1/23/2008
The day began as usual with a good breakfast, a quick repacking of the suitcase and a dash to the coach. Once everyone was on board we left Stratford-Upon-Avon and traveled to Oxford. Beautifully designed and full of rich history, Oxford proved to be a worthy destination on our trip.
During the hour and fifteen minutes of free time, my fellow choir members and I stumbled across several boutiques and designer clothing stores that peaked our interest. But perhaps the most impressive store we happened upon was The Cake Shop. The most elegant and intricate cakes you have ever seen sat in the display windows. Eatable bride and groom figurines, race cars, high heeled shoes and rainbows adorned these exquisite works of art. You simply have to see the pictures to grasp the degree of craftsmanship displayed by the bakers in this shop.
After free time the group was privileged to lunch in the Oxford University cafeteria. According to the numerous Harry Potter fans on the trip, this cafeteria was the exact room in which various Harry Potter scenes were filmed for the movie franchise. The food was superb and wonderfully seasoned. I was most surprised by the shear amount and caliber of the food. Who knew you could eat steak for lunch? Apparently the people at Oxford University!
Shortly after lunch the group prepared for our fifth concert. The smallest cathedral in England, the Oxford Cathedral proved to be the perfect venue for our repertoire. The tone quality of our voices and the diminished delay of sound within the cathedral contributed to a remarkable performance. Expecting no more than three full rows of people, we were pleasantly surprised when we filled the length of the sanctuary with visitors. Overall, the day could not have gone better.
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1/22/2008
Today is Dr. Ryder’s 41st Birthday and if you ask me he doesn’t look a day over 30. Happy Birthday Dr. Ryder!!
A majority of Ryder’s big day was spent exploring the world and life of William Shakespeare. After leaving York we traveled to Stratford-Upon Avon and toured the Shakespeare Center, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Holy Trinity Church, the place in which Shakespeare is buried, and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. I found Anne Hathaway’s Cottage the most interesting due in large part to the sites tour guide. His knowledge, unique story-telling style and interactive approach to the cottage’s history and significance intrigued me.
Later that afternoon we checked into the Stratford-Upon Avon hostel and prepared for trip to the theater and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Henry IV Part I. I will admit whole heartedly that I was expecting a snooze-fest during this play – a bland stage with old and uninspiring actors. To my surprise the production had neither. From the initial scene I was hooked. The stage, trapped doors, acrobatics, stage blood, sword fights, lighting, band and actors all captivated my attention to the point that I wished the already three our play continued for an additional three hours. The play was funny, suspenseful and engaging and as a result of the Royal Shakespeare Company I now have a new found appreciation and respect for Shakespeare and his works.
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1/21/2008
By the looks of the beginning of the day you would think York was in the middle of monsoon season. To date we have never experienced as much rain as we experienced today. Twenty minutes after leaving the coach there wasn’t a part of my clothing or bag that wasn’t soaked. Not to mention the fact that a car ran over a puddle and completely drenched the right side of my body. I love the rain but only a duck could appreciate all of the water falling from the sky today.
In spite of the downpour, the day began with a walking tour of medieval York and a visit to the Jorvik Center, also known as the Viking Museum. This museum took a unique approach to the standard museum format. As soon as you entered the building you were struck by the distinct and arguably repugnant smell of the museum. Deliberate in nature, this smell simulated the environment and air quality of the Viking era in Great Britain during the 900’s. Visitors were then transported in “Time Cars” back to 948 and given the opportunity to witness the sights, sound and smells as they would have been during that time in York, England. The “Time Cars” resembled the hanging roller coaster seats found in many amusement parks across America. Arguably the most innovative way of touring an exhibit, I wish more museums would adopt this formula.
Later that afternoon the group reconvened at York Minster for our fourth concert performance. Initially intended as an informal 20 minute concert, we instead performed nearly the entire program and sang for a full 30 minutes. Perhaps one of our strongest performances on the trip, many of our recordings were unfortunately compromised by the various chimes and bells heard ringing throughout the cathedral. Nevertheless, we drew an impressive crowd and were pleased to have the opportunity to perform at such a prominent cathedral. According to our tour guide, York Minster rarely grants groups permission to perform in their cathedral. The cathedral is reportedly so strict that many Great Britain choirs and performers have yet to receive permission to sing in England’s second largest cathedral.
After our concert the entire group decided to climb the 275-step Central Tower. This task proved more difficult than any of us imagined. Trapped in a winding and seemingly narrow staircase with all of our backpacks and garment bags, several people found the ascent to be nerve racking. Not to mention the fact that many of the guys were carrying one or two extra bags to alleviate the strain of the climb for the ladies. Nevertheless, everyone made it to the top and cheered in jubilation at their accomplishment and at the astonishing view of the city. We most certainly got our exercise for the day!
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1/20/2008
After an eventful night on the town in Chester, this morning proved to be more of a challenge to some than to others. Nevertheless, the group was as wide awake as could be expected.
We began the day by traveling to Chester and spent the morning exploring the old city center. On our walking tour we discovered the city’s medieval architecture, beautiful half-timbered buildings and a series of covered galleries above the abundant street-level shops. “The Rows,” the most famous of these shops, dated back to the 13th century and encompassed the most lavish shopping in the city. We also took a walk around the City Walls, a full circuit of defensive walls that still surround the city. Nearly two miles in length, the walls provided amazing views of the city, the river and the life of Chester.
After lunch we left Chester and traveled to the city of York. Upon arrival in York we toured the Castle Museum which exquisitely captured various periods in York history and the Victorian cobbled streets and shops of York during these times. I was most impressed with the giant sword and armor displays and donjon exhibits throughout the museum. At the conclusion of the museum we were given free time to roam the streets of York prior to checking into the York hostel for the evening.
Our hostel experience this evening was particularly interesting as we happened upon a few Argentinean soccer players who were staying in the hostel as well. Excited to meet Americans, many of the male soccer players seemed eager to talk to the female choir members after we waved to them in the courtyard from our window. After parading around the hostel shouting their national anthem somehow the soccer players found our room and struck up a conversation with my roommates. The boys encouraged us to hang out with them after dinner but unfortunately due to our concert the next day we politely declined.
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1/19/2008
After packing our bags, the choir was on the road again. We spent the morning touring the city of Cardiff and later traveled to the tiny village-like city of Llandaff. During our two hour coach ride the group watched Happy Gilmore and created Mad-Libs about our trip. The Mad-Libs proved to be both fun and entertaining while providing a unique and questionable account of our trip.
Once we arrived in Llandaff we prepared for our third performance. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring cathedral I have ever seen, Llandaff Cathedral simply took my breath away. Enclosed in a deep, green hollow beside the river, not only was Llandaff’s exterior unique comparative to prior cathedrals on our tour, but its interior was like nothing I had ever observed. As a result, the pictures I took of the cathedral do more justice to the cathedral’s beauty than my words ever could. As soon as I walked through the door I was literally taken aback and nearly fell backwards through the doorway. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the cathedral was the large golden statue entitled “Christ in Majesty” by Sir Jacob Epstein which hangs in the middle of the sanctuary. It was truly a sight to behold.
We ended our busy day by traveling to Chester and acquainting ourselves to the latest hostel. I grew particularly found of this hostel due to its old little feel and hospitable personnel. Dinner was a little peculiar yet the antique lock and key rooms more than made up for the experience.
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1/18/2008
With an early wake up call and 7:30 departure time, a majority of the morning was spent on the bus traveling from Cardiff to St. David’s Cathedral in South Wales. We arrived at the cathedral around 10:30 and were given a tour of the building. After nearly freezing to death during our tour we were then tasked with performing our repertoire. Despite the less than ideal climate and sparse audience, those in attendance were impressed and praised our performance. The Chamber Singers even performed the Welsh Lullaby (“Suo Gan”) in its native language which proved to be a crowd favorite as many were moved to tears during its performance.
On our return to the hostel we made an impromptu stop at the Pembrokeshire Coast. The piercing rain and wind nearly knocked us all to the ground as we climbed the large rocks that overlooked the ocean. With a mountainous backdrop, the crisp scent of the ocean and the bitter taste of sea salt were undeniable as we took in this amazing sight. Despite the grey clouds and fierce winds, this unscheduled stop was worth the time.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints we were unable to tour the city of Tenby; however, we were given a lovely coach tour of the quaint fishing town.
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1/17/2008
Tintern Abbey was an exciting sightseeing destination. Once a regal cathedral, this monument has since fallen to the elements. All the same, the Abbey still proved to be a breath taking site. Even in its ruins I could still envision the cathedral’s 1131 majesty. During our time on the grounds we performed an impromptu concert/rehearsal upon Dr. Ryder’s request. Despite the lack of a ceiling, our voices could be heard throughout the demolished cathedral. With an eerie yet majestic character, Tintern Abbey’s beauty shined through its perished walls and fallen stone.
After Tintern Abbey we traveled to Cardiff and spent a majority of the day touring the city. Unique in itself, Cardiff reminded me of Carytown with many young persons aligning the streets and alleyways. Great shopping and amazing food, I recommend this city to all of those interested in visiting Great Britain in the future.
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1/17/2008
Fourteen girls, two nights, one room. Utter chaos. Nevertheless, the adventure resembled that of summer of camp with clothes and suitcases thrown every which way. Despite the cramped quarters, everyone was pleasant, patient and polite to one another and many laughs were shared between the girls. Perhaps the most taxing portion of the evening came at the hands of the robust noise from the streets of Cardiff. In addition to the numerous cars whizzing by our windows, the creaking of bed frames and mattresses could be heard throughout the night as the girls tossed and turned in their sleep. The Cardiff hostel was unique as well. Equipped with a TV lounge, many of the choir members spent a majority of the evening camped out playing cards and watching DVDs. The selection for the evening included Catch Me if You Can and Super Troopers?!
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1/16/2008
Today we spent a majority of the day in Bath, England. We began by touring the ancient Roman Baths. I was disappointed to see portions of the Bath under restorative construction. All the same, the view and tour were intriguing and I enjoyed exploring the history and significance of the Baths.
After touring the Baths we were given an hour of free time to explore the city of Bath during such time many of us toured together and found a nice restaurant in which to eat lunch. Sadly while taking pictures in the restaurant I dropped my camera on the table and temporarily broke it. As a result, I missed the opportunity of taking pictures of Bath Abbey Cathedral and our first choral concert in England. Nevertheless, our concert was well received by the 80+ visitors and the choir sounded angelic during each piece.
Prior to the concert, however, I was charged with finding a facility in which to change into my choir dress. Granted, the ladies are tasked with keeping track of less articles of clothing during performances, but this neither helped nor mattered as I struggled to change in the Roman Baths' bathroom. Generally speaking, everything in England is proportionally smaller than that in American. These bath rooms were no exception. Despite the cramped quarters, however, I managed to change my clothes without dropping anything on the floor or losing my balance.
After the concert we were taken on an extended walking tour of historic Bath and passed many awe-inspiring areas to include the Circus, the Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge. Again, I apologize for not taking pictures of these landmarks - technical difficulties. Fortunately, I have since fixed my camera.
After our tour of ancient Bath we boarded the bus and returned to the hostel. Shortly after dropping off our bags we attended an Evensong service at Bristol Cathedral. The Bristol Cathedral Boys choir in particular caught my attention during the service. Ranging from ages 8- 13, these young gentlemen were true musicians. After participating in the service we performed two songs from our repitore; one of which sounded exquisite within the cathedral.
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1/15/2008
We have finally arrived and what a day it has been! After an hour and a half bus ride, three and a half hour wait in the airport and a six and a half hour airplane ride, I am exhausted. Needless to say the time between leaving Ashland and arriving in England were entertaining to say the least. On the bus ride to Dulles we watched Hostel in honor of the nights in which we would be staying in a hostel. While Hostel is certainly not the most impressive piece of cinematic work I’ve ever seen, it was mildly entertaining and at times laughable when you consider the nature and genre of the film. Once we arrived at the airport several of us were concerned we wouldn’t be allowed to bring our carry-ons onboard the flight. Despite our concerns, everyone passed and we proceeded through security with few hiccups. But perhaps the most amusing portion of the evening came at the hands of Dre and Chris R. Their spontaneous rendition of “Solider Boy” was a sight to behold. Not only did they make a scene in the airport but Dre did an excellent job of teaching Chris how to "crank that soldier boy."
In addition to all of the excitement prior to boarding, once settled on the plane the group was quite impressed with our accommodations. Known for its excellent service, Virgin Atlantic surpassed many of our expectations. Each passenger was given their own pillow and blank and a complementary "traveling bag" equipped with a pair of socks, sleep mask, pen, toothbrush and toothpaste. On top of the goodie bags, the food was delectable and the flight attendants were polite and courteous.
Unfortunately, however, as soon as we landed we had an entire day ahead of us. Combating fatigue and jetlag we took a tour of Stone Hinge and Salisbury Cathedral. Stone Hinge was exciting as each person was given their own hand-held tour guide. While it rained during the beginning of our tour the sun began to peak through towards the end and we took a few great pictures of the group. After Stone Hinge we traveled to Salisbury, England and were given personal tours of the Salisbury Cathedral. A breath taking monument we performed two impromptu pieces for the visitors and were given a rude awakening when our first piece was a less than stellar rendition of the song. I’ll blame the jetlag on that one.
By the time we arrived at our first hostel I was barely awake and coherent. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth and charming feeling of the hostel. After a little investing and visiting other rooms, Lindsay, Jessie, Madeline and I discovered that our room was once a training room, our beds were exceptionally stiff and laughed at the white piece of paper that hung over the window on the door via two band-aids. Yes, band-aids. But we were excited to discover that Dr. Ryder’s room was next door. During most of the night we made several attempts to communicate with him via the adjacent wall but to no avail. By 7:30 p.m. England time we began working on our journals and reflecting on the day’s events but were sidetracked many times by passers by and various wandering choir members. All in all our long 38 hour day ended with many laughs and a strong desire to crash in our beds.
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1/1/2008
Welcome and Happy Holidays!
As you may know, I'm heading to England with the R-MC Concert Choir beginning January 14th. While I have traveled to England before with the Virginia Children's Chorus, I am looking forward to the new experience and perspective I am sure to gain with some of my favorite people on campus.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
I'll be in touch,
Robin Brown
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