Lisbon Day 3

Today started early as I went down for a 7 AM breakfast (before they really open at 7:30), and had their offering, which is a roll, or bread, or toast, jam, juice, and coffee…very continental. I caught the taxi down at Rossio Plaza in that I did not want to be late for the practice….and a number of us eventually found the rehearsal and the hall where we were to sing (I said earlier that this place is a huge convention place).  As the 50 of us checked in, it became obvious that I was in “over my head”, as I was being surrounded by vocalists, and I mean some serious vocalists. Oh well…make the most of it…so I just kept quiet and sang my part….mentioned to a couple of the guys that I played Trombone and they took it well…asked why I didn’t bring it along to play with the group. Well, even though the music was not tough….this group on the first reading (and the last) really had some pros in it. One of the women from Michigan sang in Chicago Opera…and so it went. One of the men from England sang regularly in London musicals, and the two men on each side of me, one from Carrolton, Georgia and one from Belfast, Ireland…both sang regularly in professional choirs in their areas. I met a soprano from Charlotte, NC….grew up in So. Cal…went to Julliard in NY….and stayed in the east for work….she is going to Italy next week with a touring singing group and they will be singing all over Europe for a month. Some great singers…and the choir sounded great. The number in Latin truly had a professional choir sound. The director is a PhD Music Professor at Notre Dame…really knows her stuff….and she has done this now for 5 years…said this was her best choir…and a number were returnees. The full house Interfaith Service really enjoyed the program.

But, after our rehearsal this AM, which turned out to be a 30 minute rehearsal and we did not get to go over 3 pieces until we met just before the service and we had a quick run through…we all went to the Plenary Session 1, which officially opened the Convention. As in Bangkok, these Rotary Conventions are clearly the most elaborate and completed conventions I have ever been to. Nothing is but absolute first class…and this started off the same, with a professional Fado, the traditional music of Portugal, singer….voted #1 in the country for Fado. Absolutely fantastic for her 20 minutes of music to set the stage. Then we had the Flag Ceremony, where the country flag from each of the over 200 countries where Rotary is was presented by Tuna Academica, the Arts college for the country. These 40 students, which are highly selected from the entire country, dressed in black cloaks and long black dresses, presented each flag with the national anthem of that country played in the background…very, very impressive. They then grouped on stage and gave a 20 minute presentation of the music of Portugal. Really outstanding…..

We then had the speeches of introduction, etc…then a short address by the outgoing Rotary International President from Japan, who had all 17 members of his family on stage with him…gave an inspiring talk, relating back to when he was born in 1939….and did not know there was a war until it was over….very dramatic testimony leading into his talk….which emphasized Service over Self for Rotary. The final musical tribute…El Divo. I had seen this quartet on PBS….but nothing like them in person. It helped that I had excellent seats on the side…right above the stage, kind of like a box seat…but they were amazing. They sang for 30 minutes…a wonderful presentation much like you see on the PBS shows…only we were there. They had a full orchestra behind them….it was just an unusual and exciting moment for all of the 15,000 in the arena. Well, needless to say, as good as our choir was…a hard act to follow…but we did an hour later.

I left the Convention Center via a Hotel bus and got off at the Four Seasons Hotel, which is considered to be #1 in Lisbon, and it is obviously, situated high above the city with breathtaking views of the City from the patio areas…then walked down through the streets taking pictures of the old and new….then walked down the big tram line to the Restaurados area….then caught bus # 2 for a final picture trip….back at the hotel here by 8…and will try and get this mailed tonight.

Summary after these almost 3 days. Clearly my favorite of European cities at this point. It is genuine “Old Europe”…and they have done a marvelous job in bringing in the new and preserving the old. Of course, the hills and the setting along the river is hard to beat….but the city is clearly built on top of each other…but they have preserved the old…so streets are so narrow in some areas that buses cannot go there…but then they have the wide multi-lane highways in the same area. It is a wonderful mix of old and new. The gardens and flowers are spectacular…and still along the old architecture is a brand new Gucci store…and I have some great photos illustrating this old and new “marriage”. Again, the people take on a very relaxed and laid back attitude…most stores were closed today….and the streets much quieter, especially compared to non-stop Asia or the middle east. Clearly the laid back Spanish-Italian, whatever attitude is here….the parks were filled with families enjoying the day and the weather…just an ideal setting.

More to come tomorrow…..