From Verona to Vienna...

I love Verona. I love Vienna. I might love Verona a bit more right now, but no favoritism :-) the first day in Vienna has been perfect so far ... From eating at a traditional Viennese restaurant, listening to an argument between 2 germans who couldnt agree to agree to watching the eurocup in a biergarten drinking spritz with my old friend Chris (who I went to Macquarie University studying German with) and his friends of whom are from all parts of Europe, working and studying in Vienna.

I've just finished my rehearsal for tonight's concert here in Vienna and can't wait to play. The acoustics in these old 19th century halls are phenomenal. It gives me a good vibe to play in.
Backtracking to Verona, what can I say except it was like a dream.
From the very start, staying at Le Suite di Giulietta and having the most magnificent view of Juliet's balcony....
Then of course, the sheer beauty of the streets of Verona .. Every corner, every nook and cranny, i walked for hours around the centre, along the river... the astronomical Arena di Verona is truly magnificent. Then to think that I'm playing in the Palazza de la gran Guardia tops it off. Directly in front of the Arena, I had to keep pinching myself that it was reality that I, for one, was in Italy and secondly, performing!

the incredible Suite di Giulietta, Verona.

the view from my window - straight down onto Juliet's Balcony, Verona | Italy!

sight-seeing in Verona - the castle :-)

My favourite experience is still the first night, my organizers took me to a street where the local Verona people ate... The waiter sang to us to entice us in, sat us down, had prosecco, divine food with amazing olive oils and balsamic.. Whilst an accordionist, 2 guitarists and a violinist played gypsy music across the street for what seemed like a ceramic store opening. People spilling onto the streets laughing and drinking, dancing and parting for scooters to zoom past then continue dancing.. I truly felt I was in the heart of it all. I ran across the road to have a photo taken with the musicians (yes, what a tourist) and before I knew it, they were surrounding me playing into my ears. We jammed ... Me on the keys of the accordion and laughed to our hearts content.
What surprised me even more was that they came to my concert the next day! We hung out, ate and drank more divine food and wine, grappa and gelato, they even managed to find me gluten free fettuccine :-) the people, the culture, the architecture, the way people are dressed and hold themselves ... There's never been a European country that I've taken to so strongly.
I could have stayed in Verona for another week but alas, work must be done and the next stop is here ... VIENNA.
I feel incredibly lucky to have had all these experiences with such wonderful people in every city coming to catch up and meet me. It makes all of this solo traveling that much more delightful.

I must not forget that I did stop in Saigon and Frankfurt before all of this. Saigon was as wild as usual. Playing at the Ly Club for an invite only crowd was so special because I recognized all the faces in the crowd (98%), I could feel and hear people breathing and their reactions to my playing. It was warm, intimate and I know for many of my friends in Saigon, it was the first chance they got to see me do what I do.

performance at Ly Club, Saigon - June 10th 2012.

I also did 2 shoots with Elle Magazine which will be featured in the August issue :-) Of course, our partying ways never fail to create mischief and memories. Let's just say we passed out like a light on the flight to Frankfurt and even the 2 days in Frankfurt were a bit of a blur .... It was cold, it was bleak, it was not a nice welcome to the European summer. With nice company, We still made the most of it and walked forever and forever around all the streets of Frankfurt ... Can't say I like Frankfurt that much and the flight to Verona was something I really looked forward to.

I'm sitting at Wien Meidling station right now to wait for my friend Steve to arrive from Prague then we'll go to hang at the pool near a vineyard to chill out before my show tonight.
For now, tchüs!
Love and grace,
Van-Anh xx