A late night in Florence, Italy

Well, it seems as if I've reached the point in my journey where the internet becomes much less accessible than it has been while with the Choir... and I also have to pay for it :) So I apologize for the lack of updates the past few days, but I'm sure you all understand that blogging isn't necessarily my top priority while backpacking through Europe :)

Wow, a lot has happened since Wengen! On thursday we headed to Langnau, where we performed at the oldest continuous mennonite church in the world! We were very well received as they have hosted Hesston Choirs many times in the past. Once again I ate way too much food and then we performed what would be our final concert as a group, and for the sophomores, our final concert as Hesston students... It was mixed emotions, very sad, yet at the same time, I'm ready for the next stage in life, a new adventure... We'll see what the future holds before I get too caught up in the past..

Thursday night was also my last home stay as a Hesston student... and it was great! Rudy and I stayed out in the Swiss countryside on an old farmstead atop a hill, it was beautiful! Our hosts, Christof and Lydie, had each spent time in North America through MCC's work exchange program (our equivalent is InterMeno), so we had lots to talk about! Then we got up early to take a tour of the farm and see the small operation they had, direct delivery to the cheese factory!

Then we headed off to Italy! Milan was our first stop, with not a whole lot going on the first night, but Saturday morning we loaded the bus and then took a walking tour of the city, the biggest highlight for me being the Duomo, or Cathedral, which was constructed over a period of more than 500 years, beginning in the 15th Century... it was magnificent!

Later saturday evening we headed out to Florence, in the Tuscan region! The drive was beautiful, entering into the rolling hills, glad no one's showing signs of motion sickness! :) That night, after some free time, we saw the opera La Bohem (Rent is based off of this work) at an Anglican Church... it was a very intimate setting, but their voices were beautiful!

Wow, I guess that was just last night... anyhow, we got up this morning at a pretty leisurely pace, it was nice for a change! We saw Michelangelo's David, the Duomo here in Florence, and the Santa Croce church, the final resting place of persons such as Leonardo DaVinci, Dante Alegrehtti, Machiavelli, Marconi, and even Galileo Galilee! Another fantastic day trip... We then had a lot of free time, some of which was spent browsing the vendors (the endless amount of vendors!), and then many of us headed back to the Hostel, stopping for Gelatto of course...

Back at the Hostel before dinner some took naps, others played cards, caught up on journaling, swam, or played pool... it was relaxing after a day in the sun! After dinner, we all somehow found our way up to the rooftop of the Hostel (Disclaimer: there's a rooftop cafe, we weren't breaking any rules, this time haha)... after taking a bunch of funny pictures, somehow we started to sing a few songs, and then it turned into us performing for ourselves the music we have prepared and performed over the past 8 weeks... it was sung with the most emotion and was probably the most moving time of singing we have shared thus far... These are the memories we will keep forever... singing for ourselves at twilight, at what seemed like the top of Italy... it was beautiful...

Well, the other day Matt and I bought our train tickets... mine was a 4 country 10 day travel pass... and it just hit me, WOW, I STILL HAVE A MONTH LEFT AND I WILL BE IN SIX COUNTRIES COUNTING MY TIME IN INDIA!!! It's just weird... but the flipside for matt and I is that the day is nearing where we have to say goodbye to our friends. We've really had a fantastic time together... there have been no fights, no real drama, and we're all getting along and bonding together! I think that everyone would say the same, it has been a fantastic group to be with.

But in any case... it's past 2:30am here, and I've got a full day tomorrow, so I'd best join my roomates in getting some sleep!

Blessings,
John