz7P9nUhuaBpWb0m4QKzvz-abZkVXEwEZ5H0o7GNYJoAHYBx8rTjaUE6RceC8rMLMQkbuRmLUuMevjX_KjkVOQJRLtis6HFQVBv3ix3o-VapFS4oQRYx_Aj2Eu24uZhbSCL53/s1600/IMG_2268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgtSEyUaOz7P9nUhuaBpWb0m4QKzvz-abZkVXEwEZ5H0o7GNYJoAHYBx8rTjaUE6RceC8rMLMQkbuRmLUuMevjX_KjkVOQJRLtis6HFQVBv3ix3o-VapFS4oQRYx_Aj2Eu24uZhbSCL53/s320/IMG_2268.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spectacular views below</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpI9seNZiF7q-NvVki66vXzKg3cH0TqAUCyYEln0SRyoSsdW4roXBoLQ2vfIeJY1VOrRz_SdFWHhlk-b0mXP2Y3xnprIzrRkg494puwuGbBNVfdFvT71_RvZEf_9xzI6YDuBsPUuxej9g9/s1600/IMG_2272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpI9seNZiF7q-NvVki66vXzKg3cH0TqAUCyYEln0SRyoSsdW4roXBoLQ2vfIeJY1VOrRz_SdFWHhlk-b0mXP2Y3xnprIzrRkg494puwuGbBNVfdFvT71_RvZEf_9xzI6YDuBsPUuxej9g9/s320/IMG_2272.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down to Gjirokaster</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Dmbbggc3pvDJo2awARhQ1hjvMHqaQgI11FNMotbKNrC7yzNyMOoj7wjnQ8nMsMVki6MQqlYN1Bnm5HLsNBVK8yIGbsNlKtFBdw8_MdW6NFjrwrygeKiTsCXMDe4J62nv0ipIkN7Cp38R/s1600/IMG_2349+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Dmbbggc3pvDJo2awARhQ1hjvMHqaQgI11FNMotbKNrC7yzNyMOoj7wjnQ8nMsMVki6MQqlYN1Bnm5HLsNBVK8yIGbsNlKtFBdw8_MdW6NFjrwrygeKiTsCXMDe4J62nv0ipIkN7Cp38R/s320/IMG_2349+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep!</td></tr>
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We walked around the ruins of the village, which dates back to around 300 BC. The views of the mountains and the modern city of Gjirokaster below were spectacular.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient ruins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVVrm8coOObR3CuH64uqjL5QovKc3MrnOQ3cBCGM2rb_6js5XRWIIldjWFtaZDJv_c18GZSXRkP2aw-r9WHnLD6a4wwudDBVshE4eOZyvsXcPA_8dP1EMA_iI2xCn6uucIuEzXpkTJijC/s1600/IMG_2290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVVrm8coOObR3CuH64uqjL5QovKc3MrnOQ3cBCGM2rb_6js5XRWIIldjWFtaZDJv_c18GZSXRkP2aw-r9WHnLD6a4wwudDBVshE4eOZyvsXcPA_8dP1EMA_iI2xCn6uucIuEzXpkTJijC/s320/IMG_2290.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a beautiful day...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTKdxyn6h4nhHANA98B3js0NHqwvPuvF86MvNNUortHRrh1VpcF-ZfohzVpkl1pDwTabP47K650UrRPQPwtQnx2klbyTtV8JSXwDk9lB5_vlKSDi8NaH51vQwJxbR6e8gd9zdly-RHSgh/s1600/IMG_2311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTKdxyn6h4nhHANA98B3js0NHqwvPuvF86MvNNUortHRrh1VpcF-ZfohzVpkl1pDwTabP47K650UrRPQPwtQnx2klbyTtV8JSXwDk9lB5_vlKSDi8NaH51vQwJxbR6e8gd9zdly-RHSgh/s320/IMG_2311.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More ruins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpnzeGvAzM7wTZLCfKmas5UusrCg5io21MUyN3zEhDCtGeQk6-WmP9DDkD_wnW6RZ7bIv6oBb8rSwMXW-4RcPxQa4RBsR30vA1vGE0N7b1e4933GN1_JcTTle3bn0zF3RY0D9KOwW3v_w/s1600/IMG_2317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpnzeGvAzM7wTZLCfKmas5UusrCg5io21MUyN3zEhDCtGeQk6-WmP9DDkD_wnW6RZ7bIv6oBb8rSwMXW-4RcPxQa4RBsR30vA1vGE0N7b1e4933GN1_JcTTle3bn0zF3RY0D9KOwW3v_w/s320/IMG_2317.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain hut</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSy3BfrpCbTLAP4QsK8L3UVzcyJF0dQ1v4kBzaHStWHG1FT5QMbh-AbIZuTku4mg2fJtjdIUcnf56t50HOkM4opPnpZGN9BoftdHyiUwyUFd7tO_vmlBMv1p4UfcWW9Gasqn1PnnU_9Rj/s1600/IMG_2325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSy3BfrpCbTLAP4QsK8L3UVzcyJF0dQ1v4kBzaHStWHG1FT5QMbh-AbIZuTku4mg2fJtjdIUcnf56t50HOkM4opPnpZGN9BoftdHyiUwyUFd7tO_vmlBMv1p4UfcWW9Gasqn1PnnU_9Rj/s320/IMG_2325.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tour guides</td></tr>
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We also stopped by Bujar's brother's house in Antigone (the house where Bujar grew up), and enjoyed a taste of his delicious homemade raki (strong alcoholic drink). As a generous gift, each member of the orchestra was given a 1.5 L bottle of raki (!) to take along with us on our continued adventures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bujar's brother, sharing some of his delicious, strong homemade raki!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gezuar! (Cheers!)</td></tr>
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After checking out of our hotel, we stopped for lunch along the way, at the seaside resort of Durres. We arrived in Durres after dark, and checked into a very nice hotel, "2 Kitarrat"-- with some very eccentric, funky decor-- a mix of rockabilly and traditional Albanian arts. We had dinner next door at the hotel's restaurant, and enjoyed drinks with Music Progressive Quartet.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel in Durres</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-gTS-NspUG63rOD10M7S1HZKUs6iq9IstW_06yEiHjeefaYM4laxHJOq6QKTBLeErqGtCfeLJnK9hvZssVL9vuh3XEEKZqElFcoMbjoOACVrsd23ocETbgyRPXV8jyGtSinb0nMbaRbF/s1600/IMG_2359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-gTS-NspUG63rOD10M7S1HZKUs6iq9IstW_06yEiHjeefaYM4laxHJOq6QKTBLeErqGtCfeLJnK9hvZssVL9vuh3XEEKZqElFcoMbjoOACVrsd23ocETbgyRPXV8jyGtSinb0nMbaRbF/s320/IMG_2359.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WCSO tour bus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHBM2AAiuIM52_62kikO4ErVZgo5fXV4k5fui2HYqmSwRhiNqUpLVzbZI1G81V7rhhepmQQuy_3NulXcaswQWKTO596k2mqkxipFDm77zxXqffQURuE8pJtuKDHZeCTMOL9GMjk9S45PF/s1600/IMG_2346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHBM2AAiuIM52_62kikO4ErVZgo5fXV4k5fui2HYqmSwRhiNqUpLVzbZI1G81V7rhhepmQQuy_3NulXcaswQWKTO596k2mqkxipFDm77zxXqffQURuE8pJtuKDHZeCTMOL9GMjk9S45PF/s320/IMG_2346.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Albanian costumes<br />
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Amphitheatre in Durres</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78zDNGOLEuy53H6c5Nyzzb1IEfwSIJej90QVpVw5EjXspVCy8zRem9KeqTYtF8_zbi7mcLQRCD53ttGFQcDU3wGVKXPdWkJ5gcWiF5aCwtER5qCyCa6w2vCR8iXl5lnI0q2CND0pS5tIJ/s1600/IMG_2406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78zDNGOLEuy53H6c5Nyzzb1IEfwSIJej90QVpVw5EjXspVCy8zRem9KeqTYtF8_zbi7mcLQRCD53ttGFQcDU3wGVKXPdWkJ5gcWiF5aCwtER5qCyCa6w2vCR8iXl5lnI0q2CND0pS5tIJ/s320/IMG_2406.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Exploring the amphitheatre</div>
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Art on the walls</div>
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Decorated arch</div>
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Exploring the site</td></tr>
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<br />Today, after a long bus ride, we crossed the border into Montenegro, where there was some flooding along the river. It was dark by the time we arrived and checked into our hotels (all on the same block), and enjoyed a buffet dinner at the hotel. Ulcinj is a resort town with beautiful beaches, right on the ocean, though we are here in low season, and many places are closed. Tomorrow we plan to tour the old town.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends at dinner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK2JVns81IIKXJ1yESNavraF6aG-HmfDzCZQxNpunRCj-VjOZ_wgaL0e0E7p80lOOxUWlMpbpMEEEITChibmzDKrY-5ZEt5_GXiw3CUVZ08Ksub1vl8NXO97Mo5TnZXQuC0UravHg6lly/s1600/IMG_2362+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK2JVns81IIKXJ1yESNavraF6aG-HmfDzCZQxNpunRCj-VjOZ_wgaL0e0E7p80lOOxUWlMpbpMEEEITChibmzDKrY-5ZEt5_GXiw3CUVZ08Ksub1vl8NXO97Mo5TnZXQuC0UravHg6lly/s320/IMG_2362+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing with the Maestro...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVITgnB6nQAbAUI2haseb7mXba8TW2snGBVGrpvmrLl49XzWxg7i6AwV1B-2Q6-0GDnee7B6G2w57BGXoyK7w6xHQxWSUsFGVTiYgZxuNGPwAXkDSCpTjMwjLYdbb_7Vds1jQbiGWBQR5/s1600/IMG_2356+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVITgnB6nQAbAUI2haseb7mXba8TW2snGBVGrpvmrLl49XzWxg7i6AwV1B-2Q6-0GDnee7B6G2w57BGXoyK7w6xHQxWSUsFGVTiYgZxuNGPwAXkDSCpTjMwjLYdbb_7Vds1jQbiGWBQR5/s320/IMG_2356+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flooding along the road to Ulcinj</td></tr>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-50818809954568345042018-09-11T02:48:00.004-07:002018-09-11T03:32:30.082-07:00(March 20, 2018) Premiere in Gjirokaster!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJwI-BRARZiXT1B4OcY6TioQHixy-TMyeY3A4xrBzEUlC96hyphenhyphenDVzsu4MRplfBKo_6kWEl4h-MAxJaF4nRN6nYTVvz_95q3yuBY_HJcr78hSD624rckfr2BSKrMD7cFeED-oKaPdyzwBqr/s1600/IMG_2333+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJwI-BRARZiXT1B4OcY6TioQHixy-TMyeY3A4xrBzEUlC96hyphenhyphenDVzsu4MRplfBKo_6kWEl4h-MAxJaF4nRN6nYTVvz_95q3yuBY_HJcr78hSD624rckfr2BSKrMD7cFeED-oKaPdyzwBqr/s320/IMG_2333+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music Progressive Quartet with composer, Elizabeth Knudson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6Yc64PnVpc5tgA7GoGUKrbKDMgrZgLOSK9FXaRFEWF0DXUKM_bRE6ycWwaokVdh17J5Bt0-90Fph2Pi6dfKK-q-AsIk4Ix_c-7uadHJYk3gcivJ2EuY8qVO2xnlRKV8vX0SmAHX8ig52/s1600/IMG_2339+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6Yc64PnVpc5tgA7GoGUKrbKDMgrZgLOSK9FXaRFEWF0DXUKM_bRE6ycWwaokVdh17J5Bt0-90Fph2Pi6dfKK-q-AsIk4Ix_c-7uadHJYk3gcivJ2EuY8qVO2xnlRKV8vX0SmAHX8ig52/s320/IMG_2339+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concert programme</td></tr>
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Yesterday evening was the premiere of my piece, "Equinox"-- and our first concert of the tour, at a theatre in the town of Gjirokaster. We performed to a nearly-full house, and the highlight of my evening was seeing a little girl in the audience waving a Canadian flag in time to the Balkan rhythms in my piece.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgDYK7zYcyzD8vYrbFjHD_7EFISTQN61-ItL3aI25SLAE4BvpK_ZmB6dFuwaPXsUhUmlAxAsOyfkKozuCyDqSyWshRiNLHPmMXuPZCbsTEpSomo3MqUFzD7_WJNUglE1G7MBAg3wqZCmm/s1600/IMG_2225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgDYK7zYcyzD8vYrbFjHD_7EFISTQN61-ItL3aI25SLAE4BvpK_ZmB6dFuwaPXsUhUmlAxAsOyfkKozuCyDqSyWshRiNLHPmMXuPZCbsTEpSomo3MqUFzD7_WJNUglE1G7MBAg3wqZCmm/s320/IMG_2225.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music Progressive Quartet, giving the premiere of my piece, "Equinox"</td></tr>
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Music Progressive Quartet, our special guests from Macedonia (Vlad, Marko, Paskal, and Vlad) are joining us for the tour, since they are featured soloists in my piece. It was also a blast to play new compositions by Jim Hopson (a trombonist, also on our tour), and Stefan Hintersteininger, also from Vancouver (though not on our tour). Music Progressive Quartet also played some of their original music (by violist Marko). It was a pleasure to see Maestro Bujar so well-received by the crowd in Gjirokaster-- probably many of whom had come over from his nearby hometown of Antigone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggTyzgv6WpE3s43YdpG9uD8LuDVT0dZIfPihgWV87uwJyNnnr8DneEwV1j9SjpeXZxwshueilDF6k_fCjuO-FqM_8eOtwuP9L3h0k2EF_DvCC5vdyGzCJb7uXWaWTP_6j2B7O-hiwFBwv/s1600/IMG_2334+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggTyzgv6WpE3s43YdpG9uD8LuDVT0dZIfPihgWV87uwJyNnnr8DneEwV1j9SjpeXZxwshueilDF6k_fCjuO-FqM_8eOtwuP9L3h0k2EF_DvCC5vdyGzCJb7uXWaWTP_6j2B7O-hiwFBwv/s320/IMG_2334+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An exciting premiere...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzdIToDGlD5c8Oa7S71MUophCrAePYL-DgwQerr2nwl9q1WuvNx9Ys4cxoJkBxka5OND3kRwO-P0N3BPiv7Sn4hq-_TDQ8QeFrOq0qoSjE9ImmeHY6VwxkLOfWzyMTz3EFXsU8mjIL3h3/s1600/IMG_2227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzdIToDGlD5c8Oa7S71MUophCrAePYL-DgwQerr2nwl9q1WuvNx9Ys4cxoJkBxka5OND3kRwO-P0N3BPiv7Sn4hq-_TDQ8QeFrOq0qoSjE9ImmeHY6VwxkLOfWzyMTz3EFXsU8mjIL3h3/s320/IMG_2227.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vlad and Vlad </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZW-4zuSYCPcKjHSE1gWMUfRzhj0BVcla3jL8Yj_RHidM6dUaq3ArRUlWuqIGL0B1O-snaqCa_E7OYnTJWVZ0qEwevmUcxKRtgrrntMbgn20_v9EA9_T7LvJlXuWC1YbxyTGYtZEsA-jz/s1600/IMG_2228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZW-4zuSYCPcKjHSE1gWMUfRzhj0BVcla3jL8Yj_RHidM6dUaq3ArRUlWuqIGL0B1O-snaqCa_E7OYnTJWVZ0qEwevmUcxKRtgrrntMbgn20_v9EA9_T7LvJlXuWC1YbxyTGYtZEsA-jz/s320/IMG_2228.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maestro Bujar, Paskal, and Marko</td></tr>
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Post-concert, we bussed back to our hotel, and enjoyed a delicious feast to celebrate! It's now morning, and we are packing up to move on to our next destination (TBD) today. Apparently some roads were flooded on the coast, so we'll see where we end up enjoying this day off. It was lovely to wake up to the sun rising over the spectacular snow-tipped mountains. Here's to new adventures, and a lovely day ahead!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalHHkI4IHtz4QvN8EVaTkolx1tu3m-LG1wwm9DzGlink40_D-RiNLdn6IoFcHiaajNe50ZqLghqAQAS7DwnKLT2HkVa-4E-a2fiXqx4fSenTbU2s_ewdJTLeaSGZVlEbW04-R0-RFp42O/s1600/IMG_2230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalHHkI4IHtz4QvN8EVaTkolx1tu3m-LG1wwm9DzGlink40_D-RiNLdn6IoFcHiaajNe50ZqLghqAQAS7DwnKLT2HkVa-4E-a2fiXqx4fSenTbU2s_ewdJTLeaSGZVlEbW04-R0-RFp42O/s320/IMG_2230.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside Hotel Çajupi</td></tr>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-4210634281061045942018-09-11T02:36:00.000-07:002018-09-11T03:19:39.838-07:00(March 19, 2018) On to Gjirokaster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rehearsing my piece "Equinox", with Music Progressive Quartet</td></tr>
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I'm sitting in the lobby of Hotel Çajupi, waiting for the bus to take us to our first concert of the tour! We left Tirana yesterday morning, and enjoyed lunch near a monastery in the mountains, en route to Bujar's village of Antigone.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Gjirokaster</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim & Marissa on the patio</td></tr>
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Six years ago, on our first WCSO tour, we had donated a few musical instruments to help start a music school in the village. Last night, we enjoyed a concert by some students of the new school. It was really special. We were treated to performances by some young violinists, flautists, clarinettists, as well as some traditional Albanian singers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music room dedicated to Jim DeFina <br />
(West Coast Symphony clarinettist, who passed away shortly after our first WCSO tour, in 2012)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maestro Bujar, with some young music students</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albanian singers</td></tr>
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Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious feast of local food (and raki!), and mingled with the people from Antigone-- very generous and friendly hosts. This morning, we woke up to a rainstorm. Despite the weather, a small group of us hiked up the hill to explore the castle. We were completely rain-soaked by the time we hiked back down to our hotel, but got some beautiful photos-- even in the wind and rain.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the castle in Gjirokaster</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia and Ken, exploring near the castle </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Elizabeth</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marianne and Julia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the castle grounds</td></tr>
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<br />After changing into dry clothes, a couple of us enjoyed a delicious lunch at a small cafe, followed by some raki! We also checked out a couple of the small local shops selling handmade souvenirs. I picked up a beautiful wooden hand-carved bird, and a tiny antique silver coffee urn.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside one of the shops in town</td></tr>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-74542677609363549312018-09-11T02:04:00.000-07:002018-09-12T22:55:03.678-07:00(March 17, 2018) En route, via Istanbul...It's been a very long two days of travel-- I'm sitting at the airport in Istanbul, Turkey, as I write this, struggling to keep awake. Perhaps I'll go find a Turkish coffee to accompany my pocket book of Rumi poetry, as I wait for my flight to Tirana, Albania to board.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Airport reading...</td></tr>
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It's the start of another adventure! Having left early spring behind in Vancouver, and passed through snowy Montreal, I'm en route to join the West Coast Symphony Orchestra as we start our tour of the Balkans (Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro), with Maestro Bujar Llapaj. It's a slightly different group than those who went on the first Balkan tour in 2012-- though with many familiar faces. The special news this time is that the orchestra will be touring one of my pieces, "Equinox", featuring our Macedonian friends, Music Progressive Quartet. I can hardly wait!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing through Montreal</td></tr>
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It's been a solo voyage so far-- I won't meet up with the rest of the orchestra till later this evening, at the Hotel Livia in Tirana. I did not travel with the main group this time, since I'll be staying on for a week after the tour-- flying to Athens, Greece afterward for a short holiday. Istanbul was so beautiful, flying in this afternoon, with its roads coursing like veins through the hillsides-- its mosques and reddish-copper coloured rooftops. I really wish I had more time and energy to explore here. But for now-- onwards to Albania!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Istanbul</td></tr>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-57163743461794618202013-11-26T11:18:00.002-08:002013-11-26T11:18:32.823-08:00The Horn Call- International Horn Society articleLast month (October 2013), Oliver de Clercq received a brief feature in the International Horn Society's journal, <i>The Horn Call</i> (Vol. XLIV, No. 1, pg. 27), regarding the European premiere of my horn concerto, <i>Mosaic</i>, with the Albanian Radio Television Orchestra, in March 2013.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4oqP9vOD9_uzo7s67sLim41hRFE0qrQa6j5htYnieh0U1c-unEaNrTXUylcN11BAxv2KJSTd7ULQRpmWNDovfLMxCn-rtIseYvi9D7SdKsIJEt4auDuJ__Ol4JaPCV01Y94m9-UogOxD/s1600/Horn-Call-Journal-Oct-2013-crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4oqP9vOD9_uzo7s67sLim41hRFE0qrQa6j5htYnieh0U1c-unEaNrTXUylcN11BAxv2KJSTd7ULQRpmWNDovfLMxCn-rtIseYvi9D7SdKsIJEt4auDuJ__Ol4JaPCV01Y94m9-UogOxD/s400/Horn-Call-Journal-Oct-2013-crop.jpg" width="365" /></a></div>
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(May there be many more performances of <i>Mosaic</i> to come!)</div>
<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-13286120283816745942013-08-12T19:04:00.001-07:002013-08-12T19:04:45.382-07:00Recordings from Spring Concert in AlbaniaAs a small update to the Albanian/European adventures earlier this spring, I have just received a recording of the concert with the Albanian Radio-Television Orchestra! Recorded live at the Academy of Arts in Tirana, Albania, on March 21, 2013, with guest maestro Bujar Llapaj, and guest horn soloist Oliver de Clercq-- here is my horn concerto, 'Mosaic':<br />
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/ejknudson/mosaic">https://soundcloud.com/ejknudson/mosaic</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPySMCN9tqrUSE53Jdo57pQilg-dOYS1j9xUaZgrrFGPkeCoxlGxDJUVEyP7nSHO4wS0ujm0f4JP0onEFXPP1BvRELHBOHszant4Ic8Ub8eT4oIISCVoszRCxLI7PT5CsqA85cW0tQpuz-/s1600/HornPlayerCollage-small-cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPySMCN9tqrUSE53Jdo57pQilg-dOYS1j9xUaZgrrFGPkeCoxlGxDJUVEyP7nSHO4wS0ujm0f4JP0onEFXPP1BvRELHBOHszant4Ic8Ub8eT4oIISCVoszRCxLI7PT5CsqA85cW0tQpuz-/s200/HornPlayerCollage-small-cropped.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">detail from collage by Elizabeth Knudson</td></tr>
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And the world premiere of my overture, 'Tides':<br />
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/ejknudson/tides-rtsh-premiere-march-2013">https://soundcloud.com/ejknudson/tides-rtsh-premiere-march-2013</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beach at Sarande, Albania (and inspiration for 'Tides')</td></tr>
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Should you ever be interested in finding the sheet music, the scores and orchestral parts for both pieces are available for loan/rental through the Canadian Music Centre (the CMC will send music anywhere in the world):<br />
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<a href="http://musiccentre.ca/node/37862/showcase">http://musiccentre.ca/node/37862/showcase</a><br />
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There is also a solo horn and piano arrangement of 'Mosaic', available for sale through the International Horn Society:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hornsociety.org/marketplace/online-library#!/~/product/category=0&id=6957407">http://www.hornsociety.org/marketplace/online-library#!/~/product/category=0&id=6957407</a><br />
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Thanks again to so many of you for the continued support of my composing career... it's been a very busy and exciting year so far, and I look forward to another exciting year ahead! I am currently working on two new pieces-- one for a Macedonian quartet, and the other for a bayan (button accordion) player based in Denmark, so stay tuned for some more musical adventures...<br />
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All the best for a relaxing summer!ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-23841774910613834012013-04-02T02:33:00.000-07:002013-04-14T18:29:07.391-07:00Arrivederci, Roma!March 28:<br />
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This was our last full day in Rome... but we did manage to do a lot in that time. Our first stop after a large breakfast at our hotel, was the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, located inside the Villa Borghese, within close walking distance from our hotel. The weather was gray and rainy in the morning, so it was the perfect day to be inside perusing art. We spent several hours inside the gallery, and saw the entire collection, including a whole lot of Italian art from various time periods, plus a special temporary Japanese collection. No photos were allowed within the gallery. Among other things, the original Verdi portrait by Giovanni Boldini was on display.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">front steps of the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5W-yoCXElMuz3UNgqwijqdqWLWr47DEfttWtdEslCTK3SCW-H6qtnd_IA1Jy9kcUfp36sBvXa4JSkCUFlCm41DUjElPBU2zvU_xMC3aUyx3m-XZKCv0PnlXjm3wJLW5hAJGjHK5cgkqz/s1600/437px-Verdi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5W-yoCXElMuz3UNgqwijqdqWLWr47DEfttWtdEslCTK3SCW-H6qtnd_IA1Jy9kcUfp36sBvXa4JSkCUFlCm41DUjElPBU2zvU_xMC3aUyx3m-XZKCv0PnlXjm3wJLW5hAJGjHK5cgkqz/s320/437px-Verdi.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">portrait of composer Giuseppe Verdi, by Giovanni Boldini (1886)<br />
[image courtesy of Wikipedia]</td></tr>
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After the Modern Art Gallery, the rain had stopped, and we had a relaxing stroll through Villa Borghese Park, where we saw the famous 'Pines of Rome', which served as the inspiration for composer Ottorino Respighi's piece of the same name. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a pigeon and some spring greenery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fountain of Seahorses</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">among the Pines of Rome</td></tr>
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Walking out of Villa Borghese, I said a visual goodbye to this beautiful city... we walked back into town the same way we'd gone on our first evening in Rome, enjoying a panoramic view of the city from the higher vantage point of the park.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view of Rome from the edge of Villa Borghese park</td></tr>
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Our next stop was the Tiziano (Titian) exhibit... we spent quite a while inside, admiring 39 large paintings by the famous 16th century master. It was really a stunning exhibit. I bought a small book (in Italian) with some of his works, and came away inspired with an abstract idea that I might try to translate into music in my next piece. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">outside the Titian exhibit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">changing of the guard outside Quirinal Palace, where the president lives</td></tr>
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There were a couple of other things (well, many more things!) I would have loved to have time to see and do in Rome, but we were tired by the time the gallery closed, and we headed back for dinner at a small pizza place near the Euclid station close to our hotel. It was a relaxing and low-key evening... a perfect way to wind down a very busy and exciting past couple of weeks. </div>
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On the way home tomorrow, we will be connecting through Frankfurt, then Montreal, and home to Vancouver. Arrivederci, Roma! My first visit here was amazing, and I definitely hope to be back again someday!</div>
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<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946891938205574580.post-44825056047267922932013-04-02T01:49:00.000-07:002013-04-02T01:52:26.686-07:00Buongiorno, Papa Francesco!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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March 27:</div>
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Today we went over to see the Vatican. After a quick look around the piazza in front of St. Peter's Basilica, we went into one of the Vatican gift shops (called 'Mosaic'), since I had the urge to peruse some of the souvenirs. I did buy a few small things, including a charm of the new Pope, Francis-- not bad, considering he has only been Pope for a matter of days. I also got a postcard, but didn't take advantage of mailing it from within the Vatican... I'm glad I didn't line up for stamps right then, because if we hadn't emerged from the gift shop right when we did, we'd have missed the biggest sighting of the day...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFK5anCfUG6N-DOTQHGs-ou1XAYx00Z_oHLXblsHTxt5Ocqss4f-oABF-MMweJhRM63B-k1eUvPfhyphenhyphenYGGcs1b0Ybb8CLEyLzRLA_kfz0ccHyH3dn8vITRBlUiypA5ddVw9WFuPHCsEG9V/s1600/IMG_3541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFK5anCfUG6N-DOTQHGs-ou1XAYx00Z_oHLXblsHTxt5Ocqss4f-oABF-MMweJhRM63B-k1eUvPfhyphenhyphenYGGcs1b0Ybb8CLEyLzRLA_kfz0ccHyH3dn8vITRBlUiypA5ddVw9WFuPHCsEG9V/s320/IMG_3541.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">outside St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xjUK8EhC542UqfhE2RScHTvVoasY77Xq_i9QxgKbCTcTtXu2e017M7U2JNlbAZCBP8U8Ipg4OL6lBGCHwXYCY4WGxhHUgrjCj0aWLXqkmqyppGubwahyphenhyphenNS6aVKeZHmXoA9S2uztdVzAW/s1600/IMG_3550-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xjUK8EhC542UqfhE2RScHTvVoasY77Xq_i9QxgKbCTcTtXu2e017M7U2JNlbAZCBP8U8Ipg4OL6lBGCHwXYCY4WGxhHUgrjCj0aWLXqkmqyppGubwahyphenhyphenNS6aVKeZHmXoA9S2uztdVzAW/s320/IMG_3550-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, we saw Pope Francis!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_Y1bl2opuVu_FyPynDGAh7gHnCuOBuseEvQjkW6_TfUfwUvE7yCQDLNN6ju5gzWWEShuaKXRkezl2V2xkoWxwk-FxJMNubvvAlkSfMvd2OKAHBMdu0cU46f4g-zkzeu6ui2ZYNmx90cK/s1600/IMG_3556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_Y1bl2opuVu_FyPynDGAh7gHnCuOBuseEvQjkW6_TfUfwUvE7yCQDLNN6ju5gzWWEShuaKXRkezl2V2xkoWxwk-FxJMNubvvAlkSfMvd2OKAHBMdu0cU46f4g-zkzeu6ui2ZYNmx90cK/s320/IMG_3556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReIx4iQKSdtw3N-Sz4QEjZoMdWYv6jxOjupbPD906B82lcxYhcPzi2jBDl0MHD6h7lBzhyphenhyphen6lzuE9SzaiAGhD-3sPDAvxfhD26gPHN6bthicXm1lSTQW8kkKqr3aV_CL00lFfisSMpSYPG/s1600/IMG_3569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReIx4iQKSdtw3N-Sz4QEjZoMdWYv6jxOjupbPD906B82lcxYhcPzi2jBDl0MHD6h7lBzhyphenhyphen6lzuE9SzaiAGhD-3sPDAvxfhD26gPHN6bthicXm1lSTQW8kkKqr3aV_CL00lFfisSMpSYPG/s320/IMG_3569.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swiss guard at the Vatican</td></tr>
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After our sighting of the Pope, we wandered outside the Vatican walls again, and walked all the way around the perimeter of the Vatican walls (the long way) over to the Vatican Museum, where we spent a couple of hours looking through their extensive collection of art and artifacts.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgA1PkvHjtu1voPkpxyRRG6pQqYYxzWEOBx9bVTmCpP3EJtDQtqdW2Vk1cjpIySrYm2RGWe_36lHiizc9JadL6EpEpKmL8HU0e6vOKSQpY2Mx9i8BRbltFQ3iQybrGyJ59X10vX738kZ6/s1600/IMG_3579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgA1PkvHjtu1voPkpxyRRG6pQqYYxzWEOBx9bVTmCpP3EJtDQtqdW2Vk1cjpIySrYm2RGWe_36lHiizc9JadL6EpEpKmL8HU0e6vOKSQpY2Mx9i8BRbltFQ3iQybrGyJ59X10vX738kZ6/s320/IMG_3579.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Musei Vaticani</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj60atR038uNHuRe_yEjL8xbnzQoIGBzHzuGZSXGXC8up850I68w5-ZDpa8Zj9zt52l0Nu4kiHWk7VxKY6S9zh8vW7v7KR1q33i4Hx2mreBPI0sELkTRhaCZgDUiBeC-xRkS3Fu4HdoJt/s1600/IMG_3582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj60atR038uNHuRe_yEjL8xbnzQoIGBzHzuGZSXGXC8up850I68w5-ZDpa8Zj9zt52l0Nu4kiHWk7VxKY6S9zh8vW7v7KR1q33i4Hx2mreBPI0sELkTRhaCZgDUiBeC-xRkS3Fu4HdoJt/s320/IMG_3582.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver and the golden ball</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6d3wbxiO8r9ZPLhcXUqMVx3dbJou59qLy4PhfqeV5ZCC1GrLTk-y8JXpLrHB3cA5OpeNNj37ME8y2U4KO-PPi2Q03m-5C_FKUoiUij9HU2YBKKlMrFObnSF1vXRsnL3Bcb3fSc-G5TsG4/s1600/IMG_3587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6d3wbxiO8r9ZPLhcXUqMVx3dbJou59qLy4PhfqeV5ZCC1GrLTk-y8JXpLrHB3cA5OpeNNj37ME8y2U4KO-PPi2Q03m-5C_FKUoiUij9HU2YBKKlMrFObnSF1vXRsnL3Bcb3fSc-G5TsG4/s320/IMG_3587.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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There was a huge amount of interesting things to see... it was also very crowded with tour groups passing through, but we managed to view pretty much the entire collection, which ranged from ancient Egyptian artifacts, through Greek and Roman sculptures, to Renaissance art, and even a smaller modern art wing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58FqNuMiyNkNbP9bb7bLSDU6v3KizTmBAheZe75ewObiHZYWrsuvVXmiAB4WMBrGnqrQafXDXjkGqOpAuCl2ScxSavk6AxKwso_ZAmIfRkl_YZPlRCbaWUMefmWwvztF5IQCBySnxvDQm/s1600/IMG_3610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58FqNuMiyNkNbP9bb7bLSDU6v3KizTmBAheZe75ewObiHZYWrsuvVXmiAB4WMBrGnqrQafXDXjkGqOpAuCl2ScxSavk6AxKwso_ZAmIfRkl_YZPlRCbaWUMefmWwvztF5IQCBySnxvDQm/s320/IMG_3610.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigItM-hQlG0lBazwo7Tdh7nN48tqTSxTlY0_fubQ77kGb0OofJqaSo58W-YOcR5I4aeGntrIuGadnEk-SaDHnjdxAgo2OzhAZAeJ-J3oyPSE65FQD4bSucbEzPMdL-q4wp1vuIWtgpIPez/s1600/IMG_3654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigItM-hQlG0lBazwo7Tdh7nN48tqTSxTlY0_fubQ77kGb0OofJqaSo58W-YOcR5I4aeGntrIuGadnEk-SaDHnjdxAgo2OzhAZAeJ-J3oyPSE65FQD4bSucbEzPMdL-q4wp1vuIWtgpIPez/s320/IMG_3654.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2o3f65h00XAFEtJnHXV9gJ2sJWg6FJOThnOvei0IXPtCDejKC6i-j1Kz8RzblC-ecMtn5ZrS_iF47EfRYzlvGvLBac6YzG0EmCVyM1gnRwA3mT-g2ey9uvOqQkGkRpA5do-W1wfdGPOp/s1600/IMG_3626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2o3f65h00XAFEtJnHXV9gJ2sJWg6FJOThnOvei0IXPtCDejKC6i-j1Kz8RzblC-ecMtn5ZrS_iF47EfRYzlvGvLBac6YzG0EmCVyM1gnRwA3mT-g2ey9uvOqQkGkRpA5do-W1wfdGPOp/s320/IMG_3626.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">checking out a work by Van Gogh</td></tr>
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The culmination of the Vatican Museum tour (whether self-guided, or with a tour group) brings one to the Sistine Chapel, which is breathtaking. The room was packed full of tourists, and museum guards telling people to be quiet, and not take photos (though photos were permitted in the rest of the museum)... still, we spent quite a good amount of time looking around, and up at the spectacular ceiling and walls. (Yes, I did sneak in two photos inside the chapel...)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q0WtcIt4mmgYrO3JAkUAbH803m01kfWOkAAaM4YJcFi4rNqimIZcO1OFkyUQVeBHQ4bJL5YbieD50PtnqYgL1tqveg5ureXxY6wAGPYi9DTyAx5x2INip6tJg2vZlKyG2Q3pYRyP4oUN/s1600/IMG_3639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q0WtcIt4mmgYrO3JAkUAbH803m01kfWOkAAaM4YJcFi4rNqimIZcO1OFkyUQVeBHQ4bJL5YbieD50PtnqYgL1tqveg5ureXxY6wAGPYi9DTyAx5x2INip6tJg2vZlKyG2Q3pYRyP4oUN/s320/IMG_3639.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ceiling of the Sistine Chapel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDViQD2WpzwhKM8sI-8VOPoWbAOizfRYprbe2OO9dbDdGtVXNSZf4S879MoqTdAG6vF8fqOmG4S-JGPUQ51x5AAb6RZbw-K_chEW7OAnKtsXdS-yGlLNWhJ31IefeDJh0VLyCjkUvaSHkN/s1600/IMG_3640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDViQD2WpzwhKM8sI-8VOPoWbAOizfRYprbe2OO9dbDdGtVXNSZf4S879MoqTdAG6vF8fqOmG4S-JGPUQ51x5AAb6RZbw-K_chEW7OAnKtsXdS-yGlLNWhJ31IefeDJh0VLyCjkUvaSHkN/s320/IMG_3640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">part of the wall of the Sistine Chapel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-iekTcawdkPtT07kipRmPQ6INsRAbAP1zwadtRFvXynlCOMoUjC_DuxlQ4EWS8HZXI3PZectPM4W4jwwFMVyHU043zo9o62d4xImBVCSoSFJSilPN7BYjvSHEmtaP6vS9Bxcy6UBGKxG/s1600/IMG_3661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-iekTcawdkPtT07kipRmPQ6INsRAbAP1zwadtRFvXynlCOMoUjC_DuxlQ4EWS8HZXI3PZectPM4W4jwwFMVyHU043zo9o62d4xImBVCSoSFJSilPN7BYjvSHEmtaP6vS9Bxcy6UBGKxG/s320/IMG_3661.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Peter's Basilica</td></tr>
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After the Vatican, we paid a visit to the Colosseum... it was closed for tours by the time we got there, but we were still able to walk around and check out the exterior.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6Pob7HBFJ5g4Pf8KDSsH1RZq39-wZDLKhBlxTezpRrYERtTtZ2G4YRIYFMpd9PIS49WfM2yPxWSG7_HDU-3ILMkxobHTaR1dZP2TDge9MPxgcTdn1ZE6498Rzqg2H3EXWbbNLaIcoL8Y/s1600/IMG_3677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6Pob7HBFJ5g4Pf8KDSsH1RZq39-wZDLKhBlxTezpRrYERtTtZ2G4YRIYFMpd9PIS49WfM2yPxWSG7_HDU-3ILMkxobHTaR1dZP2TDge9MPxgcTdn1ZE6498Rzqg2H3EXWbbNLaIcoL8Y/s320/IMG_3677.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colosseum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZCtmPlkp5wfY8KQfSntDUYfZdDGWnSsqkzc1VyPVr6EORWXX8amiMNDruOuwppMjv807tI5HiNk73bApan1amfq2wSMfeegXdobGei1h4ZxLWeZDL8hrk3vHpobYRAPMsiMYv0S7whH4/s1600/IMG_3688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZCtmPlkp5wfY8KQfSntDUYfZdDGWnSsqkzc1VyPVr6EORWXX8amiMNDruOuwppMjv807tI5HiNk73bApan1amfq2wSMfeegXdobGei1h4ZxLWeZDL8hrk3vHpobYRAPMsiMYv0S7whH4/s320/IMG_3688.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gladiators</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV92UZc-3cCXgzwetfrKnd4CtP2aABUHiezbAmm4D0ouHT-KoEpZnEsRgY4KuolhI4O7hfOwWZnDnFDjR_j9UJic6UEdo1960slfYTrKUXtT-HYo_pVO4-THrpMaxAEP1cmS1uX_o5x6OW/s1600/IMG_3691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV92UZc-3cCXgzwetfrKnd4CtP2aABUHiezbAmm4D0ouHT-KoEpZnEsRgY4KuolhI4O7hfOwWZnDnFDjR_j9UJic6UEdo1960slfYTrKUXtT-HYo_pVO4-THrpMaxAEP1cmS1uX_o5x6OW/s320/IMG_3691.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After the Colosseum, we walked by another landmark, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, whose construction dates all the way back to the year 435 AD (though it opened in the 1700s). After a quick stop for gelato, we strolled on to the Giardini di Piazza Vittorio, just as the sun was going down.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhp8QdF5MVO8U2B28pVUYefDxSUO0pS778ELTkaqn7HH2KHXVhmQd0nUw4-gXjpyGuiXZUwWdVAxByEXxyHKoP3z9m6-yiUzz1RlFqP7-FgagzsXNgxaIY4qGkWndu-GeQw3SeklXDu9C/s1600/IMG_3695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhp8QdF5MVO8U2B28pVUYefDxSUO0pS778ELTkaqn7HH2KHXVhmQd0nUw4-gXjpyGuiXZUwWdVAxByEXxyHKoP3z9m6-yiUzz1RlFqP7-FgagzsXNgxaIY4qGkWndu-GeQw3SeklXDu9C/s320/IMG_3695.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Maria Maggiore</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ldYprP2ZwiIzGR7aQmx4WdSH8oeA7hHAiuNiYH6SpND9knSovd1VcSTbcXML4ornplSTwGQQk5esmhlu42frtE3D1l-meIMAO-LHffYhyphenhyphenb1g2zm4_w3qLeZIMK8UYfb-VCRrYaEiYrKa/s1600/IMG_3699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ldYprP2ZwiIzGR7aQmx4WdSH8oeA7hHAiuNiYH6SpND9knSovd1VcSTbcXML4ornplSTwGQQk5esmhlu42frtE3D1l-meIMAO-LHffYhyphenhyphenb1g2zm4_w3qLeZIMK8UYfb-VCRrYaEiYrKa/s320/IMG_3699.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT_9jiYcFVhWDpBMe6f3OpvwU1CARyW4_wq5Y0zNxAAH1T75Y1Us43Iv1TNy-qXQrFnMVpeXTK2byA1vBzZ7XIZg2VPmoZcXUZcjQs9pxP2Vk2QkyzG8lKVDzscBczvS8I7u2iD6_QjxO/s1600/IMG_3701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT_9jiYcFVhWDpBMe6f3OpvwU1CARyW4_wq5Y0zNxAAH1T75Y1Us43Iv1TNy-qXQrFnMVpeXTK2byA1vBzZ7XIZg2VPmoZcXUZcjQs9pxP2Vk2QkyzG8lKVDzscBczvS8I7u2iD6_QjxO/s320/IMG_3701.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II</td></tr>
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After another long day, and a few kilometres of walking, we headed back to the neighbourhood near our hotel for some dinner. Tomorrow is our last full day in Rome, and I think we are planning to check out some more art...</div>
<br />ejknudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08134752650845811931noreply@blogger.com1