Scandanavia 2002
The Band toured in Scandinavia in May 2002. With performances in Mora, Sweden; Lillehammer, Norway; Voss, Norway; and Copenhagen, Denmark. In Lillehammer, the band had a wonderful opportunity to share the performance with a Norwegian Band for people with disabilities. This wonderful experience touched many band members as they were able to share the gift of music with these talented musicians.
The bands performances allowed them to share the gift of music—a language understood by all—with a peoples who both spoke languages different from their own and possesed different cultures and histories distinct from those of the band members.
While in Norway, the Band visited a museum of Viking Ships, and a Viking Stave Church. In Stockholm, Sweden, the band visited the Vasa museum (a museum about a colonial-era naval ship which sunk in Stockholm Harbor and was recovered in the 20th century). The band also had the opportunity to view the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace in Copenhagen.
In addition to the eductional and performance aspects of the trip, the and just had fun as well. Night 7 was spent on a ferry boat that was really more like a cruise ship between Oslo and Copenhagen. The band members went to Tivoli Gardens, the oldest amusement park in the world which is located in Stockholm. Not to mention countless other individual experiences that the band members will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
This trip began the band's pattern of a biannual overseas tour. This travel pattern continues with the band's tour of New Zealand and Australia in May 2004. For more information about the Scandinavia Trip, please read the itinerary below.
The Concert Band in Voss, Norway after their Performance on Day 5
MAY 20-MAY 30, 2002
May 20, 2002 -
Day 1
Leave Band Building for O’Hare Airport, early afternoon.
American Airlines Flight #54 to Manchester, England:
- Departs Chicago 7:00 pm , Arrives Manchester, England 8:45
am + one day (May 21st)
May 21, 2002 - Day 2 - Arrive Stockholm / to
Mora,
Sweden
Finnair Flight #934: - Departs Manchester, England 10:30 am,
Arrives Stockholm, Sweden 1:50 pm .
Clear Customs and Immigration and travel by chartered motorcoach to
the Lake Region of Sweden. Upon arrival in Mora, Check-in to
the hotel. Dinner
at the hotel - Overnight Mora, Sweden - First Hotel Mora.
May
22, 2002 - Day 3 - Mora, Sweden
Full Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will
tour the area of Mora, visiting the city of Mora and Nusnass, to see
the home of the famous Dala Horse Woodcarvings (the symbol of Sweden)
and other sights of this lake district of Sweden. Afternoon at
leisure in Mora. Dinner at your hotel. Concert this evening
in Mora in the Church that dates back to the early 18th century.
May
23, 2002 - Day 4 - Lillehammer, Norway
Full Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Depart on your
chartered motorcoach for Lillehammer with overnight at Birkebeineren
Apartments. Lillehammer was the home of the 1996 Winter Olympic
Games. You will have a Tour of Olympic sites, the Ski Jumps,
Main Stadium, home of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Dinner
on your own. Concert with one of the local bands of Lillehammer.
May
24, 2002 - Day 5 - Voss, Norway (birthplace of Knute
Rockne)
Full Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Lillehammer
for a scenic drive to the Sognefjord. You will board the ferry
boat for the two (2) hour cruise on the Sognefjord. Upon your
arrival in Voss, you will check in at the hotel, the Fleischer’s
Hotel, and find Knute Rockne’s house. Dinner at the hotel. Concert
(1⁄2 hour) at Theatre in Voss.
May 25, 2002 - Day 6 -
Oslo, Norway
Full Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will
travel via Hardangervidda to Oslo. Overnight in the Scandic Hotel
in Sjolust in Oslo. Dinner on your own this evening.
May 26, 2002 -
Day 7 - Oslo, Norway - Boat Overnight to
Copenhagen, Denmark
Full Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. You will have
a city tour of Oslo with professional licensed tour guides. Visit
the Holmenkollen Ski Jump used in the Olympic Winter Games, Karl Johann
Blvd, and the Gustav Vigeland Sculpture Park. Today you will
have an opportunity to visit an excellent Norwegian Sweater Shop. Visit
the Kon Tiki Museum on the Summer Island. Afternoon free to visit
Oslo. In the late afternoon set sail for Copenhagen via the oceanic
Ferry Boat. Buffet Dinner on board with 80 choices for dinner. You
will overnight in cabins on board.
May 27, 2002 - Day 8 -
Copenhagen, Denmark
Full Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast on board the ferry boat. After
arrival, city tour of Copenhagen in the morning with professional local
guides, visiting historic landmarks of this capital city of Denmark. You
will visit the Palace, the Harbor area, and the Little Mermaid Statue. In
the afternoon, check-in at the hotel, the Hotel Richmond. Dinner
on your own. 7:00 pm concert in Catholic Church (Jesu Hjerte
Kirke) in Copenhagen.
May 28, 2002 - Day 9 - Jonkoping,
Sweden
Full Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will
travel to Tivoli Gardens, the oldest amusement park in the world. You
will have free time at the park. In the afternoon, you will depart
across the bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden to Jonkoping. Dinner
at the hotel. Overnight in Jonkoping - Scandic Hotel Portalen.
May
29, 2002 - Day 10 - Stockholm, Sweden
Full Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Copenhagen
and travel across Sweden to the beautiful city of Stockholm built on
seven (7) islands. Stockholm is known as the “Paris of
the North”. Check-in at your hotel - the Scandic Hotel
Ariadne. Evening
at leisure. Dinner on your own.
May 30, 2002 - Day 11 -
Stockholm, Sweden
Full Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Morning City
Tour with licensed tour guides visiting historic sites. You will
visit the City Hall, home of the Nobel Prize Dinner. Visit Old
Town, the Palace Courtyard and Vasa Museum. The afternoon is
a day at leisure for exploring and shopping. Farewell Dinner
this evening in the Old Town.
May 31, 2002 - Day 12 - Travel
Home
Full Scandinavian Buffet Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to
Arlanda Airport, Stockholm for your return flight home.
Finnair Flight #933 - Departs Stockholm, Sweden 8:15 am - Arrives
Manchester, England 9:40 am
American Airlines Flight #55 - Departs Manchester, England 10:55 am -
Arrives Chicago 1:15 pm
