Returning to the open road...

Sorry It's been a while since I blogged. I've been kind of busy with my "day job." Oh, I wish I could figure out a way to turn travel into my "day job." 
Tonight's adventure will recall a trip I made with the Shorter Chorale. We were in Yugoslavia. Yup, a country that doesn't even exist anymore. What a unique place! The culture was slavic. Think, gypsy and add a little class. The people were memorable and the sights were breathtaking. You see, we were there to compete in a choir contest. We weren't suppose to be there. The unrest in the world had Shorter's administration calling for our trip to be cancelled, but our director felt very strongly about us competing. So, we went. 
Part of the adventure of traveling is found in the journey itself. Our plane landed in Zurich and that's where we stayed for a day. You see, the little plane that was to take us on to Yugoslavia had a mechanical issue. True fun is found in wandering around a beautiful European city, at the expense of a major airline. :) 
By the time we arrived in Yugoslavia, we had missed a concert and two days of our tour. We caught up quickly and began to take in the culture. A concert in a small community center made the part of the world we were visiting very real to a choir full of southern baptist young people. You see, the community center had been a jewish synagogue. There was no reason for the building's purpose after World War II. Many of us found ourselves moved to tears as we stood in what would have been the alter singing our signature piece, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."
Travel is full of unexpected experiences. You must go with a head full of knowledge and a heart with room for emotion. You never know where or when a place is going to engulf you. 
More from Yugoslavia later.....