POSTCARD FROM MONTREAL – THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2006

Another fantastic day, as you can well imagine!

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ELSA yesterday actually……we did remember to wish her well and happiness on her exact day, but just forgot to add it in yesterday’s postcard!

The kids were all dropped off by their homestay hosts at the Bobcaygeon Public School, a wonderful facility with an enthusiastic group of students, and so interested in the performance! Chorale sang for K-6 grades in a gymnasium that actually didn’t swallow up their sounds and with the recharged energy from a good night’s sleep, the kids were even up to Ride on King Jesus. The audience specifically enjoyed Ode to the Pig, especially since most had “met” Rita at the Bobcaygeon Fair! Although, in the song Rita weighs 700 pounds, she is now, in fact at 800 pounds and described as looking similar to the size of a horse with stubby legs. We had hoped to take a side trip to meet Rita ourselves, but our timeframe really didn’t allow it.

Dave from the Bobcaygeon Music Council was such a great escort and got us headed in the right direction to the freeway from Bobcaygeon…..and we were so grateful! I’m sure we would not have made it to Montreal if we had to rely on our own Canadian map reading skills and, even with the help of Chris’ GPS equipment, we may have missed the virtually unmarked highway system many turns out of the lake district.

We know that Bobcaygeon will be a WCC highlight forever! We are hoping that the seeds WCC has helped to plant with the children of this close community will sprout into their own successful children’s choir that Stella and the Music Council will be starting in the fall. Hopefully they might someday travel to our homes – minus Rita!

Next off for our 6 hour ride to Montreal. Shortly after noon we stopped in Madoc for our picnic lunches at this great town park that is just being developed. Already there was a super skateboarding area and a concession stand. The park promoters happened to be there, and a few t-shirts were handed out. Check out their website for some WCC pics: www.centrehastings.com (or if that link doesn’t work, try www.centrehastings.ca). I have not had internet access since our lunch stop, so don’t know which address is the correct link.

Back on board and a couple of movies later, and despite the slow traffic once we reached the Montreal city limits, we did arrive in time to quickly, very quickly, eat a pizza supper hosted to us by the Les Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal boy choir. A fast change, and caught a shuttle to the Crypt of the St Joseph Oratory for an incredibly beautiful concert. The acoustics were about the best we’ve ever had and the choristers could feel the awesome music. Check out the snippets of some of the pieces performed that are posted on the web site (or soon will be) for a sense of how live the Crypt is. We were so fortunate to be able to experience such a rewarding opportunity. Elsa’s mom Sandi and Peter’s dad Rock and Peter’s cousin were also in the audience which made that even more special! Thanks for getting there!!!

The choir boys’ families were our homestay hosts and all were eager to pick up their guests and whisk them off Mont-Royal. Us grown-ups headed up the steep hill to the top of Mont-Royal for a picturesque view of Montreal as well as a beautiful peak at the immense Basilica. An incredible sanctuary, and different from any I’ve ever seen throughout Europe or the US. It had a contemporary feel with the traditional immensely high ceilings. Oh, what it would have been like to have been able to hear the organ! The pipes were fantastic!

Looking forward to another memorable day tomorrow.

Til next time,

SUE