Belgium March 2006 - The Opera that wasn't

Got back to the hotel after sightseeing and had a WONDERFUL dinner. A really good Ceasar
salad (the hotel in Waterloo does not have salads) and the best seafood stew I have had since
that place in Victoria - in fact this was better!!! The chef had sent out an appetizer for me and
then brought my dessert himself. I had sent my compliments back on the stew.

Then I got all dressed up and headed to the Opera. It was Pucini's La Villi which I have seen
before and really like. Now, I haven't done too badly here with the language - no major screw-
ups until now. But, I really made a major good this time - it was not the Opera - it was the
Brussels Symphony. I do not like the symphony - no matter how good the music is, it bores me
and I cannot stay awake. I like the action and excitement of an opera or a musical.

(I know, I know - I used to go the Symphony in my early years in Dallas - but that wasn't
because I liked the symphony - it was because I liked the hot, Spanish conductor that the DSO
had for a few years.)

But, except for the fact that I paid 67 Euro for the ticket, I did enjoy the "experience" of going
out on the town (though I did leave at the first intermission). It was performed at the Palais de
Beaux Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) which is a very nice modern building with great ACOUSTICS
(something those of us used to Fair Park Music Hall in Dallas are not accustomed to). There
were three people sitting next to me who, before the concert began, were waving and blowing
kisses to the 2nd row, 4th chair violinist. They did not speak a word of English, but using my
fractured French I found out that she was their daughter and neice and this was her debut
performance with the Symphony. They were SO proud!!!!!

Now I'm back at hotel and going to do some reading and get to bed early - got a lot on the agend
for tomorrow.