Tuesday 10JUL2007

Click here to listen to a selection from today's Jazz 2 performance in Montreux 

      

Alright,  I’m Ashleigh  Neeley, writing from the road in Europe. Okay, so the chocolate factory.  Really there is so much you miss just by talking about it! Walking out of the bus onto the pavement in front of the factory was like walking out into an ocean of this amazing smell, the chocolate smell. Delicious. We all walked inside and started the tour, learning about the beginning of the Callier chocolate brand and the Nestle brand. We learned about how the Callier family makes this amazing chocolate and we learned the difference between milk chocolate, dark chocolate and extra dark chocolate. All this was fun and all, but nothing compared to everyone’s favorite room, the tasting room. There they had platters set out of all kinds of chocolate: white, dark, extra dark, with nuts, without nuts, caramel, with sprinkles, with chocolate mousse. Everyone walked in ready to  eat a piece of everything but it all was so rich that we could only get through a few pieces before we were satisfied. We decided that they would make a fortune selling milk in there because there isn’t anything to drink. I think I ate at least 16 pieces of chocolate, more than most but I love chocolate. From there we walked by a window where you could see just a tiny bit of the factory itself. Then we ended up looking at some of the original chocolate making equipment, which looked slightly lethal, but hey, good chocolate was made with those. From there it was a trip into the gift shop and the only decision left was which box or bar of chocolate you could remember liking most.

   

Wow, this trip is so much fun. The last place that we left was Montreaux, Switzerland. I stayed in the Hotel de Famille, or Family Hotel in French. It was very nice. When we arrived, it was raining. Actually, it was pouring. But it’s all good. We got to go to the Montreaux Jazz Festival, which is sorta like the Vans Warped Tour, but in Europe. Our jazz bands performed there twice. I’m in Jazz II, so I had a lot to play. The first time we went to the festival, it was raining cats and dogs. The crowds were very good, and most were excited to listen to the music we played. The shops were great too. Maybe a little overpriced, but overall it was good. The day of our first performance, it rained. We did well and had a very good sized crowd, although most of it was made up of band parents and their families. There were a lot of concerts that some of us went to go see. The second night we were there, the Beastie Boys performed. They happen to be just about my favorite group. Okay. So I wanted to go and see them perform. I bought a ticket for 80 franks from a scalper. Turns out that my mom didn’t want me to go, so she made me sell them back. This was funny because I really didn’t want to, and on top of that, the ticket had expired, and Melinda was having the same trouble I was having with scalpers. Chick Corea and Pat Metheny played too. I saw Pat Metheny. He was absolutely amazing. He played all the music from his new album. It was great. I also met some new people. They were from a jazz band in Maryland. They asked to come see them play. I did. They were good. And I talked to them afterwards, and then they came to our performance too. Our last one was really good. We had two guest soloists, who also happen to be our tour guides. They are amazing soloists. The crowd seemed to think the same. After, Mr. J congratulated us for using our brains and paying attention during the concert, we got to run around for a bit. There were al kinds of different things happening at the festival. I had a lot of fun. We went to a castle too. It was on the other side of the lake. I kind of enjoyed it. I mean, there wasn’t really anything to look at. But it did have a lot of good photo spots and a great view of the lake and France. Fortunately for us, the rain dissipated the day we left Switzerland. Actually, that morning was really hot. But I had fun, and I know that everyone else did too.
Sincerely, 
D’J Anthony
        

    

Hola family and friends! This is Patricia Escusa keeping you up to date on what’s been going on with the kids in band lately.  The most exciting place we’ve been to thus far was most DEFINITELY Montreux. The festival grounds were right on the edge of Lake Geneva and it was so rich in culture and different kinds of people that everything couldn’t be experienced in one day. The first day the band had free time, there was a concert outside by a woman named Lisa Doby. Many students stayed to watch and as she began to play, the rain started to fall. Imagine being able to rock out to an inspiring concert in the summer rain of Switzerland. No worries, parents. No one got sick. Over the past couple of days, we also had the chance to shop at all the vendors’ stands. You could find anything from rings made of bone to funky clothes, and even clothing made from llama fur. If you ever wanted Vietnamese or Thai food in Switzerland, this was also the prime time and place. The locals in Montreux were some of the friendliest people I have ever met. One of those locals who was also a vendor, Peter Fullemann, gave some friends and I advice to just stop for one second and soak it all in. Life didn’t have to be as hectic as we make it in California. For at least one day, we learned how to feel “as free as a bird”. I know I know it sounds cheesy, but he was right. Chantal and I sat on the rocks on the shore of the lake, rolled up our pants, and stuck our feet in. Sunset on the lake is beautiful. If you ever visit it, I can tell you from experience it’s one of those places that you will truly miss until the day that you come back.