Sep

Traveling the World Musically

by Joyce McGreevy on September 3, 2019

The way we experience music can isolate or connect us.
© Joyce McGreevy (Public art in Evanston, IL by Jeff Zimmerman)

Harmonious Ways to Connect Across Cultures

Thanks to streaming technology, it’s easy to take music along when traveling the world. Headphones help shorten long flights, but it’s when we remove the headphones that we discover music’s true power. Mixing music with our itinerary and social interactions elevates travel experiences to whole new levels.

Oh I see: To connect across cultures, use a language we all understand—music. Here are suggestions for traveling the world musically.

Show Up and Sing!

I arrived in Montréal not knowing a soul. The next day, hundreds of my new best friends and I performed live in concert across Canada.

How did this opportunity to meet local music lovers come about? Not by auditions—there weren’t any.

I simply showed up for Choir! Choir! Choir!, a Canadian singing group led by Nobu Adilman and Daveed Goldman. “DaBu,” as they are affectionately known, travel the world hosting community choir performances.

Choir! Choir! Choir! Is a Canadian singing group that travels the world musically, connecting across cultures through community performances. (Image © 2019 Choir! Choir! Choir!)

“DaBu’s” approach is non-traditional. Just show up and they’ll teach you
an original arrangement to a song you love.
@ 2019 Choir! Choir! Choir!

In Montréal, we paid tribute to native son Leonard Cohen, live-streaming our performance of “Hallelujah” with choirs in Toronto, Vancouver, and Kingston.

To sing, sing, sing with Choir! Choir! Choir!, catch their world tour. They’ll be all over the U.S. starting this week. It’s a wonderful way to meet your neighbors, from around the corner or around the world.

See Choir! Choir! Choir! here.

Attend High Caliber Artistic Concerts—Free

From LosAngeles to London, excellent free concert series abound. In Chicago, I found a series so sublime—the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts—that you should probably just book your flight now. Photogenic architecture and free admission make this a travel trifecta.

Mark Riggleman of the International Music Foundation announces the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert, which connect musicians across cultures in Chicago. (Image © Riggleman family)

Mark Riggleman is Executive Director of the International Music Foundation, which
produces a highly popular Chicago concert series.
© Photo courtesy of the Riggleman family

“This an opportunity to hear rising talent from all over the country and around the world,” says Mark. “Our artists are all within five years of getting a degree and all are at the top of their game.”

Vetting is rigorous and performance standards are high. This is no mere recital of well-worn classical hits.

At the concert I attended, the standing ovation was rapturous for saxophonist Hyoung-Ryoul Kim and pianist Shin-Young Park. The South Korean artists had sent a thrill through the packed house with a program of contemporary works.

Musicians Shin-Young Park and Hyoung-Ryoul Kim show inspire the writer to travel the world musically. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Shin-Young Park and Hyoung-Ryoul Kim wowed the audience in Chicago.
© Joyce McGreevy

The venue, Chicago’s Cultural Center, combines incredible acoustics with turn-of-the-century splendor. Mosaic-embellished stairs lead up to Preston Bradley Hall, where the audience convenes under an architectural wonder, the world’s largest Tiffany dome.

The world’s largest Tiffany Dome at Chicago’s Cultural Center is one of the many attractions of traveling the world musically and connecting across cultures. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

At Chicago’s Cultural Center, admission is free, but the music is pure gold.
© Joyce McGreevy

The series runs year-round, Wednesdays from 12:15 to 1:00 pm. Says Mark, “It’s a short format, comfortable for people who work downtown and take a lunch hour. People in town visiting can come to the concert and go to lunch afterward.” (Tip: Meet local concert-goers at Toni Patisserie & Café.)

Reserve ahead, as seats fill quickly. Start here.

Can’t make it? Catch live radio broadcasts, watch the WFMT Facebook livestream, and subscribe to the podcast here.

Uncover Musical Secrets—in 440 Cities

One evening in London, Rafe Offer invited friends round to his flat for a low-key musical gathering. They sat on the floor listening to live music by Rafe’s friend Dave. Over time, such gatherings evolved into Sofar Sounds, a global music community that meets in unique and welcoming spaces.

A diverse audience gathers for a Sofar Sounds concert of international musicians in Montreal, Canada, proof that traveling the world musically connects cultures. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

To keep gigs intimate, tickets operate on a low-price lottery system.
© Joyce McGreevy

An element of surprise adds to the magic. The exact address of the venue is not revealed until the day before the gig. The three musical acts remain a mystery right up until the moment of performance.

Afterwards, it’s all about conversation and community building as artists and audiences mingle.

To get closer to music at home and abroad, visit SofarSounds.

Simon Denizart of Canada and Kid Be Kid of Germany performing at a Sofar Sounds concert in Montreal, Canada reflect how traveling the world musically connects cultures. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Connecting across cultures, Simon Denizart of Montréal and Kid Be Kid
of Berlin duet on keyboard.
© Joyce McGreevy

Ask, Don’t “App”

Many travelers use music-recognition apps to identify world music they overhear in public, such as on café sound systems. Apps like Shazam and SoundHound operate as audio search engines, matching a music sample to its source. It’s one way to collect a playlist for your travel memories.

Better yet, ask the friendly local who’s sitting right next to you, humming along. It’s a natural icebreaker. Keep a pen and notepad handy to circumvent any language barriers.

Be Your Own Roadie!

Do you play an instrument? Consider it your musical passport and carry it everywhere. In many countries, socializing includes sharing music. Having songs at the ready lets you contribute and connect.

Just ask Rick Chelew. “For meeting people and making new friends, my Voyage Air folding guitar is even better than a cute dog. When I’m traveling solo, it’s a great conversation-starter at parks, in pubs and outdoor cafes, even airports and bus stations.”

Rick Chelew, a musician from California in London, with his folding guitar, travels the world musically to connect across cultures. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

The guitar folds & conversations unfold: Californian Rick Chelew travels the world musically.
© Joyce McGreevy

All Together Now!

When you travel the world musically, connecting across cultures becomes likelier, because you’re literally signaling attunement. What better way to make the world a more harmonious place?

Can’t pack it? Find it! Public pianos are turning up in cities worldwide.
© Joyce McGreevy

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Crossing Cultures/The World's Music/Worldwide Sites

Aug

Wanderlust Leads to . . . Libraries?

by Joyce McGreevy on August 20, 2019

Allèe des bouquinistes, an open-air bookshop at the Grande Bibliothèque, Montréal, Canada inspires wanderlust to travel to public libraries, or library tourism, around the world. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

In Montréal, library walls open up to create book stalls in summer.
© Joyce McGreevy

A Catalog of Reasons for Travelers to Check Out the Local Library

When you travel, how often has wanderlust led you to a library?

Once—for free WiFi or a public restroom.
Never. My Kindle is all the “library” I need.
The library? Seriously? I’m on vacation!

Actually, library tourism is trending. There are stacks of reasons to add public libraries to your travel itinerary:

Cultural Experiences

Castles and cathedrals aren’t the only places for cultural discovery. One of the world’s newest libraries, Tūranga Library in Christchurch, New Zealand, is not to be missed. Even its entrance expresses whakamanuhiri, the Maori principle of hosting travelers and other visitors.

A statue of the Maori hero Tāwhaki at the Tauranga Library in Christchurch, New Zealand, inspires wanderlust to travel to public libraries, or library tourism, around the world. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

The design of Tūranga Library is based on the Maori concept of mātauranga mana whenua,
the body of knowledge that originates from the people of this place.
© Joyce McGreevy

Staircases at the Tauranga Library in Christchurch, New Zealand, inspire wanderlust to travel to public libraries, or library tourism, around the world. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

The spectacular staircases allude to Tāwhaki, a mythical being who climbs
to the heavens in a quest for knowledge.
© Joyce McGreevy

Culinary Experiences

Some of the best international dining experiences are available at libraries. The vast majority offer bargain prices and many feature organic local ingredients.

Brunch at Tūranga features chocolate rye porridge, coriander-chili infused dhal, and oat banana pancakes with candied walnuts and mango coconut foam. At libraries around the world, I’ve savored sustainably harvested seafood, vegan and gluten-free entrées, and traditional desserts—four-star feasts at one-star prices.

A collage of library cafes, coffee, café sandwiches, and a woman reading, shows why wanderlust leads travelers to public libraries, or library tourism, around the world. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Authentic local cuisine is served at libraries around the world.
© Joyce McGreevy

The Beer!

In Copenhagen, you could squeeze into pricey places where views of the canals are obscured by selfie-takers. Or, you could stroll to a café in the Black Diamond, the sparkling glass and granite extension of the Royal Danish Library. Take your cold local beer outside, relax in a beach chair, and watch the world go by as sunshine warms the waterfront.

The interior of the Black Diamond, part of Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Library, shows why wanderlust leads travelers to public libraries, or library tourism, around the world. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

The Danish Royal Library offers ancient and contemporary architecture,
a concert hall, restaurants, and art exhibits.
© Joyce McGreevy

Social Experiences—or Solitude

Library architect Carsten Auer notes, “The modern library is . . . a place where you can meet people or be ‘alone together,’ enjoying sharing a social and recreational space with others, even if you are not engaging directly with them.”

Public libraries spark conversations with locals by building in a variety of communal seating areas and by offering free concerts, workshops, craft-making stations, participatory theater, and other opportunities for interaction.

Library patrons playing with board games and puzzles at at the Tauranga Library in Christchurch, New Zealand, reflect the entertaining side of public libraries around the world. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

At many libraries, anyone can pull up a chair to enjoy board games
or a puzzle in good company.
© Joyce McGreevy

Libraries also make it easy to find peace and quiet by providing private and small-group spaces. One of the busiest libraries in North America, Montréal’s national library, or Grande Bibliothèque, offers 10,000 visitors a day an oasis of calm. When Montréal’s weather extremes drive you indoors, skip the malls and come here instead.

Public libraries’ rich spectrum of options covers everything from blissful inspiration to sheer entertainment. In Montréal, film buffs and language learners will instantly lose themselves in the multimedia treasures on offer. But if you’d rather shop, you’re in luck. The library’s gift store is superb, a mini-museum curating the best of Québecoise design.

Meanwhile, sports fans can see an exhibition on hockey, adolescents can access “teens-only” high-technology workshops, and little ones can explore play areas and storytelling alcoves. There’s something for everyone.

Library patrons at the Grande Bibliothèque, Montréal, Canada, include tourists with wanderlust to travel to public libraries, or library tourism, around the world. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

At Montréal’s inspiring Grande Bibliothèque, “Everything Is Possible.”
© Joyce McGreevy

Bonus Travel Discoveries

Many libraries are surrounded by marvelous (and free) attractions that visitors might otherwise miss. Making the quick trip by Metro to the Grande Bibliothèque also led me to the Jardins Gamelin, one of the most unusual parks in the city, and the Galerie de l’UQAM, where the contemporary art changes almost daily.

Even the library’s alley hides wonderful surprises. Glass wall panels open up to transform it into the Allée des bouquinistes, with secondhand books for sale. The alley also marks the start of the Latin Quarter’s 30-mural art trail.

A detail from a rebus mural at the Grande Bibliothèque, Montréal, Canada, shows why wanderlust leads travelers to public libraries around the world. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Can you decode this clue from a rebus mural behind a Montréal library?
(“A library” is une bibliothèque in French, and “water,” or eau in French, supplies the “o.”)
© Joyce McGreevy

Rare Art Treasures—Minus the Long Lines

Italy’s museums at peak season can make you feel like a salmon swimming upstream. But Italian libraries present frescoes, sculpture, paintings, and other feasts for the eye. In Ferrara, minutes from Bologna, the Biblioteca Ariostea is an art lover’s paradise set within a 14th-century palace. Walk right in—there’s no waiting, no need to buy tickets, no jostling crowds.

Frescoes on the walls of the Biblioteca Ariostea in Ferrara, Italy show why wanderlust leads travelers to public libraries, or library tourism, around the world. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

In Ferrara, Italy, public library rooms reveal one priceless art treasure after another.
© Joyce McGreevy

Other reasons to “bookmark” the world’s libraries include:

gorgeous travel books, images, maps, and 3-D models
state-of-the-art genealogical resources (one so user-friendly it took me 2 minutes to discover a likely ancestor)
sweeping views and beautiful gardens (many featuring native plants)

A rooftop garden at the Tauranga Library in Christchurch, New Zealand, inspires wanderlust to travel to public libraries, or library tourism, around the world. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

From rooftops to street level, library gardens and views are star attractions.
© Joyce McGreevy

Albert Einstein said, “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” Oh, I see: When wanderlust leads to libraries, travel genius can result. So can fun, friendship, and cultural insights.

No wonder library tourism is trending. Your library experiences might just transform the world into an open book. Now that’s a travel tale worth checking out.

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Literary World/Worldwide Sites

Aug

Quick! Trap a Travel Memory

by Joyce McGreevy on August 6, 2019

Travel journals are also travel keespakes that evoke your precious travel memories—the joys of the journey. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

How to Keep on Keeping Travel Keepsakes—and Still Enjoy the Trip

Keeping a travel journal is something that some people enjoy doing and some people wish they enjoyed doing. If you’re in the latter group, you probably own one or more beautifully bound journals, the sight of which filled you with travel inspiration—initially.

Then came the journey, and despite your best intentions to create a travel keepsake, your journal sputtered to a stop. Why? It’s often about how we view the travel journal—that most non-stationary of stationery objects—before and during a journey.

In the anticipatory period before departure, the blank pages of a journal are an invitation to adventure and a promise of keen observations. There will be aha moments! There will be rich descriptions!

A toy dog, a travel mascot, “writes” in his travel journals to create travel keepsakes that evoke the joys of the journey. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

But during the journey, something shifts, and you can’t keep up with keeping a journal:

The little book that seemed so charming has become a chore master. It silently berates you from the hotel nightstand for “failing” to provide a daily, in-depth account of your travels.
Or you really, truly want to record a specific travel experience—only to discover that you’re contending with clichés, grappling with grammar, or hating your handwriting. In short, you had more fun filing your taxes.

Are there easier options?

Yes, thanks to quick ‘n easy travel keepsakes that “journal” the journey as you go. Yes, you can capture a sense of place without mastering plein air painting, and you can bring home meaningful souvenirs without impacting your FICO score.

Oh, I see: The ideal travel keepsake is one that happens on the go and adds to the joy of the journey. Here are some ideas:

1. Scale back.

Did sketching the view from the Eiffel Tower prove a tad challenging? Consider making “postage stamp” art instead. In that journal you’re carrying around, divide a page for the day into small squares about an inch wide. Draw a quick sketch or trap a word that reminds you of the place or person or the feeling you had in the travel moment. These one-inch square sketches focus on a single set of the details of the day as you live them. Add the date and your location, and you have a travel keepsake that didn’t keep you from your travels.

Tiny quick-sketches in a travel journal reflect a quick and easy way to capture travel memories. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

2. Make audio postcards.

In one of the most poetic scenes of the Academy Award-winning film “Il Postino,” a postman records sounds of his village that inspire him. A quick tap of your cellphone’s voice recorder is all it takes to collect audio “postcards” of your own: a muezzin’s call to prayer in Istanbul, street music in Berlin, a lion’s roar in Botswana. Voice-recorder apps automatically tag the date and location, so just add a personal note, and send or save your audio postcard.

A bell tower in Bruges and a river in the Tongariro Forest, New Zealand suggest how audio recordings can capture travel memories. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

3. Save what you savor.

When you’re enjoying a travel moment, squirrel away a reminder. Maybe it’s a menu from a restaurant with a few tasting notes in the margins. It could also be a map section, a business card, a shopping bag, or a food label. Back at home, remember the tastes of your trip as you make a culinary collage for your kitchen. Or, along the way, spill out your treasures onto a flat surface, arrange them in an interesting way, and create a digital collage (no glue stick required!). Then:

Snap a photo of your collage.
Re-use or recycle the paper.
Voila!—a portable keepsake minus the baggage.

A digital travel collage is a clever way to trap memories and create travel keepsakes that evoke the joys of the journey. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

4. Love it? List it.

Those moments at the end of a travel day are the perfect time to sum up the day in less than 3 minutes. Keep it light and breezy. Invite your travel companions to join in, if you’d like, and collect:

an “Oh, I see” moment: Sunflowers turn their faces away from the sun!
people you’re glad you met and why: Annamieke translated the Flemish menu.
a phrase that sums up the day’s adventures or mishaps: Good thing we took the “wrong” train!
new foods you ate: brunost (Norwegian brown cheese); simit (Turkish bagel)
new words you learned: Blagodarya! (“Thank you!” Bulgaria); Comme c’est beau! (“How beautiful!” France)

Norwegian waffles with cheese, noted in a list of travel memories, become a travel keepsake that evokes the joys of the journey. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

At home, use your list to recall details: Norwegian vafler med brunost were
surprisingly nydelig (delicious). The cheese reminded me of caramel!
© Joyce McGreevy

Keep Keepsakes Simple, for Keep’s Sake!

You don’t have to be crafty or write volumes to create travel keepsakes. Just let your observations and experiences be your guide. Each time you write, draw, list, or photograph to collect a travel keepsake, you’re preserving a precious travel memory that evokes the joys of the journey.

Find out more! Consult our curated and creative list of easy-to-use apps that help you gather audio, photographic, and print keepsakes in one place and build on them from there. Also find our round-up of the best online sites, books, and classes for creating, organizing, and displaying your travel keepsakes after you’re home. Download the free PDF:

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