Travel Light

Berlin-Warsaw-LA? Whoops – not anymore. Berlin-Munich-LA

Are these Lufthansa pretzels the tastiest snack I’ve ever had in my life, or has this morning just been crazy? Little of column A, little column B.

Like most people nowadays, I get a ton of telemarketing calls. Yes, I’m on the “Do Not Call Registry.” No, people don’t care.

I had about four hours to sleep before my flight and during that time, three calls came in. That’s a lot, huh? Maybe that should have been a hint…

Thinking they must have been telemarketing calls, I grumbled, rolled over, and tried to go back to sleep. Turns out, the calls were from the airline trying to tell me that my flight had been canceled. (Womp. Womp.)

At 7:00, I checked my emails, made this face: 😧, got up to date on the situation, and was told to RUSH OVER to Berlin-Tegel as quickly as I could. Thank goodness, I made it on the first flight. Thank goodness (times two), the second flight worked out as well, despite a very short layover. While waiting in the passport control line, I saw a guy with an American passport and a nervous look on his face. Turns out, he was in the same predicament and was trying to make a flight to Denver.

“They wouldn’t book us on a flight if they didn’t think we could make the connection,” he reasoned, only sounding semi-convinced. I told him I had been telling myself the same thing.

*Fast forward ten minutes.* Drenched (but grateful), I made it just in time, after a brisk jog through the Munich airport! I hope Denver man did too.

This blog ends just as it began: in an airplane.

I rarely have Wifi inflight and that’s ok with me.  My generation is one of connectivity and constant motion, but I love my “airplane time.” It lets me reflect, space out, eat pretzels peacefully. While time is suspended, it’s easier to reminisce about the last month.  My mind wanders long stretches of road and faces I’ve encountered. I stand on my tiptoes and strain my eyes to see into the distance. Sure, I have an iCloud full of to-do lists and tons of goals, but it’s impossible to know exactly what is coming up. And isn’t that beautiful? It makes me trust deeper, hope harder. I am excited to step into the next adventure with no possibility of spoiler alerts.

With my whole Herz, thank you for going on this trip with me. It’s been my lifelong dream to tour the world with music and it meant a lot to have you by my side.

See you at the next airport.

Travel light!

So that is it.

That’s the end of tour, of our musical adventure, of our journey into the autobahn and heart of Deutschland.

Right?

Not Quite.


It wouldn’t seem right to come all that way and not get a chance to see my cousins!

As I was doing my part to visit every hotel in Berlin (it’s a long story), my cousins were on a train from Warsaw! To summarize the long story, somehow there was a miscommunication and my hotel didn’t have a room for me. I visited three different hotels in a mad dash for accommodations, walking and driving all around the neighborhood. It worked out, as things usually do, and I got to know the Kurfürstendamm area very well… very well.

My cousins and I met for the first time several years ago when I first came to Europe. It was instantaneous – I felt as if I’d known them forever. There is something to be said for a familial bond.

During our two days in Berlin, we walked over fifteen miles and became public transit experts. Trish was our designated metro guide and made sure we never got lost. Klaudia and Mateusz were our own TripAdvisor, scouting out points of interest and food/bars.

Coffee, delicious ramen, local beer, gardens, old churches, the East Side Gallery, a Pug-themed bar (“Möpse Trinken Bier!”), Liverpool/Roma game, late night laughter on the train, “Widzew kopie Bitkojny łopata,” celebrating Polish Constitution Day and Klaudia’s birthday, feeling like a kid again watching the “bubble man” in the square, Rote Rathaus, Reichstag, Berliner Dom, massive ice cream cones, Brandenburg Gate, relaxing and birdwatching in a park, listening to English people sing American songs in an Irish Pub in Germany, the Döner guy who joked that he would not sell me falafel while I was wearing my Bayern Munich hat, and bittersweet goodbye-hugs at the end of the day.

We fit a week’s worth into two days, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What a perfect close to a great tour.

Day One

With our run of four shows behind us, it was time for a day off and then ein mehr show!

The Waldens and I were talking about the strange passage of time on tour. On the one hand, it felt as if we’d been on the road for about a year. When was the last time we’d hugged our loved ones or had a US-style iced coffee? Surely it had been ages. Similarly, our first show felt like a lifetime ago.

On the other hand though, it felt like I had just packed my suitcase and headed to the airport. I remembered each of the days with great clarity. We were getting so tight as a band and felt like we could just keep going.

We got into Hannover late in the day and had time for a nice meal, a few calls home, and a mini Arrested Development binge. (Very mini. We are talking about two episodes.)

Day Two

We have reached the month of MAY! That’s not all we’ve reached.

Our band is currently in the homeland of William Deubel. In the late 19th Century, William boarded a boat and made his way to Baltimore. After Baltimore, he settled down in Chicago. Why Chicago in particular? I’m not quite sure, but I’m glad he chose that city. Several generations later the Deubels were established in the States and I came onto the scene.

I’d been looking forward to visiting Hannover for a long time. To finally see the place my mom’s side of the family came from was a thrill. You’d better believe I bought post cards and took a jumping photo.

The venue was very cool… and so was the weather. I had it in my head to wear a flowery spring dress for the festival, but that was not to be. Stuffing the dress back into my suitcase, I opted for my good ‘ol pleather pants and a turtle neck. I love it when warmth and comfort come together. The Faust Culture Center is home to many different concerts, independent artists, and shops of all kinds. Today was Labor Day and a festival with multiple stages was organized. We were the headliners on our stage.

As soon as the first song was over, I felt the love. The people were so warm, so open, and so ready to listen to an evening of music. After the show, we got to hang out a bit and say hello. One girl came up and told me a) she didn’t speak much English and b) “I LOVE YOU!” My German wasn’t very strong either, but we were able to communicate in a funny mix of both languages. THIS is what I love about music. She and I came from different places and couldn’t understand each other’s words very well, but the music acted as our interpreter. It brought us together in a way that may not have been possible otherwise. As we parted, she and her friend wished me “a wonderful life.”

Hannover “handed over” many great memories and kind souls! I hope to come back some day with my family.

After the show, we loaded into our car and set out for Berlin. We put Songs in the Key of Life on the stereo and agreed that “Love’s In Need of Love Today” may be one of the greatest songs ever. Snuffy and I know it note for note. We lifted our voices high as the car sped into the night.

Recipe for a drive to Offenbach:

* Car (1 four-door or equivalent)

* Hours (4 of them)

* A large bag of onion snacks (obtained from a gas station)

Mix thoroughly until you see Offenbach in the distance. Serve with garnish and a side of local beer!

Hafen 2 is just about everything you could want from a music venue. 

It has a river, boats, sheep, chickens (I’m told. I didn’t see them.), great beer, happy sunbathers, a big stage, vegan chickpea wraps, ample parking, and… DOG RESCUE.

You’re probably thinking what? So was I!

Onstage, we were just starting to play “Let Me Be.” The song has evolved on this tour and begins with a vibey guitar solo. It is dynamic and very quiet at first. We were about three bars in when people started screaming. A vague yelping issued from behind me, as well as what sounded like geese honking. Now, don’t get me wrong, Snuffy’s playing often elicits a very strong response from people, but from geese?

I turned around, and sure enough, the sound was coming from a veritable choir of geese, frantic people, and one very clumsy dog. A little Jack Russel had the bad luck of falling off a dock into the river, where a family of geese were taken very much by surprise. 

Just as the Jack Russel (I’ll call him Jack for this blog) was learning he was not the Michael Phelps of canines, a brave man ripped off his shirt and plunged into the river to save his four legged friend. Jack gratefully paddled toward the man and climbed onto his back. (I promise you I’m not making this up.) The duo bobbed up and down for a few moments and then a BOAT appeared and gave them both a ride.

Of course, by this point, we had stopped playing and were taking it all in. It just didn’t seem right to sing with a dog drowning in the background. After being assured that Jack was safe (if not embarrassed), we continued our song and finished off the set. 

After the show, we met up with York and his family for some food. We’d met York in Freiburg and he was kind enough to invite us to his home.  Such welcoming people! After a wonderful evening, we headed to our hotel to find... it was closed. Several Google searches later, we found another hotel and checked in. Sleep was finally in sight!

There was a full moon in the sky tonight, and it did not disappoint!

When I first met him in Bad Hindelang a few weeks ago, Jeff gave me a decorative plate with scenery from Lüneburg on it. Turns out, I am the first musician he has booked in the city. The plate has been in his possession for many years and he’s saved it as a gift for the first band booked in Lüneburg. Thank goodness the show was wonderful; the plate will bring good memories for years to come.

 We lucked out: today was a relatively short drive compared to the previous trips! Despite this, we did manage to listen to Mitch Hedberg’s three albums. Around 2 PM, we arrived at the Bremer Hof, a hotel with a Bremen Animals theme. I have loved that story ever since I first heard it a few years ago. Cute animals standing up for themselves while maintaining musical integrity? Udderly fantastic. Where do I sign up?

The venue was a beautiful one located right next to a forest! Great acoustics and high vaulted ceilings. The front of house engineer knew what he was doing too. Oh, did I mention there was lots of delicious food backstage and a very friendly dog named Daisy who welcomed us? I also experienced apfelschorle for the first time and it was more than a little life changing. Yes – this day was pretty much perfect from beginning to end. 

During the show, one man called out, “How is Nuggets liking Germany!?” Nuggets was pleased to say that Germany agrees with him very much.  Someone also brought flowers to the stage, which Nuggets later wore as part of his outfit. It was a very good night for poultry and people alike.

Jablonec is known for its crystal and glass production and Jan was kind enough to bring us to a showroom for a tour! Colors danced before our eyes as sunlight passed through the crystal and separated into the various colors of the spectrum. There was also beautiful jewelry and art. Vases, decorations, cups, you name it. Suffice it to say, I am now the proud owner of a glass chicken. We could have spent all day in there, but we had to say goodbye to our new friend and my new chicken. It was time to hit the road.

Seven hours later, we arrived in Rostock! Café Käthe had a great vibe, and after sound checking and scarfing down a salad, it was time to play. The audience was full of more blues fans that usual and we tried out some new songs. The café also boasted an extensive ice cream menu. After much music and ice cream, we headed to “Best Kebab” a few blocks away. The falafel was tasty and who am I to argue with the sign? We also got to pet a very cute Shiba Inu. 

Post-Shiba Inu, we headed back to our home for the night - an artist residence located above the venue. From the balcony, I could see several rooftops and a moon that was nearly full.

Why stay on the ground where the magic is missing?

Why not go up to the sky where the worries all fly away?

Just go up there where no one cares what you say or do.

Up on rooftops, the world stops.

“Most of the city goes back to the 17th Century. It may seem old by some standards, but for us, it is not that old,” said Jan in response to my comment about Jablonec being an old city. 

Geography does influence perspective!

 We are sitting in a restaurant having garlic soup and Jan, the promoter and organizer of the event, is telling us about his city. “Jablonec” means “apple” and the city is said to have been established at the spot where an apple tree was planted. Snuffy’s cappuccino even had foam art in the shape of an apple. Note to self: “Snuffy’s Cappuccino” sounds like a band name.

 We had a very long drive from Berlin to Jablonec and there wasn’t much time to see the city today, but we had a great time playing! The venue was a movie theatre. This is the first time I have sung in a theatre and I hope it will not be the last! This was the view from load in.

Our hotel was one of my favorites so far. At long last, I have a bathtub! I spent about an hour and a half in it, reading my book and relaxing. Through the window, I could see the church lit by lamps. It was beautiful. As the bells chimed three times, I headed to sleep. 

Asparagus is the new salad

… or something like that. We had a lunch with a new friend of ours who lives in Charlottenburg. He recommended the Paris Bar, a few minutes’ walk from my hotel.

A Berlin institution, the Bar has been a meeting place for artists and writers for many years. Jo thought it would be a great place to have a lunch. He was right. For the third time on our trip, asparagus was a special on the menu, and once again, it was aspara-tastic! Jo said that Berlin is surrounded by asparagus fields and they are in season. Thank you, asparagus fields.

 Camera Work and so should we!

Jo had to run, but directed me in the direction of an art gallery. I’m so glad he showed me the way, because I wouldn’t have found it myself. “It is common here that galleries are situated across courtyards and on the other sides of houses,” Jo explained. Sounds good to me. The current exhibition was a collection of Vincent Peters shots. The stark black and white shots had a way of simultaneously jumping out of their frames, and quietly inviting you to step closer.

You must take the Book Train

Bücherbogen Savignyplatz is only a few blocks away, but walking through the archway feels like walking through the wardrobe. Built under the U-Bahn, this store is filled to the brim with great art and architecture books. From time to time, the whole building shakes as the train passes over. An hour later, I walked back into the “real world” with some great books, including one that collected photos of people living in Berlin, along with little stories about each of them.

Please refrain from coughing, if possible

…and we did! Between movements, an incredibly polite explosion of permitted coughs filled the Berliner Philharmoniker.  Before the program began, there was an announcement that the audience stay as quiet as possible. I love this about classical music performances! The silence was complete as Alan Gilbert conducted the orchestra. Adès and Mozart and Debussy (Images pour orchestra – yes!!!) – OH MY! Such a brilliant night of music. I was seated behind the orchestra, which was new for me, but so wonderful. Watching the conductor’s expression throughout the pieces was fascinating! Wenzel Fuchs brought the house down with Mozart’s “Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A major.” Flowers were delivered, and the applause was THUNDEROUS.

Waking up, I felt as if I’d been asleep for days. Who am I? Where am I?

I flailed my arms about to find my phone in the dark room, and after checking the display, I realized I’d been asleep for a whopping... six hours.

Nothing like waking up and realizing you still have a few hours of “bonus” coziness awaiting you. I went back to sleep and woke up later for some Berlin shenanigans! 

Fast-forward until you hear...

“Oooooooooombra mai fu!!”

The soprano had a beautiful voice and such composure as she sang the classic aria. It was almost too much to Händel... Serse-iously...

That night at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a chamber orchestra played selections from Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, The Four Seasons (Vivaldi, not Frankie Valli), and more. The octagonal room with its blue stained glass came alive with the mighty resonance of the organ, and we were all transported to another, higher place. This feeling continued as the pizzicato strings began “Ave Maria” and the inspired melody floated into the air. It was a truly special night.

Leave me with my books!

How do you close out such a magical evening? Easy: walk to a restaurant that is also a garden and a bookstore. Do such places really exist? Yes! They do! Food, conversation, and laughter! 

Schlafen Sie gut!

I slept for ten hours. Nothing like a seven-show run to help you get to know your pillow.

My pillow and I are on a first-name basis. It invited me to go vacationing with it in the summer.

TogoWaschwelt

My new best friend! After three weeks with not much of an opportunity to do laundry, visiting a laundromat was my first order of business. I typed this while sitting next door at the café…

Well this is just too darn wonderful. I’m sitting in a café in Berlin, having my second coffee in the city. Cute dogs are walking down the street, the woman at the table next to me has a voice that is just brimming with happiness. I wonder if she has just received some great news, or if she is just a person that is happy most of the time. My German isn’t good enough to hear what she’s saying and I don’t want to eavesdrop, so I’ll assume the latter. On a side note, “eavesdrop” may be my word of the week. I can just picture someone standing under the eaves of a house, catching words as they “drop.” Perhaps that’s not the etymology, but I like to pretend it is.

Sushi, Berlin Style

Laundry? Check.

Sara? Fresh and happy.

After the laundry adventure, I met up with the Waldens for some sushi. The waiter had a marvelously dry sense of humor and gave us sake as a parting gift. The tables at the restaurant were custom made and had placemats made of various types of marble and stone.

After a relaxing and productive day, I checked in with my family, caught up, and drifted off to sleep.

Berlin is massive. Berlin is vibrant. Berlin is too much to fit into one blog post.

My “Berlin” posts are going to be a bit different - more of a collection of fragments from my time here in the city.

DAY ONE!

Wake up with the birds & commence the 6 hour drive from Kaiserslautern to Berlin.

Pro-tip: Sleep half the ride and it feels half as long.

Try the rest stop chili burger.

Feel like a weirdo – it’s healthy!

Walking into our venue in Kreuzberg, the metal playing was deafening. We exchanged nervous looks. Okay... my incredibly quiet rendition of “My Funny Valentine” is going to go over well... Not to fear! We soon learned that our venue has three different stages that each welcome different genres. Phew.

Reimagine U-Bahn as an instrument

The promoter and people here were very cool and the green room was full of food! Behind us, there was a huge window behind which the U-Bahn frequently passed and lit up the room in a magical way. What a great night!

Enter the hotel of dreams

My hotel has a promotion that if you opt to not have your room cleaned, you get to keep everything in the mini-bar. I’m not kidding. They also have incredibly cute sheep gummy candies on the bedside table.

It didn’t rain during the evening, so my convertible roof was no problem! 

At 11, we met the burgermeister for a continental breakfast at the Italian restaurant around the corner from the apartments.  He arrived, explaining that he had come from a convention for local businesses and would be heading off to an art exhibition after our meal. It’s a busy life being a burgermeister! As we sat outside, people kept coming up to Kai, saying hello, and asking how he was. It’s a tight community there. We had a lovely, relaxed breakfast. Hitting the autobahn, we were full of good vibes and good food.

Kaiser-what? Slaut-huh? After several moments of struggling with the name, we committed “Kaiserslautern” to memory and set out for show six! One long drive later, we pulled up and headed into the venue. Daphne (a phycologist) and Michael (a musician) run Salon Schmitt together. They’re great people who have fostered a vibrant scene through their venue. It is cozy with fantastic sound. Michael is also a musician and we had fun chatting and jamming after soundcheck.

My friend, Vita, also came to the show! She and I met two years ago at the Vatican. As we stood in the two-hour line, we got to chatting and by the time we reached the entrance, we were friends! Such a great night of music and friendship! We got to bed earlier tonight, since tomorrow, we rise with the sun to head into Berlin.

*Fun note! A journalist from the paper was there, and wrote a review!

In the Morning…

I’m typing this journal entry from the passenger seat of our trusty Ford.

I’ve only been awake for about five hours, but they’ve been filled with saunas, Bavarian burgers, some very happy cows. Did you know there is a cow festival here in Hindelang?  Nor did I! In September, the bovine kind make their way back into the village from the mountains. Those living nearby welcome them, place flowers on their heads, and they all ring bells (the cows and the people). As a big-time cow fan, this is definitely going on my “someday” list. At lunch with Deville, we learned that the local dialect is very different from the German spoken in, say, Berlin. They don’t have a word for Tuesday. Locals call it “after-Monday”. The majority of those born in the region have the same blood type as well. Deville explained that this is due to Hindelang’s relative isolation from its neighbors. What a fascinating place.

With a full stomach and heart, I said goodbye to Hindelang. Snuffy and Will are going to return on vacation in a few weeks when tour is over.

In the Evening…

I am on the top floor of a private residence in Dachau – in a bed, on a phone, next-door to a dance club. As the bass-heavy rhythms beat their tattoo, I’m drifting off to sleep and thinking of this evening. The ceiling has a  “convertible  roof” that I can’t quite figure out how to un-convertible. When Kai showed us the rooms, he joked, “I hope it doesn’t rain.”

Cafe Gramsci has a great vibe. Christian, the owner, jokingly called it the “smallest stage in Bavaria.” Onstage, we were close together, but it wasn’t troublesome. In fact, it made us play “tighter” in a way. Filled with keepsakes and music posters, Gramsci is a space that invites you to sit down, catch up with friends, and listen to music. Oh, and they have Bigos. Why a Polish dish as a special? I don’t know, but boy, was I happy. The sauerkraut and spices elevated the evening.

Kai, the promoter, is also the deputy mayor. He was very welcoming and we had a great conversation about subjects ranging from art in town to the joys of German grammar and the Bavarian language. We also had some great Munich beer from a brewery that was established in 1328. The burgermeister is a musician as well, and described the soaring feeling music gives him after a concert. It was such a beautiful image of freedom and flight. I’m going to soar off to sleep now, but I am very grateful for my new friends.

It should be called “Good Hindelang”, because there’s nothing bad about this gorgeous part of the country. Okay, okay, I’ll put the puns on pause. (Maybe…) An awed silence spread throughout the car as we stared out the windows. Even in late April, there was still snow on the mountains. As we wound our way deeper into the valley, we looked at our GPS and saw a road map that resembled a game of chutes and ladders. Ten minutes of twisting and turning later, we made it to Prinz Leopold, our venue and home for the day!

What a place!!! Here, we met Armin who was sporting traditional lederhosen and a big smile. This hotel has been in his family since the 1800s. I’m told the small village has boomed in the last half century as tourism has grown. Home to the largest ski jump in Europe, Hindelang is a “home away from home” for Olympic athletes and nature lovers alike.

I could fill a whole blog entry with descriptions of this hotel, but my words wouldn’t do it justice. The website describes it as a cross between a Scottish castle and a traditional Bavarian village. The grandeur and rustic splendor blend effortlessly and you find yourself wishing you could stay “just one more day.” I felt like I do when I have to get out of bed early in the morning. “Just five more minutes, please!”

After months of emailing, we also finally met Jeff and Deville – the booking and promotional minds behind this Euro-endeavor! It’s so interesting to meet people in person after many megabytes of digital correspondence. They are great folks! Jeff is American, but calls Germany home and has lived/made music here for over twenty years.  Deville grew up near Hindelang and has made it his mission to give back to his community by starting the “Culture Salon” at the hotel. He’s the kind of guy for whom beaming and joking seems to come second-nature. It turns out we have mutual friends as well. What a small world!

The show was packed – about a hundred people. This audience was absolutely silent during the songs – one of the most still yet. After the songs though? SO engaged and full of smiles. We did multiple encores and ended up not heading to bed until after 3AM!  

The drive into Passau was another lengthy one, so we didn’t have as much time to explore. However, we did have a lot of time to soak up Sufjan Steven’s wonderful records, so I’m not complaining. Navigating our little Ford deeper into Passau, our team learned very quickly that parts of the city are not open to cars. As we drove down what happened to be a pedestrian road, people gave us some strange looks. Whoops. At least they were friendly “strange looks”.

 Our hotel was a beautiful building with five private apartments. As we walked up a hill paved with old cobblestones, our footsteps produced a satisfying click click click. I really enjoy sleeping in a new place every night.

 As I’m typing this update, I’m drinking tea by the Danube, underneath a castle I’m told dates back to 1499. Jurgen (our host) jokes that it’s really just a facade they put up a year ago to impress tourists. Ah, yes! We are back in Bavaria and surrounded by that fantastic German sense of humor, ladies and gentleman! Jurgen’s vibe is a really fascinating combination of intensity and stillness, at once focused and calm.  

 The weather is perfect, seriously. We are told that today is the first day of this clement weather. Good timing. The city of Passau sits at the meeting point of three rivers and goes back to Roman times. After finishing our tea and spending some time with Milo, the venue’s very own dog in residence, we headed into Café Museum for our sound check and show.

The show was wonderful and packed! Our audience was full of very kind people – including four singers who contributed impromptu background vocals. Someday, I must come back to this town. I can just see myself winding through the old cobblestone streets in the cool night air.

We are officially in Slovakia – our third country on this tour. Last time I was in Slovakia was two years ago – too long, if you ask me! This time around, we didn’t have time for a lot of sightseeing, but the sights we did see were really special. After dropping our things at the hotel, we headed to Muzeum Obchodu! 

 Marcel, who runs the museum, is a man with great love for the blues and history – my kind of guy! It was his mission to have concerts at the trade museum, and for many years, his idea has been a huge success. What does music have to do with displays highlighting former Czechoslovakia’s trading and goods history? Marcel explained that since not everyone is passionate about this sphere of knowledge, music is a great way to reach out. The museum also happens to have a fantastic brewery. This story just keeps getting better, right!? Marcel says the brewery is one of the best in Slovakia. It is the only Slovakian brewery I’ve ever visited, so I’m no authority on the subject, but I can definitely say this is a place that knows its beer!

 Our show was wonderful. The house was packed, and I was blown away once again by how intently everyone listened and how generous they were with whistling and applause! I remember this from last time I played in Bratislava too.

 After the show, Marcel took us on a private tour of the museum. I’ve always wanted to visit a museum after closing time, so this was really exciting for me. The collection was fascinating and very full of coffee. Coffee carafes from the 20s, coffee grinders, coffee bean scales, old typewriters, early calculating machines, promotional signage. I’d love to come back! We closed the night out in the best way possible: a trip to a 24 hour diner! That night, I went to bed with visions of croquettes, garlic soup, and pickles dancing in my head.

Our first day in Linz was a quiet one. My three big plans for the day were: take a two-hour bath, read books, sleep. I was successful on each front. 

The next day, we left the hotel and drove up into the hills of nearby Eidenberg. It took some hunting, knocking, and neighbor-inquiring to find the place, but it was worth the effort! Here we met Thomas, who rebuilt this home with his own hands - digging a new foundation and reinforcing the walls with girders. He is truly a man in touch with nature and the Austrian mountains. His huge, wood burning stove sits in the kitchen, and in the winter, Thomas says it acts as his “television”.  After admiring the programming (fire dancing followed by chestnuts roasting on an open fire), we sat down for a vegetarian meal. All of the herbs, pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and on and on - came from his or his neighbors’ gardens. The meal was followed by the one thing better than dessert: a nap.

 Well-rested, we headed to Smaragd to play a show. Let me tell you about this club! If I lived in Linz or even relatively near it, I would hang out here. I think you'd feel the same. The music room is down a spiral staircase and it has such a wonderful vibe. At the club, I met Adi, one of the owners who is also a flautist! And - wow, can he flaut! During our set, Adi jammed with us. So musical and connected with the conversation happening onstage. I love how music never fails to bring people together. Here was this man I’d never met before, but in the course a few songs, he became a new friend!

 We also had a special guest at the show. Nadja, who lives in Linz, happens to have a chicken purse who looks very similar to Nuggets! Of course, photos ensued. It was a great night. Even Nuggets made a new friend!