Day 64: Pau, France

So today is a major milestone in my trip.  I have been here for 64 days, and in 64 more days, I am going to be in Texas.  It is pretty hard to believe I have been here that long, and that I only have that long left.

Today started out pretty unassuming, and turned into a really great day.  I woke up around 10 and took a shower, and then I did an hour or so of warm up.  My face felt ok, but not great.  At around 12h 30, I left for the final performance of the opera.  The buses weren't running yet, so I had to walk.

The chateau looks nice with the changing leaves.

I had my rain gear on, so I stayed pretty much dry.  For lunch, I went to Le Chabada (French for: the Chabada), where I have been once before.  I got a cassoulet, and then some lemon sorbet and a coffee for dessert.  It was very, very good.

The decor inside is just as nice. :)

Cassoulet is a local dish made in the south-west region of France.  It is made with white beans, ham, sausage and duck. It is really heavy, and very delicious.

The opera this evening went really well, and was a lot of fun.  Things were very relaxed and there was a great energy.  I think people were feeling very comfortable after several good shows, AND it was the last performance.  I think this is something that a professional company can just never achieve.  The actors were very over the top and it was a lot of fun.  I also found out that Bernard Salles, the conductor, whom I thought was too good for the likes of this orchestra is, in fact, too good for the likes of this orchestra.  He has all sorts of honors and accolades.  He has worked with LORIN MAAZEL and PIERRE BOULEZ.  He just really has a passion for working with amateur musicians, and does a great job.  It was very cool getting to work with him.

During the second intermission, I went into the audience side of the theater to have a look around.  It is a pretty cool old building.

This is the lobby of theater.  The roof is a giant glass pyramid.  It is neat.

Staircase leading to upper levels.

This makes me a professional musician.

After the show, there was a party for the cast and crew.  I got a ride from Tammy, the British flute player.  This whole thing was absolutely wild, and a lot of fun! I am really glad I went.  The evening started with some recognitions, and then there were some appetizers and a dinner.  The bass soloist, Florian Westphall, was bring appetizer trays around to everybody during the recognitions.  All of the soloists were very humble and down to earth.  There was then lots of dancing and singing and drinking.  It was very cool to be a part of it.

Here's everybody eating dinner.  That is Tammy standing up, in the black. 

This is a "dance" that is only done in the Southwest of France.  Basically, you sit like this and wave your arms back and forth.  Then, a person, lying horizontally, will be passed down the line, over the peoples' heads.  During parties and festivals, these lines of people could be 100 or 200 meters long.

This is me with Gerard.  I was at his house for appetizers last night.  He is a very nice man.  He lived in Houston for five years because he worked for Total, which is an oil company that I have never heard of, but I'm sure Dad has.

Here's me with Bernard.  He has conductor hair.

Special wine bottles.

The DJ was pretty bad, so people started singing their own songs.  Mostly local or regional songs.  I think Andre Alba, the tenor, is from the region, because he knew all of these songs. There was A LOT of this going on:

I have more videos, but I bet this one takes forever to upload.  Maybe I'll add more later.

Today was a really great day.  I am a little bummed the opera is over, but it will be nice to have a lot of my free time back.  SO I CAN PRACTICE IN IT!!