How To Play Billiards

I brought Susanne some banana bread I made today out of celebration of great grades on our Finance projects. She asked me if I wanted to go play some billiards at the Trocadero, in Picadilly Circus, and I said sure. My classes for tomorrow are cancelled. Let's play pool!

This place was massive, like a sci-fi mall, only more impressive. Apparently Brits have a huge gambling problem, because it was 4+ floors of slots and other games. Well, arcade games, too. So anyways, we ended up at the back of the sports bar area where the billiards were. There was a big football game on the TV, so the bar was PACKED, and rowdy. For those of you interested in the sport, it was Barcelona vs. Milan in the Champions League finals. Barcelona won, it was REALLY close, though.

Susanne and I managed to play....5/6 games of pool. Long games of pool. I won 1 of them. She's decent, I suck. Let's just say, I've never been taught how exactly to play pool well. Alas, it showed.

2 random college guys (asian and black, not like it matters, but it's for visualizing purposes) watched us for most of the time. They just stood/sat on the side, watched us suck, commented, watched football, tried talking to us. Around the end, the guys asked us to play a match with them. Sure, we're nice girls, let's play pool. I was teamed with Glynn, who's an electrical engineer. Susanne was grouped with Shane, an socio-anthropology major. Both UCL students. They were wicked nice guys. Poor Susanne couldn't understand their VERY thick British accents (think north, hackney-ish). Give the girl a BREAK, she's from Austria!!!
The guys asked us about ourselves a bit. I asked questions, and translated to Susanne into American english.
Glynn and I won that one. The poor guy, though, got a nosebleed in the middle of the game (leaving me to make most of the "shots"). I asked Shane what was up, and he said, "he's excited to be playing with you." Cute.

Susanne and I got tired around 11pm, and started heading home after the game so we could watch a movie with Erin. The guys wanted to get drinks, but we said we had classes in the morning. Terrible lies.
Shane asked, "Wait a minute! You mean we aren't going to do the whole exchanging numbers deal?!" We tried to explain to him that we only had 3 more weeks left in London, but he insisted that we could all get a few drinks before then. And that we could make fast friends, or something. Ok, they were nice guys. We gave them our numbers.
When Susanne called Erin to tell her we were coming back, Shane and Glynn came over and Shane asked me if I had a boyfriend. I laughed, not knowing how to reply, so just said not right now. Then he asked, "What about som kind of British guy? You have any British boyfriends?" This made me sad, thinking about mistakes I've made in the past, but I laughed and replied, "Not for a long while." Silly questions people ask. We upped and left then because we had to catch a bus back to the flats. See them later, perhaps?

We came back and ate lots of Austrian chocolates and ginger cookies while watching the b&w movie Brief Encounters. Sad. Romantic. Not the best movie ever. But it was fitting.

I Miss...

Norway and Switzerland. Nuts, I know! But man, do I long to go back right now!

But I was talking with Denysha about it, and she misses Norway, too. We both want to be there right now. Ohhhh, so so badly!
And I want to go back to Switzerland and be happy eating fondue and looking at the beautiful little towns.

Susanne (my sweet and adorable Austrian friend) made palatschinke (the German version of pancakes, aka crepes) for me. She taught me kind of how to make them, and we talked about Germany and chocolate.
Maybe I should live in Germany, Norway, and Switzerland sometime when I'm alive. That could be neat.

Otherwise....life here has been extremely vanilla. Homework. I made banana bread yesterday, and that way the best thing I did all weekend.

I've been reading so much that it almost disturbs me. Kim's recently read books:
1)"Happiness" by Richard Layard
2)"Everything is Illuminated" by Jonathon Safran Foer
3)"A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by David Eggers
4)"The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" by Douglas Adams
I'm currently working on Lewic Carrol's "Alice in Wonderland." Just because.

Longest Movie Ever

Tonight, as I was reading "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius", Erin asked me if I cared to join her in Notting Hill to see an old movie. Sure, I'm always up for a flick.
The Leopard.
The longest movie in the history of time.
With no plot.
And some not-so-great acting moments.
All in Italian. With English subtitles. Though the actors were speaking in English.

We got in the theatre around 11pm. We got home at 2:40am.
We laughed the whole busride home.

One of my favorite lines: Sicily is tired. We are old, and worn out. We think that we are perfect, because we are gods.

Yessssssssssssssssssss.

Madrid, Spain (& Toledo)

I landed in Madrid, realizing that, much like Germany, I didn't know the language. Well, I know enough words to say "I'm sorrry" and "I don't speak Spanish", and a few assorted items that helps me get by....but I was translator-less. It's OK, I'll just mime it the whole time. Right.

When I got in, I got a little bit lost trying to find Cassie's flat, near Estudio Santiago Bernabeu, but I got there in time for dinner with her and her flatmates (Elana & Howard), and to watch Freaks&Geeks! Good show. Damn.

Sunday (HAPPY EASTER!), Cassie and I hit a British/Anglican church for Easter service. I know, right? In Spain? Go figure. Anyways, we got there late and was placed in a large pack with people. The sermon was very well done, by a man who looked just like Santa Claus. I'll spare you the details, but I was interested the whole time.
After Sunday breakfast -- Cassie made us pancakes! -- I decided to start on a voyage to the downtown part of Madrid. I wasn't really expecting anything to be open, being a Catholic country and everything, but it seemed almost as if they didn't know it was a holiday. I first went to the Parque del Buen Retiro (think Central Park). It was completely infested with people! Granted the weather there was gorgeous, but I wasn't expecting to get caught in a mass of people in a PARK! People were selling stuff on the sidewalks, and some even dressed as Disney characters. Nuts. But I enjoyed walking about the park. It was so peaceful in the more wooded & maze-like areas.
I stumbled, somehow, to the Museo del Prado, and concluded that I might as well go in now due to the "Free Sunday!" signs. It holds mostly Spanish art from 1500-1800. Everything was religious. Everything. I whizzed through it pretty quickly, because there are only so many times I can appreciate Jesus being crucified. But I did find one of my favorite paintings, by Bosch (The Garden of Earthly Delights). How pleasantly surprising.
I somehow ended up in the Puerta del Sol, which is one of the main shopping/eating/eventful spots in Madrid. Lots of people. RUN AWAY! So I ended up in Hotel Preciados' restaurant for hot chocolate and a meriandos (which is basically a common Spanish snack) while I chilled out and read. Just to let you know, the hot chocolates in Madrid are absolutely phenomenal! Sooooo thick. Soooo creamy. Soooo chocolatey. I'll never be the same.
Took the Metro back to Cassie's place. The Madrid Metro is very very clean and new. That was something I was happy about.

On Monday, I went to a nearby gym to FINALLY work out. Note: Don't speak Spanish. So somehow they (I'm assuming) concluded that I was a tourist (true) from the hotel nextdoor (false). Whatever, I got a free 3-day pass to this nice gym. SWEET!
Though it was raining, I started off my adventures by going to the Palacios Reales (the Royal Castle). It was big, impressive. Gawdy. And grand. And royal. The rooms were somewhat awesome, and I gawked at one room completely done up in velvet (walls, too!) and black statues. Wow.
I meandered over to the Plaza Mayor, which is basically this big closed off square with restaurants and novelty shops lining it. Walking, walking, walking.
I was trying to find the modern art museum, and apparently looked confused while looking at the map, because some Spanish old man came up to me and started talkin to me in Spanish, saying, "Prado? Prado?" No, no Prado. Thanks. He kept talking about God knows what. I just kept saying "No comprendo. Lo siento." Then I said "Soy d'Americana?" And he kept babbling, and I said, "Reina Sofia?" Ah, yes, that's it. He pointed and apparently was giving me directions to it, though I didn't get all of it. Thanks?
At the Reina Sofia, I went through all of the exhibits. It was great! Dali was there, and I discovered some art that I really liked by other Spanish artists. And the special exhibits were wonderful. Really weird art, really interesting art, art that makes you really creeped out. I loved it. And I discovered one of my new favorite artisits: Adolfo Schlosser! He takes rocks, trees, leaves, plants, strings....all nature things, and makes them into these beautiful and intriguing shapes. Soooo good!

Tuesday, I decided to go to Toledo (former Spanish capital). Please remember I don't speak Spanish, and I'm on my own. So, when I tried to by train tickets for Toledo, they made the times for me. I had about 7 hours to do EVERYTHING in Toledo, a city I don't know at all. So, I got lost as soon as I got off of the shuttle to the town. It's okay, I bought a map. I started off at the old residence, Alcazar, but it was closed for renovation. Check. Then I stopped and got some lunch, a paella dish with seafood? I don't know, it was overpriced, though.
Toledo is very compact, in the sense that everything is smooshed together. And every building is connected to another building. So it was easy to get turned around.
I hit up the infamous Cathedral. My lord, I thought that Birnau was impressivly overdone, but it was a mere cloud compared to this place. Massive, I say! MASSIVE! Bulky columns littering the sides. Chapels completely detailed on every square foot. The ceiling was big. There were courtyards attached to the thing. The cathedral had so much going on! And the actual center of the place..........was......ridiculous. Gold outlining each brick. A gargantuan gold decorative background. I can't attempt how to explain it, again. Let's just say, I was almost offended at how done up it was.
Walking around, got lost, kept getting lost, OOH! A Mazapan shop?! I bought one of each (yes, I was glutonous). Delicious! I discovered the Museo del Santa Cruz, partially open, but mostly closed for remodeling. Okay....So I chilled in Plaza de Zocodover and read for a few hours. Then I see a train putting along. I must!
I take the train tour around Toledo, wish I'm glad I did. The train showed us the most beautiful views of Toledo, the city at large. I think I almost like Toledo more than Madrid. And, I learned that Spain has Arab descendants! And it all made sense.
Get back to Cassie's around 10pm, and we watch Beauty&theGeek.

Wednesday, another gym outing. Then I meet up Cassie & her flatmates at a tapas bar for some tapas (basically, you order a bunch of appetizers and eat). Very delicious. Maybe I should eat like that more often! Ha. ha. ha.
Off to the Botanical Gardens, and I just mosied around for a few hours, read a bit, appreciated the beauty in nature. I really can't believe I don't do things like that more often.
Then off to the airport I went!
You see, Deejay? I did make Madrid a bit shorter.

Bolingen, Germany (and Switzerland)

Last Monday, I went to visit my dear old friend Felix at his home in his little southern part of Germany. He lives in an area called Konstanz, which is right on the border of the Swiss Alps (therefore, also Switzerland), Lake Konstanz, and the end of the world. This area is doused in really really old culture (think 600 AD-ish), and Christian culture at that.
Felix picked me up and drove me from the airport to his house, taking a nice little detour/roadtrip around some scenic parts before we got there for dinner with his family.

Let me make some things clear before I continue:
1) I am only used to seeing Felix in a strictly USA, Boston-type location. All English speaking, him always in the passenger seat, and just a jolly foreigner. Now I was completely on his turf; vulnerable, and completely at a disadvantage. Not only do I not know the area whatsoever, but I can only say about 4 things in German. So, he was taking complete control (in a good way) of the few days I was there. He drove everywhere, translated everything for me (including what his family was trying to say), gave me historical and cultural background where appropriate....Honestly, I was impressed and in awe of him the entire time. Good man.
2) The Schweigger residence is a funny, and ADORABLE, place. His mother is beautiful and very bubbly, always smiling, trying really really hard to make conversation in a language she can't speak, cooks wonderfully, spoiled me rotten. His father (did I mention he's Peruvian?), though mostly not around because of work, is welcoming, educating, at first a bit intimidating, but seemingly lovable like a teddy bear, who also makes big attempts to hold an English conversation without knowing lots. His younger brother, Tobi (18), looks 100% Aryan, taller than Felix, speaks almost as good of english but with a German accent, is funny, and very approachable. And I love his younger sister, Elka (16), because she's as tall as the boys, quirky in that adorable have-to-love-them type of way, speaks decent english with a British accent, and bonded with me very well.
His house is another matter. Guys, he wasn't lying when he said most of it is marble. It's marble. Big house, about 3 levels. Very neat, organized, NEW, chic. I can't explain. But I wanted to move in.
3) Did I mention that this area is very Christian? Mostly Catholic? I didn't think much of it at first, until I realized that there were crosses and Jesus monuments on the sides of the streets and highways. And little prayer huts. While driving round a turn, there's a Jesus stone. You wouldn't think it to be so peculiar to a person from Boston (full of Irish Catholics), but, this was turned up maybe 4 or 5 notches from THAT. This also explains why so many of the sights we saw were churches/cloisters/cathedrals.
4) I've never eaten so much in my life. Everday, there was chocolate in multiple forms, cheeses oozing from other cheeses, breads being spread with other stuff, HONEY, milk being poured into glasses like water, and so many other things that I forbid myself to eat on a daily basis. Felix, if you're reading this, you live a life that only you won't die of a heart attack. You lucky, lucky bastard.
5) When you look at the landscape of this area of Germany, you notice how oddly puckered some of the mountaintops are. They kind of jut up, and plateau peculiarly on top. Apparently, these mountains were really old volcanoes, now dried up. Hundreds of years back, people decided it'd be a great idea to build their castles on these tops (that way they would not be easily seiged). Then, after building these castles, they realized how hard it was to actually get to the castles....Don't worry, Napoleon bombed most of them, so they're mostly all ruins now.
6) I made it very clear to me, and to Felix, that I was on vacation. That meant I decided nothing, did anything, and was happy as a clam the entire time. He didn't like this much, but I persisted.

Right, so the first night I was exhausted, so we hit sleep early after dinner (did I mention that Tobi gave up his room for me?), and after his family tried hard to make conversation with me. Felix did most of the talking.

Tuesday, Felix wakes me up to tell me that, after we eat the breakfeast someone set out for us, we'll be driving into Switzerland. I have yet to be in Germany for more than 20 hours, but I'm up for it. So he cheerfully brings me to a little town on the lake called Stein am Rhein. I fell in love with Switzerland that day. The buildings in the tiny downtown were ancient (around 1300), painted with elaborate murals on the front, and in the middle of a small square. Something out of Disneyland. The waterside was beautiful, the people were friendly, it was quiet, and oh so beautiful. We just walked around for a while, mainly because Felix knew I'd be giddy and squealing about the absolute cuteness to be seen. He steered me then to the old church in the town, Stadtkirche, and the kloster (aka cloisters) nextdoor. Simple, but in great condition for how old the place was. Afterwards, he ordered a few bread rolls, bought 2 types of cheese, and we feasted on the waterside with our picnic (fighting some ducks in the process). Of course, we couldn't leave without grabbing a months-worth supply of Swiss-German chocolates!
We ate a German meal with his family and loitered around the house with them all. I dragged Felix to take a walk around his ever-so-miniscule of a town, Bolingen. Church in the middle, remnants of a medeival wall in the town...We talked a bit, and it was a nice night out. But on the completely head-cocking side, at around dusk, all of the houses put down their window-walls. I mean, every house has these metal (aluminum, perhaps?) shields on every window. I think he said something about privacy, and protection? It was silly, but apparently normal in Germany. I laughed about that one for a while.

Wednesday, I woke up wanting to go for a run (seeing as I was gymless). Felix volunteered to join me in the jogging festivities, but I tried hard to discourage him. Why? Well, because he's very tall, and a German track star. Translation: To a person like Felix: Kim doesn't run, Kim walks and bounces. But he didn't resist, so I let him join me on my run, making me look and sound like a complete idiot (wheezing, puffing) next to this Greek god of a German (chilling, talking). But the landscape was absolutely breathtaking in the morning. I could have been at Brokeback Mountain, if it weren't for the fact that I was in Germany, and with a German, and without sheep.
Felix brought me over to a museum near us about their Carnival. This is supposedly a big deal in the lower-western German areas, where they celebrate debauchery, liquor, horror, and other enjoyable feelings. Personally, I was petrified in this museum, because basically it was a museum full of mannequins covered in uber eery/elaborate/creepy Halloween outfits. You know, the kind of outfits that only killers and stalkers would wear in your nightmares. But apparently this is the joyous part of living around here, and Felix looked at the suits contently. After he explained the entirety of the carnival, it wasn't as scary, and almost entertaining.
We then frolicked over to an island, Mainau, which is known primarily for one of the oldest churches & cloister establishments in Germany (900 AD). You could tell that they were old because of the roof being all wood, and the inside being so simple. I enjoyed this discovery a lot. And Felix taught me lots. After we circled the island, we popped over to Konstanz (an actual city, also) to take a look at the port, the prostitutes, and get some gelato. Good night for all.

Thursday was when we took a ferry over to hit up Meersburg. This town holds Germany's oldest castle (600 AD), and the town around it is pretty picturesque. I made him scale the town and take scenic tourist pictures before we entered any of the museums, which made him kind of antsy, but he dealt. First we went to the Neues Schloss Meersburg, which is the new castle (made museum-exhibit hall-art gallery) in the village. Then we found ourselves in the castle castle. Man, was it old. I felt very barbaric-european in some of the rooms. But apparently the castle was continually built on, and you can surely tell the differences between the old parts and the not-as-old parts. Secret doors everwhere (no, Felix, let's not go down that one), wells and torture cells, dead people stuff everywhere. It was really exciting to see what all of those movies about the Middle Ages were "trying" to get at.
As it started to rain, Felix drove me to this baroquechurch, Birnau. He was building it up quite a lot, about how amazing it was, and I was anticipating a big let-down. Well, I was surely not let down what-so-ever. Jaw dropping. I never thought gawdy could happen to a church! So elaborate, so decorative, so......MUCH! I can't even attempt at explaining how incredible this little, not-so-well-known church was, so I won't try. Just, wow.
After I put my eyes back in, we went back home (yes, my home now, too) and had another dinner. Apparently we were going out clubbing at this club Top 10 (he said it's on the Top 10 in Germany, too....get it?) that night, so Felix made me eat. Lots. We went, and it was enormous. And packed. I was thinking I was going to a Yankees game or something. Getting through the crowd of loud, dancing, boozing Germans was something miraculous. We met up some of his school friends (mostly girls, and mostly with boyfriends), and I was so confused about this place, that I just kind of soaked it all up in the corner for a while. Well, that, and I can't speak German. Right. Felix was a doll and kept making sure I was OK, and that I was having fun. Yes, I was having fun. I was just trying to learn German. Dancing happened. A few drinks. Tobi (who was supposed to be driving) got a little tipsy, and Felix bounced between languages (as always).

Friday, Felix brings me to Technorama, the Swiss Science Center in Winterthur. Well, first we got lost for about an hour in Switzerland (heading to Zurich), but then we got there. It was this fun interactive place, like that one in San Fransisco. We stayed there until close.
Stepping outside and realizing it was beautiful out, Felix drives me to Rheinfall in Neuhausen near Schaffhausen. This is the Niagra Falls of Switzerland, only not quite as large per square foot. It was wonderful! Very, very nice to look at. Refreshing. There were 2 stone cliffs in the middle of the falls. Rainbows. Spritzing water. I made him stay there for a while, before we head back for dinner.
That night we played, with Tobi & Elka, and intense game of Monopoly. Elka, the youngest, won. Felix and I are both studying business. We were the first to lose. Go figure.

Saturday is when I left Germany to get to Madrid. I miss Felix and his remarkable family already.

Parental Supervision

Oh wow, I totally forgot to tell of what I saw when my parents were in London last week (I'm in Madrid right now...more on that later)!
So, they arrived on Thursday and I met up with them at their hotel when I was finished at the gym. Note: their hotel was incredible, I couldn't have felt any more prestigious. We just kind of vegged out after we went to Wagamama's (everyone goes there!) for dinner. I made them take the scenic route so they could see my school and the British Museum.
The next day we walked to get show ticketsfor "Guys and Dolls" at TKTS in Leicester Square, and I showed them around Chinatown, we loitered at the British Museum, and cruised back to the hotel again. Eliana & Denysha met up with us at the hotel's lounge (they were in awe, too), and we ate at a pizza cafe across the street for dinner. "Guys and Dolls" was very well done. You could tell that the actors were all much stronger in ther dancing skills (the dancing was superb), but they knew how to sing, so I was mostly pleased. Overall, I give it a B+/A-.
Saturday, dad wasn't feeling well, so he stayed in while mom and I went shopping on Oxford Circus. I love shopping. I bought 3 new jeans, and 3 new shirts. And 3 new CDs (Ben Harper, Simon Webbe, and CRUNK HITS).
The oddest thing about my parents' stay was that they kind of made me go out Saturday night with the girls & Oz. Literally, told me to call them so we could go out. Okay. Well, when we got together, no one really knew what we were going to do (apparently I was supposed to plan an outing...oops). So we ended back up at MASH, where the girls were happy with the music selection. Being poor students, we just went in to dance (poor Oz just smoked his cigarettes and bounced along to the music). Some guy from Pakistan came over and tried to be "intimate" with me (though his words were very flattering, I am sure he was far gone). I gave Oz a look of desperation, so he came over and played the role of the boyfriend to get me out of there. Good olde Oz.
So, after sleeping maybe 3 or 4 hours, my parents and I hit up a bus tour of Stonehenge, Bath, and Stratford Upon Avon. Seen the first one already, so I just hung out and read my book and slept on the bus. Then we hit up the George Inn for a Sunday roast. The Inn is very historical, according to the tourguide, who said that it was pre-Elizabethan, and used way back when for important political and influential meetings.
Bath is beautiful. Nothing at all to what I was expecting. Bath is hidden in ths nook of a valley. You see it, and it's just this huge labyrinth of tightly packed stone buildings. All sandstone buildings (a massive amount, at that), and very busy with people (expected). The Bath Pump Room was neat. We got to walk around the ruins of the ancient Roman baths (surprisingly well kept, and there were many models of what it looked like), and see where the springs came from, and the history of the springs. I was enjoying it all. When we were done touring, we set out to walk a bit of the city. Lots of shops. Lots of fudge. Rain, as always in England. Finally, we drove for a few hours (I napped) to see Stratford Upon Avon, where Shakespeare was born. The town is microscopic, and the house was adorable. Rain. They served us strawberry scones and champagne, we toured the house, and ran back onto the bus.
The bus tour was mostly bus, which was good because that meant I slept a lot. The tourguide was a hilarious old Irish man. He babbled for much of the ride, of which I was sleeping and could hear in my sleep the babble of an old Irish man.
When the tour ended, the parents and I ate at Garfunkel's, and then headed on back to their royal hotel.

Found It......!

Today was magnificient outside, so I decided to get out of the flat (well, I wasn't really originally at the flat, it was a decision when walking back from yoga) and go for a walking romantic adventure with myself.
So I put on my headphones, left my mobile in the flat, and started roaming up to Angel. Angel is this adorable little section of East-Central London that would kind of remind you of a little area in the West Village (NYC reference, had to). Cute shops are brimming there! Sidewalk cafes scattered around, a little outside mall (?), lots of restaurants and pubs....
And I found where all of the youth (15-25) of London are.
At last!
So I just mosied up and down St.John's Street for a while. And it was sooooooooo beautiful outside! Didn't really go into anywhere because I lack money.
But, I finally found the London that I knew I could fall in love with.
Found City University, and a sign for LSE (London School of Economics). Now, for those of you who aren't familiar, LSE is up there with Oxford, especially for us business/law students (no, I'm not law, I'm just saying...). This excited me more, so I decided to quickly go back to the flat and change my jeans (because they were falling off a lot and annoying me) and continue my adventures.
On my second adventure, I discovered the London's Silver Vaults (near Chancery Lane). This is exciting, because they sell silverware and jewelry, ALL SILVER, for outstanding prices. I must go when it's open sometime.
Off to Holborn I went. Holborn is near Covent Garden, kind of busy little area.
But before I got there, I discovered some beautiful old (and condensed) buildings. Lincoln's Inn is gated, so you can't go in, but it's really adorable and quiet. And Kings College. Next to it is the Royal Court of Justices. This building is not only massive, but it's probably one of the only not-as-known landmarks that really define London for me. And I could see the Thames in the nearby distance. The puzzles are coming together, now!
I wish I had my camera with me.
And there I found it. LSE. The campus. It's small, kind of intimidating. Very urban. I loved it.
And on the way home, I went by buildings that I normally just pass by, and saw what they actually look like. That was exhillarating.
I like how it takes me about 3 months or so to actually discover my own London. And it's right in my backyard.
Idiot.

Some Culture

Aside from Friday's extravaganzas (which I would prefer to keep in the depths of my mind....and email box. If you really want to know, email me. 1 name: Lawrence.) , I had an overall very low-key weekend.


Today I went to go see the London Symphony Orchestra perform some Bartok and Shubert. The concert hall itself, at Barbican Centre, is located in not one of the best locations ever, but it may have been because of the route I took to get there.
The hall is beautiful, and simple. It was like stadium seating, only convenient, because the stage was very easy to see, and you didn't have to crawl over people's legs to get to your seat. Very brightly lit, and a light wood design on the walls. I was impressed.
The concert was excellent. The Bartok piano concerto (#3) was performed by some Piotr Anderszewski. He was wonderful. Very light on the piano (I think it was a Borsendorfer!!!), and the orchestra held their parts with him well. Personally, I wasn't nuts about the song itself, but the performance was great.
The Shubert songs, overture Die Zauberharfe and Symphony No 9, were also very well done. Very upbeat. Very clean. Again, not my favorite songs ever, but I was kept awake, which is always a good sign.
Overall, I was content and felt rejuvenated afterwards. Especially for a free ticket with a free glass of orange juice!