One of my tasks this weekend is to compile a list of all the foreign countries I’ve visited in the last ten years—it’s one of the questions on a visa application I’m filling out, in addition to answering whether I’ve ever been afflicted with a dangerous mental disorder, arrested or convicted for any offense, or had skills related to firearms, explosives, nuclear matters, biological or chemical substances! (Definitely not, unless you count not wanting to stay home as a dangerous mental disorder!)

You see, my next big trip will be around Easter and I’m going to visit Russia in April! It was in 1997 that Carl and Stephen Crosier joined the Compline Choir of Seattle in their tour to Russia, while I stayed home to host a convention of the American Guild of Organists in Honolulu. So now I’m finally getting my chance to visit the baroque architecture of St Petersburg and the palaces of Moscow! Along the way, I’ll stop in Atlanta, GA for a few days to visit with Carl’s sister and brother-in-law.

Here’s my list (and bear in mind, I DO NOT travel for work!) Also, this does not include any domestic, U.S. mainland or Hawaii neighbor island travel. You’ll note also that these are all the international trips I’ve taken since starting this blog in June 2010.

Norway             08/03/2019—08/15/2019
England            07/28/2019—08/03/2019
Greece            06/18/2019—06/25/2019
England            04/03/2019—04/10/2019
Switzerland            08/21/2018—09/02/2018
England            07/21/2018—07/27/2018
Germany            07/16/2018—07/21/2018
Belgium            07/13/2018—07/16/2018
Luxembourg            07/11/2018—07/13/2018
Netherlands            07/08/2018—07/11/2018
Czech Republic            07/05/2018—07/08/2018
Austria            06/29/2018—07/05/2018
Netherlands            04/17/2018—04/21/2018
Mexico            12/21/2017—01/03/2018
Italy            08/21/2017—08/29/2017
England            07/22/2017—07/29/2017
Hungary            07/03/2017—07/06/2017
Austria            07/07/2017—07/10/2017
Czech Republic            07/10/2017—07/13/2017
Poland            07/13/2017—07/17/2017
France            08/26/2016—09/08/2016
England            07/23/2016—07/31/2016
Spain            07/17/2016—07/22/2016
France            07/14/2016—07/17/2016
Iceland            07/10/2016—07/14/2016
Ireland            07/01/2016—07/10/2016
Italy            11/06/2015—11/14/2015
Germany            06/13/2015—06/21/2015
Italy            06/20/2012—06/23/2012
Germany            06/07/2012—06/21/2012
France            07/01/2010—07/21/2010      <== this is the first one I blogged about!

The tour I’m taking is called Easy Pace Russia, and it’s being conducted by Insight Vacations under the auspices of Grand European Travel. Highlights in St. Petersburg include St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Decembrists’ Square, Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood, Catherine Palace, Petrodvorets, and the Hermitage Museum. We’ll take a high-speed train to Moscow where we’ll tour Red Square, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the grand GUM department store, and the Kremlin.

I’m happy to say that my friend Jo Ann Condry, whom I met in Italy with the Historic Organ Study Tours and who went with me to Norway, will join me on the trip.

A few days ago I was complaining about not having a project anymore since my Dueling Bach concert is over, and no sooner did I write that, Scott Fikse called to ask whether I could play in the next First Mondays concert on March 3rd at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, music from the court of Weissenfels—Handel, Bach and Krieger.

Two new organ students have started with me in the last couple of weeks; another has resumed after an absence of almost a year; and one more has resumed after a few months hiatus.

So no more complaining about having nothing to do!