Day 49: Pau, France

Today, I was in Pau, France.  I woke up and it was less cold in my room, because I figured out how to use the heater in here.  It made getting up a lot easier.  I had a breakfast, and then I headed to my opera rehearsal.  This was the first rehearsal with everybody in the production.  The chorus is not so good, but some of the soloists they have brought in are absolutely phenomenal.  The soprano's aria at the beginning of the second act is absolutely gorgeous.  And oh my god are they loud.  It is pretty unreal to hear it up close.  They are all also very relaxed and low maintenance.  It is a good vibe overall.  Basically, here is a visual representation of the talent and skill of the group, starting with the best:

THE SOLOISTS

BERNARD SALLES(conductor)


MOST OF THE ORCHESTRA
ME
THE CELLOS








THE CHORUS




























THE LADY STANDING RIGHT BEHIND ME


Anyway, overall, I think the production will be pretty good.  Either way, it should be fun.  For lunch I went to lunch with British flute player lady.  She is very nice.  We were both kinda walking the same direction, so we just kinda went together.

After opera, nice British flute player lady drove me to the train station.  Where I purchased my Carte 12-25(30- for a limited time only)  This is a card for 12-25(30) year olds that you buy that gives you sweet discounts on train tickets. (Between 25% and 60%..) 

Convenient ID?

Or annoying folded up boarding pass?

After I was done, I took the trolley thing up to town.  I'd tell you about it, but it's all in that article, including several photos that are better than all of the ones I just deleted. 

This park area was at the top.  This picture is not so good.

Some of the flowers in the park.

As I was headed home, I remembered Gorgio's ice cream, and that I have never had any.  Georgio is an old man that sells ice cream out of his blue van.  I was told it is the best ice cream in Pau.  Anyway, he is a little bit mysterious, and nobody knows exactly when he will show up, but I decided to look for him.  And I was very fortunate to fine him.  He stops selling ice cream in the winter, so this may have been my final chance.  I got a really great mango sorbet.  (Almost as good as Spain)

This is me next to Georgio's van. 

After, I got a pizza for dinner and went home and watched Star Wars: Un Nouvel Espoir.  It was fairly amusing to see Star Wars in French.  L'abominable Empire galactique just does not have the same ring to it.  Nor does: L'ETOILE DE LA MORT. I even put it in all caps, and it is still just as intimidating as any real weapon to be brandished by the French.  Anyway, it was a pretty good day, and now I'm going to go to sleep.