And hey, I have loved oboe music since the first time I heard one in my teens. Lucky you to have earned a place in such a tour.

10 concerts in 14 days. Not much time for sight-seeing. We were on the bus during the daytime, going from one city to another.

Taking an orchestra along was actually my idea. At a rehearsal for a Messiah performance, the choir's direction was talking about the upcoming tour. Since there was an orchestra for the Messiah, I suggested that they take the orchestra with them on their planned European tour. A light went on in the director's head at the suggestion.

So, somehow, I came up with the $2500 for the trip. It wasn't easy, and maxed out a credit card at the time. I was the regular oboist for that Messiah performance, so I got to go, especially since it was my suggestion to bring the orchestra. Pretty much everyone in the Messiah orchestra went along for the tour.

It was the high point of my amateur oboe career. I wasn't really a top-flight oboist, but I could handle the music they were doing, and I wasn't half bad at all as an orchestral player. Fun times!

Something about the echo. I have several CDs of Gregorian chant -- gorgeous stuff.

I so wish I could have seen Notre Dame.

but only in transit.