We’ve combined three of Beryl’s “recent” posts in Beryl’s Byways to create this week’s issue. If you enter “Beryl” in the Search box on our landing page, you can find and enjoy some of her earlier posts.
Vol II, Issue 2: The Vienna Philharmonic
Posted from Ponta Delgada (Azores islands, Portugal)
March 16, 2024
Before departing from Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday, March 9th, on a re-positioning cruise to Europe that provided five interesting ports en route, it was a treat to visit Georgiana Young in her wonderful home nearby. It was also delightful to experience her professional world of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach where she is the busy and successful Vice President for Programming and Marketing. I loved meeting her delightful colleagues and having the very fortunate experience of enjoying a concert of the Vienna Philharmonic with Franz Welser-Möst, Conductor.
In a pre-show program, two musicians from the orchestra, whose passion for their music was only exceeded by their love of the orchestra itself, described a few of the characteristics of the orchestra as the following:
* The orchestra is democratically self-governed, and decisions are made by all members via a voting process.
* Musicians are required to retire at age 65. Therefore, there is a large number of “young” members, 35 of whom are women.
* The orchestra owns several instruments including four Stradivarius violins, including the one being held in the photo.
* To honor both the impressive history of this wonderful orchestra and to assure its future value, members are recruited from all over the world.
Note: As an opera aficionado, my orchestral naiveté may limit my orchestral awareness, and several other orchestras might have all or a few of those same characteristics.
Pardonez moi.
Contrasting the intimacy of the pre-show, the concert included only one, massive work, specifically Mahler’s 9th Symphony. The orchestra had premiered this work in 1912 with Bruno Walter conducting. I can’t imagine how many times this orchestra has played this work in the intervening 112 years!
The enthusiastic “bravos” revealed a particularly appreciative, knowledgeable audience. For me, it was an especially rich experience that demonstrated the power of synergy and beauty.
Interestingly, while still standing after receiving the enthusiastic applause of the audience, I was touched by how many musicians shook hands with one another. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that! They seemed to be sharing their individual pride, even gratitude, to have contributed to the magnificence of this live concert!
Now that I’ve experienced five days at sea, I look forward to the first port today, Ponta Delgada, a major island that is a part of the archipelago of the Azores. More on it later.
Vol II, Issue 3: Sea Days
Posted from Cordoba
March 26, 2024
Many cruisers dislike the necessary sea days between ports. I don’t share that perspective. For me, a port is an interruption in a cruise!
The 16-day cruise I’m currently experiencing (from March 9-25) is a good combination of five ports (each new to me!) and 11 sea days, not counting the first and last days for embarkation (which may occur as early as noon which allows the rest of the day for exploration onboard) and for disembarkation (which usually occurs before 9 a.m.).
What does one do on a sea day? Besides the obvious options of reading, watching movies, taking naps, visiting over meals, enjoying a pool or hot tub, etc., typical cruises will have a plethora of other options available every day but of special interest such as the following:
*Sports (badminton, pickle ball, basketball, putting practice, ping pong, etc.)
*Hobbies (Bridge and other card games, mahjong, knitting, etc.)
*Fitness activities from exercise machines of all types, tai chi, yoga, etc.
*Bible Study, book exchanges, quiet reading areas. A few even had libraries.
*Spa-related options such as massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, etc.
*Even quiz games such as trivia, etc.
I think of a “sea day” as a Saturday without errands or tasks. Sweet!
Vol II, Issue 4: First Two Ports of Call
Posted from Cordoba
March 26, 2024
Ponta Delgada, The Azores
An island of volcanoes which have periodically been quite active, this lovely city began in 1546. By the 19th century, it began to experience prominence because of its orange farms owned mostly by foreign merchants who became gentlemen farmers. It maintains an importance as the first of the nine islands in the archipelago of the Azores of Portugal economically and in size of population.
The two photos below show the heritage in the elegant gates to the city and the main cathedral.
Its geographic position has served as an important location over the centuries, including during World War II. Today, in an agreement with Portugal, the United States maintains a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) air base there.
While it exports pineapples, tea, wine, cereals, tobacco, vegetables and dairy products and tourism is its biggest industry, none of it is enough for most locals to depend on for work. Thus, many leave the island, especially the young in search of careers. For those who farm, an active industry, I thought it was interesting that cows stay outside all the time and milking machines are driven out to them!
I was impressed by the especially lush plants that include such flowering plants such as azalea, cala lily, and bird of paradise plus interesting trees from Japan and New Zealand.
An interesting area is called Seven Cities or “Sete Cidades” where a volcanic eruption created two lakes (one green and one blue). Fascinating!
Funchal, Madeira
The name “Funchal” was given to the area by the first settlers in the 16th century because of the abundant wild fennel that grew there. It became a stop-over location for explorers traveling to the New World. Christopher Columbus was one example! Wealthy merchant families began to establish commercial centers on the island which advanced its importance. The sugar cane industry, which is still active today, is one example. We visited one that makes rum and had a taste of the potent beverage.
As settlers moved in to work in the businesses, churches were built, including the Sé Cathedral that began in 1493.
An especially interesting part of the history was the reality that pirates did not limit their attacks to ships, including “privateers” who were hired by their monarchs. Islanders ever found creative ways to protect themselves from pirates, including forts.
I’m reminded of the Willie Sutton story who, when asked why he robbed banks, responded that it was because that’s where the money was!
Travel can be such an education!
To focus on the obvious wine of Madeira, which may be what most of us know about the island, two items of note:
• I remember teaching the Shakespearean play, Richard III who had someone killed by drowning in a vat of Madeira.
• The local drink is called Poncha that combines rum or brandy from sugar cane, honey and lemon. It’s delicious and reminds me of the national drink of Chile (and Peru?) that is called Pisco Sour.
Madeira has been a favorite location for vacationers especially during the Festival of Flowers and for its special celebrations during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Two notable “vacationers” include Winston Churchill, who did some of his painting there and also the Empress of Austria-Hungary, Elizabeth, also called “Sisi”.
A highlight of a tour of the island was a statue of Mary, as seen through the fog in this photo. If I understood the tour guide accurately, it was erected in 1927 in gratitude for Mary’s protection from the Germans during World War I.
Yes, “World War I”!
The photo also demonstrates how quickly the weather can change. This area was sunny just before it became cloudy. The classic suggestion, “If you don’t like the weather now, wait a few minutes” would work here.
Like Ponta Delgada and other parts of Portugal, Madeira is mostly Catholic. The simplicity of the Sé Cathedral may have a message, but I’m not choosing to suggest what it is. It was built to commemorate a victory that happened on the feast of Saint Catherine. So, the cathedral was dedicated to her.
It was commissioned to be enlarged in 1552 on the remains of an earlier structure. Construction of the church began in 1562, and the cathedral was completed in 1619.
As with other islands, many of the trees and plants came from other areas that also carry the history of the island in their presence. Plants and/or trees came from as far away as Australia. The list of plants includes blueberry bushes, bananas, avocadoes, Japanese plums, sugar cane (as mentioned earlier), gorse (which reminded me of Ireland), eucalyptus, mimosa, heather (3 different kinds) and stately laurel trees.
Considered the Garden of the Atlantic, one especially unique plant in Madeira is called the “swan flower” because of its raised, curved stalk that resembles the neck of a swan.
Three other interesting items I learned:
• Madeira was used to toast the establishment of America in 1776!
• Football (aka “soccer”) is a big sport here. One of the best players of the game, Cristiano Ronaldo, is a native son. Tour Guides sing his praises and encourage a visit to the museum that honors him here.
• Given the hilly terrain, it is said that there are only two turns in Madeira: one to the left and one to the right! They definitely also enjoy a sense of humor!
Tomorrow is Casablanca. More on that in my next issue.
Beryl, Adventurer
Beryl will be teaching a two-session face-to-face class called “Adventures: Challenges and Returns” at Lake Magdalene Church starting on September 17. You can learn more about it in our online catalog and register for it here.
Beryl B. Byles, MBA University of Dallas, worked as an Executive Coach, specializing in leadership development for senior executives in large corporations, CEO’s of small to mid-sized companies and leaders of non-profit enterprises, challenging and supporting her clients in making growth-oriented choices. She wrote a professional memoir called Authentic Leadership: An Inside Job.
Beryl exemplifies the spirit of OLLI-USF.
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