Travelling Band

Defying predictions it would be similar to herding cats, the BMOS touring party departed Perth Airport in good spirits and without any problems at all. Tragic family circumstances prevented our Musical Director from flying out with us, but we remain hopeful that he may join us later in the tour. In the meantime we aim to do him proud with our performance in Venice tomorrow and participation in the Alta Pusteria Choral Festival in the Italian Alps.
The plane trips were wearying - but a 10pm departure for the long leg to Dubai at least gave some opportunity for sleep. The three hours at Dubai were spent stretching the legs and taking the opportunity for a welcome shower (for those that had a towel, and the time and inclination). Others took the opportunity to prove that you can find an Irish Pub anywhere by having a drink in one that was located in the  airport Terminal and open at 7am in the morning during Ramadan. We then met up with Rob, our tour co-ordinator from ACFEA Travel, and his wife Jenny who will both be joining us on the trip. The next flight from Dubai to Venice was quicker by comparison at only 5hours 40 min, and soon we were through immigration, bags collected and onto the coach to our hotel.
Our tour itinerary dictated that rest was not an option ! After a little over an hour we were assembled in the lobby to make the trip into Venice itself - our hotel is last stop on the mainland. A short coach trip took us to the harbour, where our private boat took us into Venice itself for our first look at this great city. We were given  a few hours to explore alone, in groups or as the fancy took us : our first option was food so with John, Nathan and Fionnuala , Carmel & I found ourselves a small  ristorante off the main track and had

 a welcome meal of pizza and vino. Suitably refuelled, we walked the laneways just looking at the sites, enjoying the sounds. Another stop for refreshment in a small wine bar left us just enough time to get to the meeting point and for the touring group to reunite and traverse the winding alleys to get to Chiesta Santa Maria del Miracoli for the 9pm concert of the Marina High School Choir from California, another ACFEA touring choir. They were very good, but travel and jetlag were catching up with the group and is was a subdued party that made its way to the boat for the trip back to our coach. Travelling down the Grand Canal we had the opportunity to sit back, look at the impressively lit Venice landmarks from the water and reflect how special it was for BMOS to be here. As the coach dropped us back at the hotel the words of our guide, Raffaella rang in our ears : " you are very tired but you will feel like new people in the morning ... your body is used to local time now. "  We will see the wisdom of that tomorrow, where we have our first  concert. I had little time to mull this over - I was asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. It was 11.30pm and it had been a long but amazing first day of the tour.