It’s Official! Tour Croatia 2016 Has Begun!

“Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.”  African proverb

As I write this tonight, I can hear sounds of cheering in the hotel as well as on the street (cheering or shouting) – EuroSoccer 2016 is big here. The Croatian team is playing.

It was the first full day in Zagreb for most of us. The day was free for our own pursuits until dinner at 7:30, other than a small group rehearsal and a team meeting. Three of the last 5 singers arrived after dinner tonight at 9pm. Two more to join us in Samobar. In the middle of dinner, 3 other singers arrived after having to spend 24 hours in the Paris airport due to a strike. Oh the survival stories… Still missing: one keyboard. Purportedly found in the Toronto luggage system and promised to be at the church where the concert is by 5pm tomorrow (Sunday)

Below is photo from official welcoming dinner and toast at the Mareda Grill. Second photo is of hotel where we began our trip.

 

 

Map of Croatia

Click here to see a map of Croatia. We will also be traveling to Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia for the two days of June 29-30.

 

The First Departure

It’s the day before our tour officially begins. Three of us left Bellingham, Washington at 10 am on Thursday, June 23. We had plenty of time to arrive 3 hours before departure, check-in with bags to check, passports in hand. The Canadian airport employees are so helpful! They greeted us and asked where we were headed and directed us to the kiosk, where another employee came to make sure we weren’t having any difficulty. The three of us split up to two different kiosks. When Alicia and I found Linda, we were told that our departing flight was delayed and we’d miss connections to Munich if we didn’t get on the next outbound flight. We had 15 minutes to get new boarding passes and new luggage tags! We ended up checking 3 bags – the mic stands, the first aid kits and other accessories I’ve learned a group this large needs, and my own back pack. Thankful to have checked my bag so I don’t have quite so much to run with through the next two airports should our timing be close again. Phew! We made it onto the flight. And so it begins. I learned a long time ago that once you step out of your home, the adventure begins and it’s best to go with the flow!

The Gathering

I love to travel, but hate to arrive. Albert Einstein

I think a number of us felt quite differently from Dr. Einstein today! We are here! Such wonderful words to declare!

The stories of missed flights for a variety of reasons including these two: a strike of employees in Belgium and a bomb threat in Paris. Then there are a few items that seem to have gone on a bit of a walk: a guitar and a keyboard. We are confident the instruments will find their way to us and the travelers who are still in transit will eventually arrive!

It was fun to be standing at our gate in Munich, Linda, Alicia and I, to turn and see George, LaVonne, Jim and Dave arrive to fly the last leg of the trip with us! And then to arrive at the Hotel Laguna and be greeted with hugs from Charlie! Yes! We are here! As we signed in, Geof and Liz came into the lobby and soon there was a party to head out to dinner, across the street for a meal that sounded so good, yet we were hot and tired and just couldn’t eat much. The restaurant owner asked if something was wrong. When we replied we’d been traveling for two days he laughed and said he understood and was glad it wasn’t the food! People have been arriving in small groups all evening. Two people had been biking all day and told us about a market that is on top of a hill with a lovely view. Two more have been to museums. Others headed out for pizza nearby. We are really here and Tour begins tomorrow!

It’s Official! We’re on Tour – Day 1 in Zagreb

Almost everyone has arrived and has had the day to check in, clean up, unpack for one night, and then get ready for the official beginning – A dinner for everyone with introductions to our guides for the trip (one each on each of two buses) who will serve to interpret for us as well as give us information to help us learn about Croatia as we drive through and stop and give concerts and enjoy new sights and sounds.

Interesting bit: $100 is equal to 521 Kruna.

Countdown to Departure…Continues

“The gladdest moment in life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” Sir Richard Burton.

We had our final rehearsal Thursday night at Boundary Bay in the Mountain Room. A few members were missing as they have already left for Croatia! Two singers were sitting outside BBay  having a quick tutorial on using new cameras.

Some of the behind the scenes activities leading up to departure have included designing, ordering and distributing T-shirts for the tour; making sure all the music is distributed; checking flight schedules; checking passports, arranging rooms. The musicians are packing up instruments, sound boards, microphones and stands. Some singers will be carrying the instruments overseas for the musicians, distributing the load, so to speak.

The sunlight was streaming into the Mountain Room, getting into the eyes of the singers, so our wonderful musician/singer Paul Klein goes the extra mile – here he is hanging a blanket up over the window!

Here are a few more images from that rehearsal

In future posts, we’ll describe the cities, the concerts, the food, the sights and sounds. Look for our itinerary to be posted soon.

Countdown To Departure

“The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.” Henry David Thoreau

As we all are getting to ready to be on tour, we have had two people who have had accidents and won’t be able to join us. So disappointed to have one person drop out with an injured shoulder and then last Sunday afternoon another singer broke her foot. Meanwhile, singers are posting of adventures in London, two more will be in Italy for a couple days, several people are already in Zagreb. Lots of adventures are already being had!

A few friends came to listen and watch the last rehearsal!