Enjoying Belfast and Midcoast Maine, but also a short camping trip to Moosehead Lake with moose safari …
Summer fun with the Dutch
We’ve been kumi himo-ing, having fun with Lucy, and making pizza …. That’s so far! With doubtless more to come.
Andrea Bocelli concert
When I booked the tickets – months ago – it didn’t seem quite real, but entering the Times Union Center in Albany, NY and taking our seats, which were excellent, the excitement started building.
Bocelli, seemed so diminutive standing there in front of the microphone, but my goodness, there is nothing diminutive about his voice! I could feel it down to my bone marrow. The guest soprano, Maria Aleida, can only be called an instrument! She controlled her voice to such an extent that it could have been one of the orchestra instruments! it was amazing. I was wondering how Fantasia would hold up against Andrea Bocelli and Maria Aleida, but she certainly held her own and her rendition of Summertime was beautiful, and her duet with Andrea equally beautiful. The most amazing part of the entire concert was that he came back for FIVE encores!!! The crowd of 10,000+ were going wild! The performance started on the dot of 7.30 and we left just shy of 10 p.m. (with a 20-minute intermission). It was such a gratifying feeling that he hadn’t come, sung his songs, done the obligatory encore and left. Kudos to Andrea Bocelli!
Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 7:30 PM
WITH – NEW YORK CITY OPERA ORCHESTRA
GUEST VOCALIST – 2004 AMERICAN IDOL WINNER FANTASIA BARRINO
CONDUCTOR – EUGENE KOHN
SOPRANO – MARIA ALEIDA
Bocelli is currently finishing up his Fall US tour in which his performances has received continuous “rousing ovations,” making the June tour the perfect welcome to the summer season.
The June 2013 Tour will come in support of Andrea Bocelli’s upcoming release Passione which will be released on January 29, 2013. Passione is a lush collection of Mediterranean love songs featuring duets with global pop stars Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado, and the late Edith Piaf.
With one of the most recognizable voices in music, Andrea Bocelli is a global icon who continues to defy categorization bringing his music to millions world-wide.
A day at the races – Keeneland
A fun afternoon at the beautiful Keeneland racetrack…
Lovely Lexington
I love this part of the country with its tidy fields and pastures surrounded by fences or stacked stone walls; tree lined “pikes”; friendly people, and did I mention the incredible Kentucky Ale aged in fresh bourbon casks to give the ale a delicious flavour.
Saturday at the downtown farmers’ market where fresh herbs and more were in supply.
Kentucky countryside and visit to Jim Beam distillery
Dennis is hired! Flushing out a bottle, with JB of course, before being filled with Knob Creek single barrel (aged 9 years) whisky.
Birmingham, AL
We made a stop here especially so we could visit the Civil Rights Institute which we found to be fascinating, and an extremely well laid out and powerful display of the events during the civil rights movement.
Everyone was so friendly and helpful and eager to answer any questions. Coincidentally, it was the 50th anniversary today of the date MLK wrote “the letter from Birmingham jail” where he was being held in solitary confinement.
We strolled around the historic 4th Ave district.
Dennis was dying for some good southern ribs
Aaah! Dogwoods
At Oak Mountain state park, just outside Birmingham, AL and so happy to see my favourite Dogwoods.
Friday, April 12
A drive from Perdido Key to Gulf Shores, AL – Naval Aviation Museum, and at the camp site..
Beach houses
Pecan grove in Alabama
That is literally how close they fly!!!
Bellingrath Gardens
Betty and I spent several hours enjoying the beautiful Bellingrath gardens (south of Mobile, AL). It was a little disappointing, but not surprising, that the azaleas had finished blooming, but some of the camelias were hanging on and other gardens were lovely.
An evening on the town in Pensacola
We started out at Jaco’s Bar & Grill, downtown on the marina. I had the most delicious seafood flatbread with shrimp, crabmeat, avocado, pancetta, mango … Heavenly!
And then to stroll along Palafox, which was closed off for the monthly gallery walk and included lots of live music on the street. I love the New Orleans-style architecture.
And then to the charming, historic Seville district, which needs further exploration.
Palafox Market and Joe Patti’s
We met up with Diane and Ron to check out Pensacola’s Palafox market.
And then to the famous Joe Patti’s seafood- wow! Probably the biggest and best seafood market I’ve seen.
Pensacola Lighthouse and the Blue Angels
A great day spent with Agnita, Henk and the girls:
First the Pensacola Lighthouse (177 steps up and a cardio workout)
A hair-raising and exhilarating practice show by the Blue Angels.
And then some down time on the beach.
