I’ve smiled and laughed so much in Prague, Bratislava, and Vienna- in spite of the rain and cold temperatures! I have especially enjoyed Bratislava because of its beautifully constructed buildings, separated by perfectly jagged cobblestone roads and restaurants filled with live music and delicious food at very reasonable prices. Also, Bratislava’s history has been very alive and active during our time here. A group is doing a reenactment of when Napoleon led the French in the siege of Bratislava. While walking through town, I’ve heard the sounds of cannons fired and have shared sidewalks with people dressed up in historical military costumes. I toured Prague, Budapest, and Vienna with my high school chorus, but I have never visited Bratislava. I think the complete newness of the city has also added to the excitement I’ve experienced. Overall, I’ve had a great time performing in and touring this city.
Today, we spent the day in Vienna! The Colgate University Chamber Singers gave a wonderful performance in Saint Stephenson’s church. The ornate gold and stone statues and painted murals made watching their performance seem even more majestic. The entire chorus also got to perform Ain’t that Good News as an encore!
Before the performance we had some free time to tour the city. Shambhavi and I peeked inside of St. Peter’s church, and with wide eyes and smiles we looked at each other and exclaimed “they’re singing Dvorjak!” The choir sang up on the balcony by the organ, so we couldn’t see the singers; however, just hearing their voices in another very beautiful church was awe-inspiring. We stayed for the entire mass service because the choir sang the piece in segments as the service went on. We both agreed that hearing the Dvorjak piece in the context of a mass service was a meaningful experience that added to our understanding of the music.
After lunch with a few new chorus friends, I got a slice of the famous Austrian Sachertorte cake from a charming pink shop called Aida. I’m usually not a fan of chocolate & fruit combos, but this apricot and chocolate dessert tasted better than I expected!
Touring Czech, Slovak, and Austrian restaurants has made me aware of my privilege as an English-speaking American. I can walk into most shops and communicate with someone working there who can speak my language. However, if an Austrian waiter, for example were to visit DC, they wouldn’t walk into most shops and restaurants with the expectation that someone there would greet them with a “guten tag.”
At dinner tonight a friend mentioned that we only have two days left! While was aware that we were leaving on Wednesday, it really hit me how little time we have left here in Europe before we return home 🙁 I’m looking forward to our trip to Budapest tomorrow!