Whilst this isn't a new country for me (we performed here back in 2005) it's certainly one that I haven't visited often - which is a breath of fresh air! Fresh HOT air today, as we wander around the beautiful city in temperatures approaching 30 degrees centigrade. I wonder how hot it will be under the lights tonight...Visiting Eastern European countries such as this gives us a real eye-opening as to where EU funds have been directed over the past 15 years. This isn't a political post, don't worry! However, it's useful to note how much easier it is to tour Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia since the infrastructure has been improved by central funds. Logistically, it was always a bit difficult to get about, but now it's a simple 45-minute blast down the motorway from Vienna to Bratislava (the two closest capital cities in the world, I believe) and travelling is seamless.One thing I certainly remember from our last visit is that in these smaller countries, diplomacy works on a more localised level. I'm sure it's no coincidence that both times we've been here the British Ambassador has invited us to his residence to meet local arts organisations and trade leaders. I'm always proud to think of the KS as unofficial musical ambassadors, travelling around the world lending our own brand of Britishness to local culture, and it's been so enjoyable to do that in a more official capacity over the past few days!
Whilst this isn't a new country for me (we performed here back in 2005) it's certainly one that I haven't visited often - which is a breath of fresh air! Fresh HOT air today, as we wander around the beautiful city in temperatures approaching 30 degrees centigrade. I wonder how hot it will be under the lights tonight...Visiting Eastern European countries such as this gives us a real eye-opening as to where EU funds have been directed over the past 15 years. This isn't a political post, don't worry! However, it's useful to note how much easier it is to tour Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia since the infrastructure has been improved by central funds. Logistically, it was always a bit difficult to get about, but now it's a simple 45-minute blast down the motorway from Vienna to Bratislava (the two closest capital cities in the world, I believe) and travelling is seamless.One thing I certainly remember from our last visit is that in these smaller countries, diplomacy works on a more localised level. I'm sure it's no coincidence that both times we've been here the British Ambassador has invited us to his residence to meet local arts organisations and trade leaders. I'm always proud to think of the KS as unofficial musical ambassadors, travelling around the world lending our own brand of Britishness to local culture, and it's been so enjoyable to do that in a more official capacity over the past few days!
Whilst this isn't a new country for me (we performed here back in 2005) it's certainly one that I haven't visited often - which is a breath of fresh air! Fresh HOT air today, as we wander around the beautiful city in temperatures approaching 30 degrees centigrade. I wonder how hot it will be under the lights tonight...Visiting Eastern European countries such as this gives us a real eye-opening as to where EU funds have been directed over the past 15 years. This isn't a political post, don't worry! However, it's useful to note how much easier it is to tour Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia since the infrastructure has been improved by central funds. Logistically, it was always a bit difficult to get about, but now it's a simple 45-minute blast down the motorway from Vienna to Bratislava (the two closest capital cities in the world, I believe) and travelling is seamless.One thing I certainly remember from our last visit is that in these smaller countries, diplomacy works on a more localised level. I'm sure it's no coincidence that both times we've been here the British Ambassador has invited us to his residence to meet local arts organisations and trade leaders. I'm always proud to think of the KS as unofficial musical ambassadors, travelling around the world lending our own brand of Britishness to local culture, and it's been so enjoyable to do that in a more official capacity over the past few days!
Whilst this isn't a new country for me (we performed here back in 2005) it's certainly one that I haven't visited often - which is a breath of fresh air! Fresh HOT air today, as we wander around the beautiful city in temperatures approaching 30 degrees centigrade. I wonder how hot it will be under the lights tonight...Visiting Eastern European countries such as this gives us a real eye-opening as to where EU funds have been directed over the past 15 years. This isn't a political post, don't worry! However, it's useful to note how much easier it is to tour Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia since the infrastructure has been improved by central funds. Logistically, it was always a bit difficult to get about, but now it's a simple 45-minute blast down the motorway from Vienna to Bratislava (the two closest capital cities in the world, I believe) and travelling is seamless.One thing I certainly remember from our last visit is that in these smaller countries, diplomacy works on a more localised level. I'm sure it's no coincidence that both times we've been here the British Ambassador has invited us to his residence to meet local arts organisations and trade leaders. I'm always proud to think of the KS as unofficial musical ambassadors, travelling around the world lending our own brand of Britishness to local culture, and it's been so enjoyable to do that in a more official capacity over the past few days!
Whilst this isn't a new country for me (we performed here back in 2005) it's certainly one that I haven't visited often - which is a breath of fresh air! Fresh HOT air today, as we wander around the beautiful city in temperatures approaching 30 degrees centigrade. I wonder how hot it will be under the lights tonight...Visiting Eastern European countries such as this gives us a real eye-opening as to where EU funds have been directed over the past 15 years. This isn't a political post, don't worry! However, it's useful to note how much easier it is to tour Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia since the infrastructure has been improved by central funds. Logistically, it was always a bit difficult to get about, but now it's a simple 45-minute blast down the motorway from Vienna to Bratislava (the two closest capital cities in the world, I believe) and travelling is seamless.One thing I certainly remember from our last visit is that in these smaller countries, diplomacy works on a more localised level. I'm sure it's no coincidence that both times we've been here the British Ambassador has invited us to his residence to meet local arts organisations and trade leaders. I'm always proud to think of the KS as unofficial musical ambassadors, travelling around the world lending our own brand of Britishness to local culture, and it's been so enjoyable to do that in a more official capacity over the past few days!
Whilst this isn't a new country for me (we performed here back in 2005) it's certainly one that I haven't visited often - which is a breath of fresh air! Fresh HOT air today, as we wander around the beautiful city in temperatures approaching 30 degrees centigrade. I wonder how hot it will be under the lights tonight...Visiting Eastern European countries such as this gives us a real eye-opening as to where EU funds have been directed over the past 15 years. This isn't a political post, don't worry! However, it's useful to note how much easier it is to tour Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia since the infrastructure has been improved by central funds. Logistically, it was always a bit difficult to get about, but now it's a simple 45-minute blast down the motorway from Vienna to Bratislava (the two closest capital cities in the world, I believe) and travelling is seamless.One thing I certainly remember from our last visit is that in these smaller countries, diplomacy works on a more localised level. I'm sure it's no coincidence that both times we've been here the British Ambassador has invited us to his residence to meet local arts organisations and trade leaders. I'm always proud to think of the KS as unofficial musical ambassadors, travelling around the world lending our own brand of Britishness to local culture, and it's been so enjoyable to do that in a more official capacity over the past few days!
Whilst this isn't a new country for me (we performed here back in 2005) it's certainly one that I haven't visited often - which is a breath of fresh air! Fresh HOT air today, as we wander around the beautiful city in temperatures approaching 30 degrees centigrade. I wonder how hot it will be under the lights tonight...Visiting Eastern European countries such as this gives us a real eye-opening as to where EU funds have been directed over the past 15 years. This isn't a political post, don't worry! However, it's useful to note how much easier it is to tour Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia since the infrastructure has been improved by central funds. Logistically, it was always a bit difficult to get about, but now it's a simple 45-minute blast down the motorway from Vienna to Bratislava (the two closest capital cities in the world, I believe) and travelling is seamless.One thing I certainly remember from our last visit is that in these smaller countries, diplomacy works on a more localised level. I'm sure it's no coincidence that both times we've been here the British Ambassador has invited us to his residence to meet local arts organisations and trade leaders. I'm always proud to think of the KS as unofficial musical ambassadors, travelling around the world lending our own brand of Britishness to local culture, and it's been so enjoyable to do that in a more official capacity over the past few days!
