Day 5 - on the way to Prague

Day 5 A visit to Dachau and onto Prague. We started our morning fairly early and left Munich. Our first stop was the Concentration Camp of Dachau. It is, to say, sobering. The GDYO kids were extremely attentive to the guides and in all I think they learned a few new things about an important piece of history. From there we headed to Prague. We stopped at a bus stop for lunch and I must say they food was not bad. At the border of the Czech Republic we had to stop so that the driver could pay fees and get papers checked. We were told we might have to show passports, but we did not. Crossing the boarder there was a definite change in buildings. We stopped at a rest stop and the bathrooms were, to say, interesting. For those of you who don't know, most, if not all, public restroom require a fee to use. Usually around .50 The drive to the city was pleasant. Mostly countryside with a few buildings here and there. Because it is no longer required to stop at the boarder and beyond, many of the businesses have shut down.  Once we entered the city, it was building after building of apartments. It was not what we imagined Prague to look like. Tall, long buildings that are the homes of the 10 million people that live here. Most cannot afford homes and this is what the Russians built for the people to live in and they continue to stay there, most have no choice.  It took us a while to get to the hotel as there was no direct way. Twist and turns, u-turns and criss-crossing, I was lost by the time we got to the hotel.  The hotel is okay. It's clean, there are several restaurants and some beautiful outdoor areas.  But it is full of groups (youth groups) from all over the world. The kids are loving it, but trying to sleep is not easy. It is an older hotel and still has features from the communists days.  Dinner was starch, starch and more starch - we had a choice of four meats, four different versions of potatoes and pasta. There was also a mushroom soup, which was pretty good and a small salad bar. There was a lot of white on the plates of kids. We stayed at the hotel that evening as it was late by the time we finished dinner. The kids wandered around and like all good GDYO members, they entertained the tourists in the lobby with an impromptu performance. Several kids played games and most found the free computers and got on Facebook. 

Comments from kids

Loading out from our Munich Concert, Patrick distracted me with the task of finding an owner for a misplaced percussion part. In this distracted state, I failed to hear the heavily distorted and very German "careful!" from off stage. A platform lowered in front of me, trapping my poor toes between two pieces of stage floor. Screaming in fear, we overcame a language barrier after many failed attempts, releasing the rubber-like, contorted shapes I'd once called my shoes. My big toes escaped with minor bruises, but the emotional scars will last a lifetime. - Chris Hadley What an exciting few days! It's been so enjoyable seeing the sights, watching Chris fail to find love, making beautiful music, watching Chris' toes fall victim to a carnivorous stage. This countryside is absolutely beautiful. - Adam Holmes Dachau was amazing; there was an amazing cool breeze and climate while we had the tour, but it was also pretty depressing in a way - Franklin Jia I really liked Salzburg; the stores, churches, chocolate, and weather. It was amazing. Why is Germany so pretty? I fell in love. Germany is awesome with so much history. I shall come back to Germany when I'm older to try many beers and sausages. The concert was great! It was kind of scary at first, but really fun! I also loved Salzburg, it's so pretty! I got my dad some Mozart chocolate for his birthday. Germany has got to be one of the most pretty places I've ever been to before. Salzburg is so amazing and cool - I like how all the shops are close/right next to each other. I'm so excited for Prague. - Michelle Yang I thought that Salzburg was absolutely amazing. I loved that the city had so much beauty and history, but also a modern area. It seems that support and respect for the classical and performing arts is much greater there. I wish America was more like Austria in that respect. Being a vegetarian, I've probably eaten every type of spaghetti that exists, but nothing can match that steaming bowl of spaghetti I had on our first night in Munich. It was perfectly cooked with just the right blend of olive oil and mozzarella, with two perfect baby tomatoes on top. Mouthwatering. The best part of Germany? The food! I have never fully realized the cruelty man man is capable of until Dachau. The emaciated, piled, murdered bodies, the stringent rules, the intentions to humiliate and torture bodies has sickened me terribly. It has opened my eyes to the importance to remember the dead and to be involved with counteracting the world atrocities today that occur in countries with corrupt governments. I am blessed to be on this tour. Performing at the Gastig Concert hall was truly amazing. It is great knowing that classical music is still alive and well in their hearts. Performing last night also shows that music is an international language. The excitement from the crowd was also electrifying. I can't wait to perform at the schools and festivals. So far the trip has been amazing. Playing the concert last night was fantastic because never before have I played three encores! Going to Dachau today was humbling and gave me time to reflect on how good we all have it. Also I have had a lot of good cheap food! Schnitzel is awesome! Germany has been so much fun! The drives are beautiful, and it is still so surreal being here. Can't wait for Prague! - Kaleen So far my favorite city has been Salzburg. It was beautiful and having and authentic Mozart ball was delicious! - Curtis I thought the concert went pretty well for the first concert. The audience seemed really appreciative. We all played our best and had a good time. I love being in Europe especially with the GDYO. We are all having an amazing time. Yay. Europe! It shocks me still that the places we've traveled to have been around for a really long time. So many people have walked where we have. It humbles me. - Emily  I ordered a sweet tea on the plane to Germany and the old German woman handed me a hot tea, I was expecting Texas sweet tea. I tried to explain that I meant cold tea and she gave me a look of disgust and mumbled something in German, then left. 

Munich Concert

Concert one I have to say it is a learning experience performing here in Germany. They have a different way of doing things. Stage set up as been an interesting process for Patrick, but as always he is handling it in a professional way. Before the concert started the fire marshalls showed to inspect the stage. They wanted to make sure we didn't have any chairs or stands on the fire line, which is a line on the stage that shows where a two ton curtain would drop if there was a fire. If it landed on you, it would crush you. Luckily we passed with no problems. They also inspected the backstage to make sure none of our cases were in the pathways. Another interesting thing is that musicians do not go on stage until the concert begins. You do not warm up on stage and go on as a group, including the concertmaster. Once in, you tune. Oh, but what was really funny, was while all eighty something of our kids were coming on stage, the audience continued to clap, until the very last one entered. About three minutes of it. There was a pause as the basses had not entered but when they did a roaring applause was had.  And so the maestro entered and the concert began. Starting with Dvorak, Carnival overture, the GDYO played superb. Fast and entertaining. At the end there were a few shouts. I would say they liked it. Then onto The Tenderland suite by Copland, the GDYO filled the hall with beautiful sounds of the American Midwest. For the last piece of the first half, they performed Xi Wang's Fall at the Barnard Cottage.  It is different but the audience seemed to like it. A little confusion about intermission, as they usually do not take one, but every one was gracious and we all seemed to figure what to do. Of course we had a little help from the maestro who stuck his head out from backstage and asked "do we not get an intermission?" a few laughs and of course all was good. More applause after intermission as each musician entered. I personally find it funny as the clapping almost becomes this uniform single clap. Now onto Pictures at an Exhibition. Many in the audience were excited as they said they don't get to hear it much. This is a hard piece and performing on little sleep and time changed can be challenging for any musician at any level. And guess what? GDYO pulled it off with some incredible moments. Encores included Candide overture, Nimrod and Capriccio Espanyol  The audience could not stop clapping, they called the back for more encores. On and on the applause went, we almost ran out of music. Wow what a great first concert for tour. A side note story: sitting two rows down from me were three children between the ages of 10-14 and there mother. She came over and asked me if I was with the youth orchestra and had a few questions. During the concert, the children sat on the edge of their seats, completely inthralled with the GDYO. Their attention span never once seemed to disappear and several times they would sit up even longer when they heard something they like. I have a few shots of the back of their heads in my photos and videos. After the concert I spoke with them. They were from Massachusetts in Germany visiting Grandparents and heard about the concert and wanted to come. They were also in a youth orchestra which would be going on tour next week to England, Scotland and Iceland. They played viola, cello and flute.  Pretty neat.  Tonya

Day 3 Salzburg

Day 3 - Salzburg The day started early but all were refreshed. I took a couple of students for a morning run around a beautiful park and then breakfast at the hotel which was really nice - meats, fruits, breads, cereals, juices and more. Full bellies, we loaded the bus for Salzburg. A very beautiful two hour drive. We saw the Alps and a very pretty lake. Once we arrived, we went to the Mirabelle gardens. They were lovely and many students mentioned they could spend the afternoon just sitting and watching people. A local band was playing and it was fun to listen to German songs and wander around. We were once again divided into four groups and got a two-hour walking tour around the city. I think everyone had a great time and learned some new things. The Sound of Music abounds and everywhere you turn you think you might see Julie Andrews dressed as Maria coming around corner. And of course Mozart is everywhere. We did not get to tour his houses but did get to see them. After the tours we had two hours for sighting seeing, eating and shopping. Everyone had free time to do as they liked. It was not crowded as on Sundays most things are closed. So it was easy and very safe to wonder around and do what you liked.  And now we are back on the bus headed to Munich. It will be an early dinner and then a rehearsal.  Over all another great day.                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Day 2 - Munich

Day 2 - Munich We hit the ground running when we arrived in Munich. Only one bag was lost but is now back with the owner. We jumped on buses and headed straight for downtown. Our tour guides are Angie and Lothar, and are wonderful and have a great knowledge of history, facts and anything German. The buses are a little crowded and when the warm weather, a bit warm, but we managed to explain to the drivers, we're from Texas and we hate the heat. So it's getting better. Munich was very crowded because of the anniversary. People were everywhere and so at times it was hard to hear the guides. Oh, they split us into four groups and took us around the city. But it was hot and again very crowded and honestly we were all pretty tired. BUT - we plowed through and learned a few things about Munich and did our best to grab some lunch. And then quickly boarded the buses to check into the hotel. The Holiday Inn is very nice. They have large elevators! So no climbing the stairs. The rooms are spacious for European standards, all have air conditioning and private baths. So relaxing in the room is nice. But we didn't get to do that for long, it was off to rehearsal. The rehearsal space turned out to be very small, so we were cramped in but like all good musicians the GDYO members pushed through and had a decent rehearsal. Then it was back to the hotel and ready for dinner. We walked to a restaurant nearby and had it all to ourselves. Dinner was a salad with mushrooms and a choice of pork, spaghetti, noddles or schnitzel and for dessert Strawberries and cream or fruit. It was pretty good, but our young musicians were so tired many were all most falling asleep at the table! We got them back to bed and there was no arguments about lights out.

Day 1 A travel day It is never easy to travel with a large group of people because everyone travels differently. We all have our little things that we must do or have to make it a better trip. Communication can be difficult. You often cannot hear or the old trick by the time the messages gets to the back, it's become a mixed jumble of nonsense. But I have to say, that traveling with GDYO and these extremely mature young people is fun. Several times people stopped me in the airport to ask who and what we were and I always got at the end of the conversation, what a brave soul for going with them. But in all honesty, these kids are amazing and I don't feel brave but honored. I am truly amazed how well they do. At that age I was not near that close to the level of maturity, the ability to talk to strangers, to know what to do, where to go and have little fear. They are true ambassadors and I get to be with them for the next 15 days. But just to give you an idea of what all happens just to get on a plane -  The airlines do their best to make it as easy as possible on not just us, but themselves and other passengers traveling. They gathered us up and gave instructions and we lined up in our chaperone groups and I have to say we have some top notch chaperones. Each with their on flair and abilities. Once we get through ticketing, it's time for security and honestly, we made it through without one hitch. Everyone had all their stuff prepared and did exactly as told. We even made it through in enough time for people to grab some lunch.  We loaded the plane with as much ease as possible. It can be difficult trying to find spots for all those instruments and not disturb the other passengers but we did it and once on, the GDYO students took their seats and carried on normal levels conversations.  Now I know you are thinking how can this be so perfect. Well, it wasn't. We had to move around a few seats and the flight was full but overall, not bad. We landed in Philly with thirty mintues to spare and dashed off to the gate. All made it, with time for the bathroom and a quick snack if needed.  But here is where it got a little screwy and this was not the fault of the GDYO. A brilliant scheduler decided it would be a great idea to have four international flights board at the same time, so yes there was a little bit of confusion and we were a little bit in the way, but it all worked out and we got on the plane.  So as I type this, it is late in the evening, we just had a dinner of mystery meat and pasta and all are settling in to sleep or watch a little in-flight entertainment. It's a full flight. Every seat is taken and I am stuffed in the middle between two people I don't know, as a few of our kids are and guess what, we're all okay and handling it well. In a few hours we will be in Munich and more fun will begin. 

Germany tour 2012

On the flight to Philadelphia, I passed around a notebook asking the kids to tell me in less then one sentence what they were feeling. Below are some of the responses. A bit of feat that I will die of fatigue after so much flying. Really tired and sleepy Excited to see all of the great cities Excited to get a wonderful night's sleep on the plane Ecstatic to play in such beautiful places I really hope I didn't forget anything from home! Can't believe this trip is finally happening Excited to try white asparagus and blood oranges in Munich Why is the plan so freaking small? Scared that I'm going to lose something in Europe and scared I'm going to fall asleep during rehearsal. Excited to get to Germany and a bit worried that I'll have to use the bathroom soon.  Still not quite believing that I'm actually on this trip and super excited!!! Worried about my instrument stacked and crammed into the compartment but feeling excited and super sleepy. Hoping that my instrument doesn't go completely out of tune, but otherwise very excited about going to Europe!  I'm ready to be in Germany already Relaxed and eager to play. I'm hoping the plane ride will be ok and not excruciatingly boring. I'm wondering if Aakash is going to sleep tonight since he's been asleep before we took off from Dallas! I am feeling like a contented sardine  I'm excited! Long plane rides are tough, but it will be worth it.  I feel as if I am seated next to the bathroom...oh wait. I feel excited, anxious, nervous, adventurous, happy, boisterous....but mostly sleepy.  I am thrilled to experience a foreign culture and use my talents there.  Watching Ina try to solve the Rubik's Cube is the best - this is in-flight entertainment at its finest. Looking forward to meeting new people and exploring new places! Really excited to be meeting Germans. I speak it! Tired and rady to get off the plane and eat some German food. It is very difficult to sleep on planes.  I'm worried about snoring so I can't sleep. I'm so happy to make music with GDYO.