Tours, a choral blast from the past

The last time I was in Tours, France was my first time in Europe and my first international choir competition with the U of U Singers and Dr. Brady Allred. 

I remember that we were worried that we weren't even going to make it into the final round of competition, but in the end we won the Grand Prize at the 2005 Florilege Vocal de Tours, qualifying us to compete the next year in Tolosa, Spain.  It was a great experience and one for which I am still grateful.  I also remember the rough hotel that we stayed in...the Premier Classe and that there was hair in the beds, an odor that Erin Gehrig tried to Febreze away and sewage that came up from our shower drain (luckily we were able to stay in another room, no thanks to our good friends Anthony and Taylor..ha ha!)  There was nothing Premier or Classy about that place...but the city of Tours was a nice place.                                 

2005

We did a lot of waiting during the competition and weren't able to see a lot of the cute town...so Jeremy and I saw that there was  the same choral competition this past May and thought we would go and listen to some fine choirs and explore the city a little more than last time.

Jeremy is a good sport carrying around flowery bags and even being creative with they way he carries them...here, as a side shoulder bag.

Doesn't it remind you of
Beauty and the Beast?

"Tale as old as time..."

We are getting used to exploring places in the rain, it does make for some lovely photos.

The mail is delivered via bike in France, just in case you wanted to know

This reminded me of my good friend Annie, we would have eaten there but it was closed.

Now as a backpack...I think next time we are in the States we will have to invest in a proper overnight bag

Where the competition took place

My second favorite tree...my first favorite I blogged about a month or so ago...this one would be awesome to climb!

Did you know you can take panoramic shots with your iphone....I didn't, but made good use of it once Jeremy showed me.

The Tours Cathedral Organ and interior 

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As many of you know I really would love to have my own pizza brick oven in my backyard, I thought this would be a cute model and that way if I move, we could take it with us.

Tours was a fun Saturday!  Always fun to remember good times with good friends.