Now that we are done with our first day, we have moved on to our second. Luckily, we finally got a night’s rest and woke up more energized than I was honestly expecting. We started off with a breakfast, which was pretty good. A good breakfast can really make a big difference in our singing and energy for the day.. The weather was very nice; there was a little rain but not too cold/warm. We got to explore Bayeux and walk around the village more throughout the day today. The village is great; they have a main street with many shops and cafes, and they have a beautiful cathedral.
Our first part of the day was singing in the cathedral for Sunday mass. The cathedral was beautiful on the inside, and the choir was able to set up and practice their singing, Anna also got to play the organ, which sounded very nice. The choir got to sing a few songs, including “Crucem Tuam,” “Adoro Te Devote,” and “Ye Sons and Daughters.” During the church service, the parish women’s choir sang, and the BC High Choir attempted to join in. The mass was pretty crowded; there were many people especially for that big of a building. Finally, the choir was able to shake the hand of the priest when we left.
Then the choir went to lunch and split up. Doctor Rozenberg was very strict on our ability to eat ice cream, so a few groups bought some pastries after their meal (Editor’s Note: a few groups also tried to buy ice cream, but the city is small, and Doctor Rozenberg is quick).. We then headed out of the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, which showed a long strip of cloth depicting the stories of Edward, Harold, and William. Edward, who was the king, had passed and Harold had taken power against the wishes of Edward, even after vowing to William that he would not take the throne. Then William, who was based in northern France, brought an army back to England and took his rightful throne back.
Then we went to the WWII Museum, where we watched a short movie and toured all the artifacts about the allies that invaded France through Normandy and Caen. We learned more about the life of the French under the German powers and the liberations of the Allied Forces. Finally, we had dinner in Bayeux, which was a creamed vegetable soup, a main course of beef with carrot (beef bourguignon) , mashed potatoes, and green beans. Finally, our dessert was ice cream (Doctor said it was okay because it was melted) and apple tart. Hopefully, tomorrow will be as productive and enjoyable as today.
BC High Concert Choir 