Sat: Leaving Groznjan, Spelunking and Meeting Home-Stays

Most everyone was still in good spirits this morning, following last night's splendid concert in Porec. There is something magical in the sense of community that follows a universal, hard-fought-for, resounding success. The getting lost, heat, strangeness of external language and long day were quickly overcome as they put on their uniforms and quietly marched off to succeed quite wonderfully. We actually had a hard time getting a few choirmembers back down enough to get to sleep, three hours after the concert! I am glad Dan is making a complete video record. You will enjoy it.

However, this morning we were going to leave Groznjan. We needed to complete final packing, have breakfast and be at the bus by 9:30. They actually did it. Watching them pack was interesting. Many quickly packed yesterday in afternoon free time in anticipation of this morning's panic exit. Some started at one end of their space and picked up each item and placed it in their packs. A few, those who took the most time, looked over the scene that was their area / pile looking for a specific item, which when found was then packed. On to the next required object..... Once the packing and clean-up were completed, the chorister was signed out and headed for breakfast. No one was late. Watching faces, I think we were all rather reluctant to leave Groznjan, this safe, beautiful, artist and musician retreat.

 "I really liked Groznjan, it was small and beautiful and friendly and was our home" --Eleia

After an hour and a half of bus singing, watching the Adriatic coast and comparing the sizes of the hilltop medieval villages, we arrived at one of Slovenia's most complex limestone caves in Skocjan. The initial formations seemed like the large water-carved caves associated with midwest rivers, then as we went deeper, huge caverns with Mammoth Cave type column formations dominated. The young people were told there would be 500 steps, with long 20% inclined paths and the whole trip of 2300M (almost a mile and a half) would take 1.5 hours. Did not seem to bother our people who explored, asked questions, and drank it all in.

As we got farther down (240 meters below the surface) and arrived in the huge caverns they were impressed that a river could accomplish such work. The largest cavern is the greatest chamber in Europe, measuring 308 M in length, 120M wide and 146 M high. Time came into view also. Formations build about a centimeter per century, some were so huge they took hundreds of thousands of years. "And it was really dark." -- Nathan

They broke into song in each of the two largest caverns. First a delicate version of "Lift Thine Eyes" was directed by Bob in Cathedral style with pauses at phrases to allow the chamber to echo and drift to silence. The performance met with applause from our fellow tour group members and grins from the choir. "Best acoustics we have had on this trip" --Teddy

In appreciation, the guide did something he was not supposed to do -- he tapped on individual stalactites each of which produced clear distinct notes, bell like. "Hey, they <u>are </u>hollow!"

In the second chamber, Ensemble performed "Esto Les Digo" which has the high soprano singing counterpoint with the choir. Listening to them bounce around that chamber at full volume, end and then have the cave respond until it drifted to absolute silence was tearfully amazing. What a way to spend a birthday.

The rest of the cave exploration was spent in the extensive chamber with the flowing, rumbling river-- 300 meters deep, nearly 250 meters across. Think Smaller Grand Canyon with a roof. Our hiking trail was carved into the canyon wall, moving from the top, down through layers until finally reaching to river. Lights were just enough to see basic structures, steam, and the abyss. Truly eerie. "Where is Gandolf" --Corina. "Is this real or a movie?" "The temperature was supposed to be cold-- just seems like San Francisco."

Corina and Erica took up the challenge of "There are 500 steps" and counted them as we moved along. They were disappointed when we reached the incline people mover at what appeared to be the end of the caves because we had only met 460 steps. Fortunately, there were more to come as we finished the crawl out of the chasm.  And the grand total was...

drum roll please...

510 steps. In honor of our Area Code in the East Bay?

We were not to take pics inside the caves. Available pics are at:

http://dheera.net/photos/thumb.php?q=europe/skocjan

Ate a packed lunch on the grass near the busses, and surprise, found ice cream. Back on the bus for the trip to Maribor, Slovenia, the city of the host choir, Carmena Slovinica, and the home stays. On the way back, Bob pulled an interesting AD (Artistic Director) maneuver. He explained that we were going into a recording session in the morning, and he wanted two things, for everyone to get a good night's sleep and for everyone to get an hours nap on the bus. "Twenty minutes to talk, sing and read, then curtains are going to be closed and all talking, reading will cease. Sleep or meditate, no exceptions." And we did. A fifty-seven person mid-day community nap in a rolling bus. Quite impressive.

We arrived on time in Maribor to the most welcome arms and smiling faces of the Slovenian home-stay parents. Suddenly we, the staff, were left with a silent empty bus. Their sudden dissapearance was unnerving. We have been so conscious of taking care to be sure all were present, that everyone was ok, then suddenly, they were gone.

Each person was taken home to a Slovenian home cooked dinner, some quiet get-to-know-you time and a welcome bed. Tomorrow is recording and the big Maribor concert in the Union Hall. Karmena Silec, the director of the Carmina Slovenica choir took our chaperones to dinner and a brief stop at the music, art and food faire being held on the river called Lent Festival (The section of Maribor near the river is the Lent district.). Saw none of our young people.  To bed.

Each day reveals more facets to these young gems. Dan is interviewing each one on several topics including how they view the music, the experience, and the creative process. Even the youngest members have fully formed views and demonstrate thorough knowledge of complex aspects and heart-felt opinions of both traditional and modern music. I suspect that silence we notice at times is filled with some serious thinking. Quite wonderful.