Day 4 - Recovering

What can I say, I was lazy after partying till dawn. Sunday is an off day.

Day 5 - Monday's suck in France

France closes one day a week. That day is Monday. This is the perfect day to fly into or leave France.

Most museums are closed Mondays. Lots of shops are too. Had I know I would have woken up early and made the two-hour train ride to Brussels.

While Versailles is nice to be close to the castle there's not a lot happening here. Food is even different than Paris. Here you won't find grab-and-go places like Paris. You must sit everywhere to eat. Being solo, I hate that idea. Today is in the high 90's with very high humidity. Off to Paris for some food.

40 minute train ride and here we are.

I've got my view for lunch

Not a bad meal either

We're in search of "The best macaroons" in Paris. Apparently this is the store.

Lots of flavors, very colorful

Mini lava cakes

Lucky me to be part of (heat) history! I had forgotten how bad humidity impacts me. After only three hours and four water bottles later I gave up and went home. A quick pickup of chicken and the potatoes that were used to catch the dripping juices from the rotisserie along with some macaroons and I'm set.

Tomorrow - the second reason why I have been looking forward to this trip.

Day 6 - Symphony at Kings Theater, Versailles

It's scorching today. As with everywhere in Paris, no one has A/C. If I'm going to sweat might as well sweat off French pastry goodness. Let's see what delicious things are around the area.

I'll take two of everything

Prices are really reasonable for how big items are

Another shop, more goodness

 
I remember one Christmas my mom received various classical performances as part of a cd set. Me being a kid I'd borrow the baroque composers one all the time. Something about that music just spoke to me.

There are three things that made this current trip which might make this the most special of all trips I've taken. Tonight is the event that clinched the magic of the excursion. The other year I took a behind scenes tour of Versailles and got to see the Kings Theater. Built so the king wouldn't have to go to Paris to have performances, today they regularly have opera, ballet and orchestral performances in the exact same hall the the King enjoyed them in. Unlike the Paris Opera where anything can be performed only pieces that were made during the high Renaissances period can be displayed.

Looking from the stage to where the king sat (second to top balcony, center)

When I learned of the musical pieces that would be performed I had to delay my time leaving Paris so I could experience this. I'm told acoustics are so perfect that performers have never needed microphones. There are no words I can fully write to express how excited I am for this evening.

Yes I booked seats in the dead center, the day they went on sale, where the King sat.

The church is still under renovation thus the tarping

The walk past the chapel to the theater

Original doors that lead you into the chapel

This is an amazing lineup

Random statues lines the hallway headed to the theater

Not bad seats

Apparently this is one of the largest orchestras that have visited in some time

Just... yeah... that view

This is a historic theater. You experience a show like they did back in the day. Translation: no A/C. Yes I brought this fan.

This gives you an idea how small the place is. Balcony only have two rows of seats

A gorgeous set of chandlers too

It was so hot tonight the performers had to take jackets off. Strings on the harp snapped before starting

Tonight's Presentation
The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic orchestra has held a choice position in the international music world for more than 160 years, with its skillful alliance of tradition and modernity. As such, it has played a central role in the interpretation of major symphonies and many world creations took place in the Principality of Monaco, Penelope by Gabriel Fauré and The Child and the Enchantments by Maurice Ravel, to quote but two.
Monaco is also one of the world’s dance capital and the Monte-Carlo Ballets and its director choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot carry on the grand Monegasque tradition of the Russian Ballets, introduced by Serge de Diaghilev at the beginning of last century.

For this gala evening, the prestigious orchestra which has never played before at the Versailles Royal Opera will be conducted by Jean-Christophe Spinosi, who performs every year with his Ensemble Matheus. In the programme of this concert celebrating dance, extracts from Nutcracker and Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky, the genius composer who transformed the world of ballet forever and also Brahms’s Hungarian Dances, and their strong folklore inspiration and pieces by Johan Strauss, also strongly linked to the Austrian-Hungarian tradition of the end of the 19th century. Dance is one of the most primitive form of artistic expression, from its popular origin it found its way to European courts where composers turned it to high art.

PROGRAMME

Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski (1840-1893)
Nutcracker, suite n°1, opus 71a
Swan Lake, orchestral suite, opus 20a

Intermission

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Hungarian Dances n°1
Hungarian Dances n°4 in F sharp minor
Hungarian Dances n°5 and n°6 (orchestration Albert Parlow)

Johann Strauss (1825-1899)
Eljen a Magyar, fast Polka opus 332




I'll admit, I cried at spots during Tchaïkovski. The group was that good. The conductor was funny. At the end he added a "bonus" song (above) which was an audience participation piece. Yes yes there were signs everywhere not to record this, I'll take my chances on this small clip.


They received a standing ovation. A lady sat next to me who attends every performance. Apparently the French do not like to give ovations. Tonight was the first time she had done it herself.

Yup, found my happy place.

10:30pm, show is over

What an amazing night. If nothing else great happens during the trip tonight I'm satisfied.

Day 6a - Between trips

Technically this trip is the combination of two different trips. Originally I was going to enjoy Versailles, go home for a week, work, then go on the cruise. It changed when I realized that work was going to be closed 4 of the 5 days for Independence Day. Air was already bought for the France trip and the change fee was too much so I figured, why not, I'll come home for a day, totally repack and add Switzerland. It's just a two-hour flight from Amsterdam.

Leaving Paris

Love how the airport has free arcade games to keep you busy

Don't judge me, these things are crazy delicious.. I mean they're for friends at home

I don't know why or how but the airplane gods blessed me on my 11-hour trip home and gave me a first class chair. Never in all my years traveling have I been in this seat.

Delta 767-300, seat 3A

I understand now why people will pay for these seats. Yes I was able to fully lay flat and sleep

Your "takeoff" meal + contraband macaron

It's been 30 minutes so we must be hungry again

Custom sundae anyone?

Landed in SD, Wednesday 6pm. Now, Friday 8am. Trip #2 beings

Interesting airport billboard

The Airbus seats are awful. There is no back support. Even though I had the bulkhead again I didn't sleep at all compared to when in the Boeing 767 or 757 seats.

I got a bulkhead seat but it's not as good

11:59pm over Iceland

Day 7 - off to Switzerland, explore Bern

Let's begin leg #2 - exploring Switzerland and then onto the Baltic.

8 hours later and we're here

Amsterdam has placed wind farms in the ocean

Each windmill is massive

Some of the lush countryside

Of course you can buy tulips in the airport

This airport is massive

As mentioned earlier, the original plan was to go on a cruise to explore the Baltic. The sailing departs from Amsterdam. When learning about the revised work schedule I was able to alter my arrival date. After that, bought a one-way flight to Geneva, Switzerland.

I think the KLM pilot missed the gate by just a tad. Time for flight 3.

End of flight 3 - Geneva, Switzerland. After a while airports look a lot alike.

I'm ok seeing more chocolate waiting for me after baggage claim.

No one rents a car or Uber's, only use the train system, attached to the airport.

I nearly choked when pricing out a Swiss Pass ticket. $440 for a week of unlimited rides. Let's see if this train system is like Amtrak.

First class car begins the 8-car long train

Couldn't afford first class, second class will have to do

After a LOT of research I've decided to split time between Bern and Lucern. Both are hubs for the train network and have things to do after nightfall, something many of other cities can't say. 2.5hr train ride to reach Bern. Time to enjoy the countryside.

Welcome to the Bern train station. This part mall, part restaurant central, part train depot.

Looks a lot like Amsterdam

Bern (and Switzerland in general) is equal part German, Italian and French immigrants. The architecture sure shows that.

Quiet little street my hotel is located on

A park for heading home the other day, could pick up my portal travel USB fan

That little fan is amazing. If you travel, get it and add it to your luggage. Very glad I got it as the heat is still extreme here and better - no wind. Joy! Here's a link to the fan.

Sheets of chocolate?!?

One loaf is $3

This trip continues to shock me with the interest of McDonalds. Even here there are lines to get this but authentic food never has anyone waiting. So strange.

Perfect quick dinner

10pm and the heat has finally eased a little so that I can explore this area.

Public water fountains are everwhere

The other McD's that is 4 blocks away is just too far from me

If you look hard enough you'll see the Alps in the background

Loved the architecture of this feature

This church stands above the city skyline.

Built in the 1400's this building survived the destruction and onslaught of the Reformation period. Imagine what stories this structure could share.

The building has been through several restorations, most recently in 2000

At one the the church was covered in Gothic religious architecture features. As a result of the Reformation period this is the only remaining original art. Here we are shown the Last Judgement. You'll see Jesus, his apostles, prophets, angels. Wise (left) and foolish (right) virgins flanking "Justice", a warrior of God.

This artwork was started in 1460. If you'll recall from the history lesson I gave last year, most people wouldn't read back in the day. What they could do is decipher images. Oh what a lesson they could get from this piece.

I love getting lost in a city. You never know the treasures you'll find. Here's one such example. A few blocks from the church, around a few twists and turns and you find this park.

Proof I actually do go on all these crazy adventures

The cliff gardens are stunning

Bland, generic water fountains aren't allowed. Everything must be ornate

Slight construction projects are underway affecting water and electrical lines

In the meantime this spaghetti-artwork has spring up

More of that familiar Bavarian artwork seen in various spots of Europe

The below artwork is the top of another drinking fountain. I'm not sure what it's trying to be or say but I'm unwilling to drink from it for fear of producing babies from its water or I'll want to consume babies. Apparently others agreed as no one drank from the it.

Midnight

Remind anyone else of Amsterdam?

Time to head to bed. Tomorrow will be a long day.