Two years ago, we were in Liverpool to watch Dylan and others perform and compete in the international twirling competition. This year, it was Torino, Italy, not soooo very far away, but here in Europe, so we had to go!
Sadly, Dylan didn't have such a spotlight on her this year since she and Iris didn't qualify for their duet, but they were both part of the corps competition, so worth the trip!
As much as we love the train, we opted to fly since a train trip would have taken so too many hours. And, again, I have to say it is a treat to leave the apartment, drag our carry-ons a couple of blocks and hardly think about anything but locking the door. We love our new digs.
I don't remember why we opted for a hotel instead of a holiday apartment, but the hotel was centrally located, near public transportation, in the middle of 10 little restaurants and staffed with such nice and helpful folks.
We arrived Wednesday eve and met Crissy and Dylan for dinner in their neighborhood - just local stuff but we never had a bad meal there. It is still just a little bit weird to meet up with family in a foreign place! We've done it a lot of times! - France, Italy, Spain - but it is a funny little disconnect for me.
Thursday we walked around the major places in town and found ourselves back where we started! That wasn't the last time that happened.
Friday was also a busy one for Dylan and Crissy, getting everything ready for Saturday's and Sunday's performances. Werner and I went to the modern art museum, also a treat. "Modern" did not mean contemporary, but rather most anything from about 1900 to almost now. I was spared a lot of the weirdness of very modern art that escapes my understanding. The picture below shows a painting by Josef Albers beside a needlepoint in his style. Ideas!
Saturday and Sunday were the BIG DAYS! Yes!! The Twirl Florida group performed in two categories that I will not name because I will get it wrong, but one event had lots of props and the second event did not. Each time, the girls were great and each time were awarded silver medals for their work!! Great going!! Parents, coaches and athletes were all pleased!!
We found an area with little winding narrow streets that looed a lot older than other parts.
Tuesday Crissy and Dylan met us at the Chocolate Museum but their trip was not the smoothest! They got on the subway but it just sat there, and sat there and sat there! Finally, when the other passengers got up to leave, they did too, but it's hard to know exactly what's going on when you don't speak the language! But they are enterprising folks and found the right tram to take, but it took a while. Reminded me of a time in Paris when the Metro did not run and we had a concert to attend. We ended up walking the whole way to the venue!!
The Chocolate Museum was interesting, really. Among other things, we found out we should eat chocolate every day for our health, so we were all happy. LOL.
Food was uniformly good, in nice places and little local cafeterias.
And everywhere, you could get an Aperol Spritz!
Then, before you know it, it's over! Dylan and Crissy had an ungodly early flight to catch so we had an early goodbye till the next time.
Of course, our flight home over the Alps wasn't as long and Dylan and Crissy's but pretty long - a 6-hour layover in Munich! Yow! We landed there 20° cooler than we left Torino, very welcome! Then we took the train to town and wandered the old town and had some food. The time went quickly and we were home for a late dinner.
Souvenirs? Of course!! Food, including Kellogg's Bran Flakes, no longer available in the US and never here in Germany.
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