World Denmark Nordjylland Hobro

Niels in Europe September 2009

Meeting the people at the head office - International Federation of Chopin Societies Sep 10, 2009

Today I had breakfast (buffet) in the hotel and then left early and walked for almost an hour to get to the headquarters for the International Federation of Chopin Societies. On the way walked though a city park with beautiful vegetation. Many new buildings in this part of town showing the latest in Polish architecture. I had invited Elzbieta Artysz, the General Secretary, for lunch, but she did not think she had time. After paying our dues ($300.00US) from the Vancouver Chopin Society I had a ong chat with Elzbieta and her Assistant, Jakub Dmenski, about the tight financial climate facing arts organisations all over the World. We are still hoping to put on a three day special event in Vancouver in May 2010 to mark the anniversary of Chopin's birth 200 years ago. Some financial aid from Poland is hoped for so we can celebrate the composer's birth even though the B.C. Government grant (last year $12,000.00) is not forthcoming. After the meeting I went for lunch in a sushi restaurant - sitting outside, imagine having sushi in a city with just a couple of restaurants when you come from the "sushi capital" of the World - outside of Japan!!! It was OK but quite expensive compared to Vancouver prices. At 14:00 I was back at my hotel waiting to be picked-up for a city tour. We were eight people including the driver and the tour guide. The guide was very good and spoke excellent English and had a great sense of humour. There was a Danish couple, Solvejg and Finn Hansen, from Esbjerg along and from my hotel so we talked a lot and exchanged e-mail addresses. The tour was very interesting and we saw a lot of what is called "Old Town" and seeing the old buildings and palaces. The truth is that Warsaw was pretty well in ruins after the War and has been re-built to appear the way it was before 1940. It is a fantastic undertaking and it is hard to believe and see what has been accomplished in the last 50 years. We saw many interesting buildings and monuments and walked for over an hour though the largest park in Warsaw. In the park was the famous statue of Frederick Chopin showing the composer sitting under a willow tree blowing in the wind. It was a special moment for me to see the image of Chopin in such an artistic rendition. Also going through the old Jewish Ghetto, which is completely gone and re-built with apartment buildings, was very special and seeing the statue commemorating the thousands of Polish Jews killed by the German Nazis. The tour gave me a better idea and understanding of what the Polish people went through during the War and the brutal occupation by the Russians. After the tour I went to the main train station to reserve my seat on the train to Cracow tomorrow and then back again right through to Hamburg.