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This is a fountain in the old part of Leonberg. |
BIT 21 May 23 2008
Well, dad and I have been having a great time so far since my last BIT, we've moved to
a few different locations. First off, we went to Leonberg and stayed there
with the Gühring Family for about a week. They have a large family and the
mom is a great cook...I think we gained a few extra pounds while there! Leonberg is a really neat
old town, everything is like stepping back in time...my dad and I walked
into town everyday just to scout out all the interesting places we could
find! Marion, the mom, put together a Bar-B-Q for her friends and family and I
put on a private concert for everyone...they had around 50 people
there and between the food and fellowship we all had a super time!
I also played at the IBC Church a few more times since my last Bit. I also played there
with Siegfried Schreiber at the kid's "AWANA" meeting twice. That was a
blast, they had over 150 kids at the first meeting and well over 300 at the
second!
Siggi also invited me to play for the monthly Men's meeting at IBC. That was
a really nice gathering. After the Men's breakfast, Siggi took us to his
home in the outskirts of the Black Forest, what a awesome area...it really
is worth spending a few weeks there just to take it all in. We went to the town next to
where he lives called Calw. It's one of the most beautiful little towns I've
visited so far!
While we were there, we visited a couple of music stores and
I got to play a variety of guitars made here in Germany...one of the Guitar
stores is owned by a guy that has a group that has toured the US and he and
his employees really liked my playing...we spent awhile just jamming before
we continued on our tour, now this is my
kind of fun...
Then on Sunday I played for the Spanish congregation and the Vineyard Cafe after
both services.
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A few more photos of old Leonberg. |
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This is our friend Johannes!
This is the old church in Sindelfingen.
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We then moved to a place in Sindelfingen for a few days
with a super couple, Johannes and Renate Weiss. They are into Penguins so I
signed their guest book with a couple of drawings of Penguins...one with a
cowboy hat on and they loved it! We also are into Penguins!
We then moved on to be with another family in the same town where we've
been
for the last 2 weeks. These folks, Shawn and Tami have a young son named
Caleb...he is a riot...he says the neatest things and he has the greatest
train sets that all have names. They have been great, Tami is a real cut up
and is always laughing at something...And Shawn is stand up comedian! We are
having the greatest time here! Both families have been wonderful. In fact we
went over to the first family, Johannes and Renate for dinner this past
week...We ate everything she prepared...no leftovers when we show up!!
On May 1st I played at an Open Stage guitar night event in Stuttgart. A
friend and his wife and daughter took my dad and I to the event and we had a
nice meal and afterwards he...an accomplished finger style guitarist, and I
had turns getting on stage and playing a few arrangements, it
was quite an experience. After an encore performance the crowd demanded,
everyone was really interested in how I play the guitar...it's always nice
talking to folks after a performance! |
Bet you can't guess which one is me! :)
These are some nice shots of the center of Calw. |
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Performing at the Open Stage at Cassiopeia. |
The restaurant, club
owner asked me to come back to put on
a full concert as the patrons really liked my style of playing. The concert
is listed in my tours section, it will be the 19th of Sept.
The worse thing was that
I got sick for a few days, fever, sore all over and not hungry...now that's when
I know I'm sick :), but I'm feeling better now. Thank God! |
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In one of the guitar shops in Calw, checking out the local gear! |
I played at the IDI Language school in Stuttgart about 2 week
ago for the students and part of the faculty. It was quite a
nice time! Afterwards I played together with one of the students that likes flamenco
style and we had a great time exchanging ideas!
Last Sunday, the family we're staying with took dad & I to visit the city of Tübingen. It's a
beautiful town and we had a wonderful time there! There's a river that runs
through the town and you can rent all types of boats from paddle boats that
move by peddling like a bike to Gondolas that are pushed along by a guy with
a really long pole, these can sit maybe a dozen people and the river was full of
boats leisurely going up and down the river with spectacular scenery on both
sides of the river.We ate at a great place
overlooking the river and afterwards we found a super ice cream store where
we attempted to try all the flavors! They have the best Ice Cream! That was a really nice day off for the
two of us. |
I am with Manfred and Nikolai from the
IDI Language school. |
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This mandolin is a beautiful example of fine German Luthery! |
I also played a concert in the city of Karlsruhe a few
days ago. It's about an hour away from Stuttgart going toward France. And
it's in the Black Forest. Our friends Johannes and Renate Weiss drove us to
and from the concert. And before we arrived at the church to set up for the
concert, we went to see the Castle
of Karlsruhe! It was really neat to see, this place is huge......I
think they must have a thousand rooms in it.
The concert was held at a Spanish church that the Pastor
had organized this concert for. The whole event went off even better than
originally planned. Lot's of interaction from the crowd and a few questions
I've never had asked before made it fun for everyone...between all the
laughing and guitar playing I was exhausted when we got back home! |
Dad & I in front of the Castle of Karlsruhe! |
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In concert at the church in Karlsruhe yesterday.
I had a chance to play this guitar at Carlos Juan's guitar shop in
Stuttgart. It is a guitar that many a renown artist has played! It's also
definitely
NOT for sale! :) |
I also played at IBC again in both
services last Sunday to promote my upcoming concert there this coming Sunday in the afternoon!
That will be my last concert there until I return to German in September I
think! l also played at a Korean church service that afternoon as well and
everyone invited my dad and I to eat with them after the service...they like
really spicy food and so do we...it was quite delicious!
On Wednesday
I had the opportunity to visit Carlos Juan's shop in Stuttgart-Botnang on Beathovonstr.
with Siggi Schreiber.
He has an amazing collection of fine and vintage guitars (both Acoustic and
Electric) for sale. He also manufactures his own acoustic guitar pickups! When I was
at his shop I got to play a guitar equipped with one of his pickups, and I
think that it has a uniquely dynamic "feel" or "air" about it for an under
saddle pickup. In short, it had a very pleasing tone and sound!
Well, I've got to go, today's my birthday and my dad is taking me out for a
tour of a really huge castle. Afterwards we'll find somewhere to have a nice
meal...I'm off to a great day...you all be blessed until my next Bit!
Take care,
Buddy |
Me and Carlos Juan in front of his shop.
Man, I'm really wiped! :) |
