Looking at the itinerary, it looks like the boys will be spending their day in Sarreguemines. Maybe a good thing because from the official updates from Roger, it sounds like the boys are getting pretty worn out. Since I've already posted a bunch of links about Sarreguemines, I'll put a few other things up.
There's no pictures of the boys, but here's a listing of pictures that have been posted from Fête de la Musique all over France from yesterday.
Fête de la Musique
From the 19th, the American Women's Club of Luxembourg was advertising for the choir:
American Women's Club of Luxembourg
Also, here's the edited video from the TV performance they did. If anyone would like a copy of the video, I can email it to you, it's about 1.5mb and should fit in email just fine. Just drop a note in the comments and I'll make sure to get you a copy. Make sure to leave your email address in the comment so I know where to send it.
Tomorrow they change locations so, there should be more new links and info.
As an interesting aside... This blog has seen hits from 13 states and even hits from Australia (Hi Frank & Lindsay!)
Showing posts with label Sarreguemines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sarreguemines. Show all posts
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Viking Today... 6/20
This morning it sounds like the boys are heading from Sarreguemines to Hambach, France. It looks like a pretty short trip:
Sarreguemines to Hambach, France
Why are the boys going to Hambach?? To visit the Smart Car factory!!
Smart Car Factory
I have to admit, I've been a big fan of these since I first saw them over in the U.K. a few years back. In the Viking update from June 20th Roger calls them "rolling death traps" If you haven't seen them, here's a good picture that shows why a person would get that impression:
Tiny Smart Car
Actually, as they're just being introduced into the US, there's been a flurry of news stories talking about how surprisingly safe they are:
Safe and Small
The American version is actually a little bit bigger than the international version. Before you write it off completely, take note that their full-hybrid is getting nearly 100mpg! (and not available in the US!)
The itinerary says the boys will actually be singing in the cafeteria at the factory and then having lunch there. I'm jealous! Maybe Riley will pack one in his suitcase and bring it home for me!
After the Smart factory, they'll be taking another short hour-or-so jaunt back into Germany to Saarbruecken.
Smart Car Factory to Saarbruecken, Germany
Interesting art on the town hall
Saarbruecken Official Site
Just to show that it's not always so different over there!
Saarbruecken looks to be a pretty big place. 180,000 people. One of the main historical attractions there seems to be the Ludwigskirche.
Outside Ludwigskirche
Inside Ludwigskirche
Ludwigskirche wiki
The itinerary says they'll be having a workshop with Pablo Assante and the
Children’s Choir of the Saarbruecken Opera House but I'm having a heck of a time finding any links or references to the choir or the opera house. It doesn't help that I don't speak German... I could be looking at pictures of it that are clearly captioned... in German!
UPDATE - 9:42
Barb Foster comes to my rescue and adds this info about Pablo Assante the Children's Choir.
Barb writes -
I did do a little research on the Saarbruecken Opera House and the Children's Choir. I found that the Opera House is called the Staatstheater and here is a link that talks about Pablo Assante and the Children's Choir.
Saarländisches Staatstheater
Saarländisches Staatstheater #2
Pablo Assante and the Children's Choir
And here is the rough translation of the caption with the picture.
For all children and adults who love to sing, there is a possibility that the "Theaterspatzen" (for children from seven to nine years) or in the children's choir of the Saarland State Theatre (from ten years) to cooperate.
To the young singers in the children's choir of the Saarland State Theatre to better prepare their demanding tasks, there is the "Theaterspatzen" as Vorchor for younger musically gifted children. He will since October 2007 by Alwin Michael Schronen.
Interested inside for the children's choir, choir director at Pablo Assante reported since the summer of 2007 over the line.
Sarreguemines to Hambach, France
Why are the boys going to Hambach?? To visit the Smart Car factory!!
Smart Car Factory
I have to admit, I've been a big fan of these since I first saw them over in the U.K. a few years back. In the Viking update from June 20th Roger calls them "rolling death traps" If you haven't seen them, here's a good picture that shows why a person would get that impression:
Tiny Smart Car
Actually, as they're just being introduced into the US, there's been a flurry of news stories talking about how surprisingly safe they are:
Safe and Small
The American version is actually a little bit bigger than the international version. Before you write it off completely, take note that their full-hybrid is getting nearly 100mpg! (and not available in the US!)
The itinerary says the boys will actually be singing in the cafeteria at the factory and then having lunch there. I'm jealous! Maybe Riley will pack one in his suitcase and bring it home for me!
After the Smart factory, they'll be taking another short hour-or-so jaunt back into Germany to Saarbruecken.
Smart Car Factory to Saarbruecken, Germany
Interesting art on the town hall
Saarbruecken Official Site
Just to show that it's not always so different over there!
Saarbruecken looks to be a pretty big place. 180,000 people. One of the main historical attractions there seems to be the Ludwigskirche.
Outside Ludwigskirche
Inside Ludwigskirche
Ludwigskirche wiki
The itinerary says they'll be having a workshop with Pablo Assante and the
Children’s Choir of the Saarbruecken Opera House but I'm having a heck of a time finding any links or references to the choir or the opera house. It doesn't help that I don't speak German... I could be looking at pictures of it that are clearly captioned... in German!
UPDATE - 9:42
Barb Foster comes to my rescue and adds this info about Pablo Assante the Children's Choir.
Barb writes -
I did do a little research on the Saarbruecken Opera House and the Children's Choir. I found that the Opera House is called the Staatstheater and here is a link that talks about Pablo Assante and the Children's Choir.
Saarländisches Staatstheater
Saarländisches Staatstheater #2
Pablo Assante and the Children's Choir
And here is the rough translation of the caption with the picture.
For all children and adults who love to sing, there is a possibility that the "Theaterspatzen" (for children from seven to nine years) or in the children's choir of the Saarland State Theatre (from ten years) to cooperate.
To the young singers in the children's choir of the Saarland State Theatre to better prepare their demanding tasks, there is the "Theaterspatzen" as Vorchor for younger musically gifted children. He will since October 2007 by Alwin Michael Schronen.
Interested inside for the children's choir, choir director at Pablo Assante reported since the summer of 2007 over the line.
Viking Today... 6/19
The boys start out today with a trip from Sarreguemines to Luxembourg. Around a two hour trip
Sarreguemines to Luxembourg
Luxembourg is actually country unto itself, officially known as "Grand Duchy of Luxembourg" The entire country is only as big as one and a half Hennepin counties and has a population of about half of Hennepin county.
Luxembourg at Night
Ruins of fortifications
Bonus Picture I found after I sent the email!
The itinerary says they'll be seeing the town with Dominique Vitali, Head of Protocole with US-Embassy and then having tea with Ambassador Ann Wagner.
Ann Wagner at the US Embassy
They'll be visiting the American Military Cemetery where most of the more than 5,000 interred there died at the Battle of the Bulge which was fought nearby.
Satellite View
American Military Cemetery
American Military Cemetery 2
General Pattons Grave Marker
Next they have a performance at the Luxembourg Protestant Church. There's an announcement on their homepage about the boys.
English Homepage
A note that I'm sure will be interesting to the boys is that in 1939 when the church was being renovated, it was discovered that there was a crypt hidden beneath the church behind a plaque reading "Sanguis Eius Super Nos" which, from what I can figure out, roughly translates to, "Let his blood be on us" and is known as "The Blood Curse"
Blood Curse
Sarreguemines to Luxembourg
Luxembourg is actually country unto itself, officially known as "Grand Duchy of Luxembourg" The entire country is only as big as one and a half Hennepin counties and has a population of about half of Hennepin county.
Luxembourg at Night
Ruins of fortifications
Bonus Picture I found after I sent the email!
The itinerary says they'll be seeing the town with Dominique Vitali, Head of Protocole with US-Embassy and then having tea with Ambassador Ann Wagner.
Ann Wagner at the US Embassy
They'll be visiting the American Military Cemetery where most of the more than 5,000 interred there died at the Battle of the Bulge which was fought nearby.
Satellite View
American Military Cemetery
American Military Cemetery 2
General Pattons Grave Marker
Next they have a performance at the Luxembourg Protestant Church. There's an announcement on their homepage about the boys.
English Homepage
A note that I'm sure will be interesting to the boys is that in 1939 when the church was being renovated, it was discovered that there was a crypt hidden beneath the church behind a plaque reading "Sanguis Eius Super Nos" which, from what I can figure out, roughly translates to, "Let his blood be on us" and is known as "The Blood Curse"
Blood Curse
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Viking Today... 6/18
The boys head to Heidelberg for a tour, just a short jog this time
Hoffenheim to Heidelberg
A far bigger city than the ones they've been at, it has a population of about 144,000 people, about two and a half times that of St. Cloud but it's only 10 square miles bigger!
Yesterday I mentioned that Hoffenheim pre-dates Princeton, Mn by quite a bit... well, near Heidelberg, archaeologists found Homo heidelbergensis which is also known as "Heidelberg Man" and is estimated to have lived in the area up to 600,000 years ago!
Maybe more interesting to the boys, there's a stunning castle in Heidelberg that they'll be visiting.
Castle
Castle
Castle Ruins
If you like wine, you might think Heidelberg Castle is a special place to visit. It's home to a giant wine cask than can hold 58,100 gallons of wine!
Wine Cask
That's a big cask!
Mark Twain even commented on the cask (which has mostly been empty since it was created):
"I do not see any wisdom in building a monster cask to hoard up emptiness in, when you can get a better quality, outside, any day, free of expense."
There's too much in Heidelberg to comment on in a single email. I'm sure the boys are getting an eyeful today. Here's some links where you can read up as much as you want about the city and the castle:
Heidelberg wiki
Heidelberg Castle wiki
Next, they switch countries and head to Sarreguemines France. About two hours or so:
Heidelberg to Sarreguemines
A former choirboy I know always raved about Sarreguemines, it was his favorite place of all his tours. I can see why!
Senic Sarreguemines
Sarreguemines Scene
They'll be singing in the Protestant Church, as seen from outer space below:
Church... FROM SPACE!
(this *might* be the church)
Protestant Church?
The itinerary says they'll be recorded by a TV station. It looks like the station has part of their broadcast online, maybe if we're lucky, we'll catch them!
TV Station Site
Phew... big update just finding the links today... I can only imagine how busy the boys are going to be!
Hoffenheim to Heidelberg
A far bigger city than the ones they've been at, it has a population of about 144,000 people, about two and a half times that of St. Cloud but it's only 10 square miles bigger!
Yesterday I mentioned that Hoffenheim pre-dates Princeton, Mn by quite a bit... well, near Heidelberg, archaeologists found Homo heidelbergensis which is also known as "Heidelberg Man" and is estimated to have lived in the area up to 600,000 years ago!
Maybe more interesting to the boys, there's a stunning castle in Heidelberg that they'll be visiting.
Castle
Castle
Castle Ruins
If you like wine, you might think Heidelberg Castle is a special place to visit. It's home to a giant wine cask than can hold 58,100 gallons of wine!
Wine Cask
That's a big cask!
Mark Twain even commented on the cask (which has mostly been empty since it was created):
"I do not see any wisdom in building a monster cask to hoard up emptiness in, when you can get a better quality, outside, any day, free of expense."
There's too much in Heidelberg to comment on in a single email. I'm sure the boys are getting an eyeful today. Here's some links where you can read up as much as you want about the city and the castle:
Heidelberg wiki
Heidelberg Castle wiki
Next, they switch countries and head to Sarreguemines France. About two hours or so:
Heidelberg to Sarreguemines
A former choirboy I know always raved about Sarreguemines, it was his favorite place of all his tours. I can see why!
Senic Sarreguemines
Sarreguemines Scene
They'll be singing in the Protestant Church, as seen from outer space below:
Church... FROM SPACE!
(this *might* be the church)
Protestant Church?
The itinerary says they'll be recorded by a TV station. It looks like the station has part of their broadcast online, maybe if we're lucky, we'll catch them!
TV Station Site
Phew... big update just finding the links today... I can only imagine how busy the boys are going to be!
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