Zippity Zurich

Oh my! I thought I’d have a little more time (and more internet access) on my travels to update this blog with better regularity, but it’s amazing how full a day gets with train rides and shows, tasting the local foods & beers and visiting with my hosts. I can’t believe it’s only five more days here before I fly back!!

Okay, so for now I’m going to have to sum it up by saying, I’m having an *awesome* time here in Europe!! (Yikes, not even time to pick a more inventive adjective!) Yes, the reception to my music has been amazing! I have been meeting lots of groovy new people along the way. Now it’s the final leg of the tour, tonight is show two of four here in Zurich… then Monday back to Germany for the final show in Dusseldorf. Wednesday I head back to Canada, and then I sort through my millions of photos and tour stories!!

Bordeaux – Part Deux

My first house concert in Europe! Last night was magical, super warm! Everyone clapping & snapping fingers, and singing along – lots of singing! I was totally touched by the reception to mes chansons… et moi – la chanteuse anglaise de Canada, oui!

And with much encouragement, I introduced my songs in the best french that I could. After three days of solid french immersion here in France, though, I have to admit my brain is getting a bit foggy. This lead to the amusing vocabulary mix-up of “renard” (fox) and “canard” (duck) in the retelling of the story of “Chicken Little” before my song “Even Though The Sky Was Falling”. Imagine that crafty duck enticing little Chicken Little into his den…

Then there was the goose bump moment of the night: I discovered that the ending of “Be My Girl” lends itself quite well to french: “Tout l’amour que nous aurons. Tout l’amour que nous pourrons. Tout l’amour que nous desirerons.” My first (partially) french song! And magnificent to have a room full of people singing with me. C’etais magnifique quand tous les personnes chanter avec moi au dernier du chanson!

With my visit to Bordeaux coming to an end, I definitely have to make special mention of my AMAZING hosts… Bruno et Christel DeJean. They have embraced me like family, including introducing me to the wonders of Caneles de Bordeaux and other specialties of the region. Merci, merci Beaucoup! xo

Now a final day to relax here in Bordeaux… we’re off to take a walk around the neighbourhood. Tomorrow I board the train to go to Nijmegen – I’m told it’s the oldest city in The Netherlands! Can’t wait to see what adventures await me there!

Les Rues du Bordeaux

Bordeaux! C’est une ville tres beau! Yesterday before my show, I spent the afternoon wandering through the cobblestone streets of downtown. This is a beautiful old city, wow. Built for horses and pedestrians, long before the advent of the car. The streets are soooo narrow that in some places you can practically touch buildings on either side of the street at the same time!

This is “Rue du Soleil”… believe it or not, people drive down this street!

It must be the Belgian beer…

Just had an awesome hang out with my Brussels’ host (Frédéric Becker… rocks!): drinking assorted Belgian beer and talking assorted politics about Belgium, the world, Occupy Movement and matters of the arts. Afterwards we went on a brief tour through the old parts of the city, the awe-inspiring Grand Place, the steps of La Bourse, the Tin-tin murals. I even got to see Brussel’s pride and joy: the little peeing boy (aka Manneken Pis.)

Day One: Brussels!

Good morning, Brussels! Feeling oh so wide awake after 15+ hours in transit.

Dates added to my European Tour

New Shows added in Zurich, Dusseldorf & Koln!

Here’s the complete itinerary:

11/18 (Fri) BORDEAUX, FR – LE SEPT
11/19 (Sat) BORDEAUX, FR – Private House Concert
11/22 (Tue) NIJMEGEN, NL – RAMBLE ON TUESDAY @ CAFE TRIANON
11/23 (Wed) POTSDAM, DE – CAFE RUCKHOLZ
11/25 (Fri) ZWOLLE, NL – KRINGLOOP SESSION **SOLD OUT**
11/26 (Sat) SOLINGEN, DE – TOM BOMBADIL
11/27 (Sun) KOLN, DE – CHATTANOOGA *With Ende November*
12/01 (Thu) ZURICH, CH – MY PLACE (Design & Coffee Shop)
12/02 (Fri) ZURICH, CH – KAFI fürDICH
12/04 (Sun) ZURICH, CH – SISU kahvi ja kalja *afternoon show*
12/04 (Sun) ZURICH, CH – BAR ROSSI *evening show*
12/05 (Mon) DUSSELDORF, DE – Where The Birds Fly House Concert Series

See my tour dates page for full details.

New photos posted

Added a few more live shots of my Cross Canada train shows on my photo page, as well as one of me sporting a moustache in honour of Movember in the candid shots. Click on “Karyn-live” and “Candid Shots” to watch the slide shows.