week 8

11/12 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Filmed at Jack's factory. Jack is an Irishman setting up a business to manufracture hurling sticks. Hurling is an Irish form of hockey. Hurling sticks are made of Ash trees, which are hard to come by in Ireland but plentyfull in these regions. An unusual timber bridge.


Video still: Slovak busker, Vienna, Austria.

12/12 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Got permission from the director of the orphanage across the road to film the kids. After weeks, a bridge was finally opened. As Jack confirmed for me, things take time in Slovakia.

Video still: Hungarian busker, Vienna, Austria.

13/12 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Did some more filming at Jack's.

Video still: Serbian busker, Vienna, Austria.
14/12 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Video still: busker (Asian origin), Vienna, Austria.

15/12 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-There was a fabulous concert in Sturovo by a Hungarian group called Ghymes, playing traditional style music with contemporary lyrics (so I was told, not that I understood any of it, which was a blessing this time as it made me listen to the lyrics differently. They were just like another instrument, fitting the music beautifully). The crowd clapped their hand sore after every single tune they played.
For me traditional music (and dance) are bridges that I feel very attracted to, because they allow me to absorb the essence of a culture without the need to master the language.

Video still: Romanian busker, Vienna, Austria.


16/12 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Went to Vienna as promised (to myself). Stayed with a great host in the 5th district, just around the corner from a mouthwatering market with beautiful fresh produce, cheeses, organics, asian food, fresh fish (haven't seen that for ages). As I got to the city centre I was surprised to find buskers from many eastern european countries, singing and playing with passion. No wonder it is so hard to find life music in the east.

Video still: busker (origin unknown), Vienna, Austria.

17/12 Sunday
No observation.
-Spend another great day in Vienna, listened to a wonderful free classical concert (dress rehearsal), listened and filmed more buskers, enjoyed a free organ concert in one of Vienna's churches.

Video still: Hungarian busker, Vienna, Austria.