Piano World Home Page Forums Fun Stuff! - Parties, Tours, Projects & More... Forum Members Parties, Tours, Cruises, & Meetings European Piano Tour - See the Pictures!

You are welcome musdan and others. Might I suggest that you send your nephew the www. address at the top of the page. That way he can see the pictures. I refer people to the thread this way.

There will be a splattering of other organs in other threads too.

I know that the Bluthner tour has been posted above. Here is my little version. And a big thanks to the folks at Bluthner for giving us such a warm welcome and tour. My only regret was not being able to play at the end. I just so hate many pianos being played at the same time. It does not do the piano justice, as well as, whomever is playing. I have played Bluthners before, both uprights and grands, so enjoyed seeing members delight in playing them.

It surprised me to find some factories in newer factory buildings (thinking old Europe)- both Bluthner and Bosies. Light and airy with many parts of the factories with open doors and windows.



Greeted by an American studying at Bluthner (working. She toured with us and was taking notes for future tours.



Dr. Christian Bluthner and Frank Baxter (Mr. PianoWorld)



We were greeted at 10 in the morning with champagne (well, maybe it was 11)! Nice beginning. And shown the showroom where two very old Bluthners reside.








Then off to the lumber yard and onto the tour.

Veneers - interesting.





Sandwiched layers






Strings being wound with copper and action work.





Most important work - filing, shaving, fitting and adjusting. (some one else best narrate) They employ greatly skilled artisans.



Love the old upright cabinet design. This was just sitting there, amongst the tour! Their new uprights are beautiful to play.



Mingling and playing in the showroom.







This gorgeous hand rubbed beauty was much desired!



Thank you Dr. C

I wonder why the last two pics are not showing up - did the same routine.

I have posted a fun thread on WHAT WE HAD FOR BREAKFAST!

Not sure I need to post all the buffets here but will post a few for fun. Then if you want to see the other pics, please go over to WTF post. I know that i have FOODIES over there!!! LOL!

http://well-temperedforum.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9130004433/m/2541089816

Apparently Germans and Austrians EAT A LOT FOR BREAKFAST.

I have never seen so much food in my life as what they put out in a spread for breakfasts in Europe. And why isn't everyone fat? I saw one guy putting away what I couldn't possibly eat all day in one breakfast sitting. It was like a 5 course meal!







Then there was the whole egg thing. Scrambled, medium boiled presented on sand under cover (I thought that brilliant), and bacon, sausages (yes 's'), some kinds of potatoes etc.

The cheeses and cold cuts, sausages were great and the spreads of fruit like jams fantastic.

Cereals were usually different kinds of granola types.

OH, and mustnot forget the lox, herrin, and fresh fruits. And fresh crem (wet cheese).

Waffles, crepes, juices and champagne, and yes, strong coffee!

Gastrinomical, it was!

Pictures probably didn't show up because you exceeded the limit for any one post.

Europeans tend not to be fat because they WALK Everywhere.
Plus they don't have a/c most places. So you either walk it off or sweat it off :-)

I lost over 10lbs on the trip :-)

Oh, OK Frank!

BTW, why didn't 'I' lose 10 lbs? LOL! Other than to the PO/Customs, I walked as much as ye!

I'll post those two missing pics from Bluthner here.

(darn, not moved nor deleted...will have to try again.)

Here are the two that I think were not shown.

Hi Lilylady,

You take such great pictures with captions that tell the story - maybe photography is something you should do as a sideline.

I really enjoy "traveling" with all of you. Thanks so much.

Really great photos and stories, thanks to everybody for contributing...looks like a wonderful time.

The guy in black at Bosendorfer was Ferdinand Braeu, the Technical Director and great guy.

Also hope someone said hi to Robin, a friend from NY ( a very long time ago..she aged better than I have)

Robin was warm and friendly Eric. Engaging and entertaining. She is active on FB if you are over there. Her new book 'Waltz of the Asparagus People' just got a great review in International Piano NO.8 JULY/AUG 2011

I posted another Countryside Scene, drool, drool, drool post a couple of days ago over on Well Tempered Forum

The trip to Vienna.

http://well-temperedforum.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9130004433/m/6261051916

with a few enticing pics below.

I am finding it almost too overwhelming to post all pics at both places. Was using WTF as a test run with some pics that might not be of interest here to the piano group where I also share with my FB friends and family. I do some work with the pics (cropping, lightening etc) then need to post them on photobucket to share and then cut/paste into the post.







I am in love with the German Austrian countryside.

OMG, I just have way to many pics to share of Vienna street scenes.

I'll share several here and then suggest again that you look at the 4 posts on WTF for a complete venue.

We started out at the Habsburg or Hofburg Imperial Palace. No wonder I am confused. That is bad enough, which is it? Oh, the Habsburg dynasty at the Hofburg Palace I see. (Good thing google helps). It is wandering and spread out with additions, courtyards, and passages and way too much history. And we entered through the back gates! All pics over there...

http://well-temperedforum.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9130004433/m/1011072916

On towards the Stephenplatz. A huge walking square and off the square are many sidestreets which captured my attention. So old, such small street streets. Don't fall asleep on me!











Side streets - I was amazed at how small they seemed in relation to the buildings. They begged a walk..







In the square

And on the way out of the square, another small interesting square which featured a Greek church.

















Vienna would take a lifetime to explore.... lots more pics and areas coming.

Thanks for posting all these great pictures LL, much appreciated.
I don't think most people realized how much we were going to see and do, heck I didn't even realize how much we would get to see and do.

We have some more I'd like to get up soon. Right now we are in Orlando.

Came out last night, got up at 4:45 a.m. and drove to Titusville to watch the last shuttle launch.
Took us over 4 hours to cover the 45 miles, to watch about 10 seconds of the shuttle lifting into the sky.

Still, it was the last launch and worth the effort.

BTW, LL, if you don't mind I'd like to copy your pictures to our server so they don't get lost/deleted.

Wandering around Salzburg

The name Salzburg means "Salt Castle". It derives its name from the barges carrying salt on the Salzach River, which were subject to a toll in the 8th century, as was customary for many communities and cities on European rivers.

You own salt (a preservative) you become wealthy.

Okie Dokie

To us Salzburg means Mozart's birthplace or the Sound of Music.

I was really looking forward to this small town but was rudely awakened to the 20th century when I arrived. Busy, people, expensive but let's first enjoy the arrival and Aldstat (old town).

First peek of Festung Hohensalzburg, the city's fortress, high up on the hillside. 1077 fortress. It continued to dominate most views in the city.





The bus, of course could not go into the old town so we needed to hike.





At last a peek at the square - or at least the first one.





From where we could get a good view of the fortress.



The squares seem to have some history about building 4 churches or squares around the churches in the ctr. I can't find reference to it online to confirm but we saw them!







Loved the carillon in this church



more...

The side streets have become my favorite walks, wherever we went. That to me, feels more like the history. Where people lived their lives, walked to the markets, the churches, participated in their every day lives.







And yes the streets were crowded in old town, with the destination seeming to be Mozart's Birthplace.



Loved the colorful buildings and the high street signs hanging from wrought iron posts.



My 'artsy' shot



And there it is, right in the ctr -





Mozart was born in the midst of this chaos! 2nd and 3rd floors and maybe the 4th? All I remember was climbing a lot of tight stairways and it was hot

We stayed across the river - which had beautiful views of the city, both sides, the churches and the countryside









This one looking back over to where we were at the squares.



No, we didn't stay at the Sacher of Salzburg



but up a few streets, past another church with pleasant carillons to hear during the night and early morning!

That evening we walked past Mirabell Gardens (another thread on that which I toured at 7AM)
http://well-temperedforum.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9130004433/m/1381056816

and up to the Monk's Biergarten (another thread showed that too - spirits). All so enjoyable.

I will agree with the others, lilylady, that you take some fantastic photos! The Salzburg fortress has some stunning views so hope you will later be able to return for a visit and some photos from the top!

As a side note I would like to share.... I spent last week in the Salzburg area countryside/mountains. I highly recommend that as well. It's a very inexpensive area with lots to see and do. And during this trip I bought...and wore...my first Dirndl dress

Thank you!

I would love to return. So much more to see, everywhere! What we saw was only the tip of the iceberg, but Guenther really knew some of the best places to show us! He was a fantastic guide and such a nice person as well. I hope he had a great time too. I miss him! It was so wonderful not to have to 'think' - just to follow his lead. ;-)

Please share PM some special places that you enjoyed tnew. And the pics of your drndl dress!

While in Hamburg and not far from our hotel was the St. Michel (mi-chal) Cathedral. The largest in Hamburg. Protestant. The outside was, well, usual, tall, and brick, but oh the inside was so ethereal. It was also right across from that neat little ole restaurant which we retired to after our visit to the church.

Luckily we happened upon a rehearsal.

A few pics and then a short vid. Boy I wish others with better cameras would join in sharing the visits...

Archangel Michael slaying the devil was the theme outside.

















Yes that could mean 3 separate organs, or were some attached?

And then the short video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgH2-EbxRBE

Lilylady loved listening to the player pianos, made me want to dance-which I love to do.

Thanks again for the "tour".

For you technophiles out there- I should know these things but I don't- how do I get my pix onto this website- and alternately- can I take these pictures off this website onto a file on my computer? Many thanks!!