BocelliOnline

[Carole]

Hello all,
I know you're all just waiting there with baited breath for my review of the show, so here it is, and 2 days early, at that!! Let me say that Riverdance was just GRAND!! "GRAND"....my new favorite word. Used here in Ireland to describe, say, a nice meal, or the best thing that ever happened to you in your entire life. An all purpose word that's just lovely...another of their favorite words!! For those of you who were expecting something other than a Riverdance review, than carry on as you were. If the rest of you are just bored out of your minds, since no Bocelli reviews are coming in, feel free to read on!! First of all, here's a link to the theater the show/concert was in. http://www.gaietytheatre.ie/ There are just a couple tiny pictures there, but I'm putting the link mostly for Carolyn (if you're still here), because I want to see if it reminds you of another theater we were at once. Not quite as GRAND, but lovely nonetheless. Probably seats about 1,000 people. Let me tell you, if you think we Bocelli fans are loud after OFT finishes a number, you ain't heard nothing like the whooping and hollerin' of a theater filled with Irish men and women during a Riverdance concert!! I'm not sure I have my hearing back yet. Yet I do think we Americans were repesented fairly well when the fantastic African/American men took the stage and had a dance off with the Riverdancing guys! You know, when you think about it, the Riverdancers are sort of like the Andrea Bocellis of the dance world. They're spectacular at what they do, and yet most of the time they're doing it while making no hand gestures or facial grimaces. Did I say spectacular?? Make that GRAND!! This is just another thing I have to thank Andrea Bocelli for. If he hadn't sent me packing for Ireland to see him (boo-hoo), I'd never have seen true Irish dancers while in Ireland. I'd never know there was such a thing as electric bagpipes (though they're called Uilleann pipes, and I wouldn't know that, either), nor would I know that sometimes they make an Irish guy as handsome as an Italian guy. I would have sworn the lead dancer was an Italian stud, and if I hadn't read that his name is Padraic Moyles, I'd still be thinking it. I even had the pleasure of listening to a baritone. He was superb, and in his biography, I found out that he's played several of our favorite opera roles, including Scarpia in Tosca. If anyone wants to look him up (okay, now I'm getting carried away), his name is Ralph Cato. It was a beautiful night, and truly has helped to ease the pain of not seeing Andrea in 2 days.
Now for my pre-concert dinner tale. I know it's not much, but after dinner, I kept chuckling whenever I thought of it. I went to a cozy Italian restaurant, called Boca. I'd eaten there a couple days ago, and already knew I'd like the food, but that wasn't the fun part. I was only sitting there a couple minutes when this family came in. It was an American woman with her Irish husband, and his British father, and the couple's adopted (and adorable) 3 year old daughter. So, there I am in an Italian restaurant in Ireland, with this multi-cultural family next to me, and what does the daughter order.....MATZO BALLS!! Needless to say, they didn't have them, but when she opened her mouth and said this, I almost spit out my wine (oh yes, I needed plenty of wine this trip. Hey, I had pain to ease!!! I can honestly say I didn't get tipsy, though. I didn't have Bob here to pick me up!!) Now, you gals don't find this dinner experience unusual, then you travel way more than me!! Even better to me was, when mama said, "Charlotte, put on your bib"...Charlotte said, "I don't want my bib on", and when mama said, "Charlotte put your shoes back on"...Charlotte said, " I don't want to wear my shoes", and when mama said, "Charlotte, use your inside voice"...Charlotte got twice as loud. Took care of my missing Gabi right there and then!!!
On my way back to the hotel from the theater, people were literally lined up to get into the many, many pubs. Including the one right on my corner, called the HAIRY LEMON! I didn't stop in, because what's a woman alone, who even doesn't drink Guiness, going to do in a pub at night, other than get in trouble. So, here I am back in the business office, and on my way to bed.
I know this was no Bocelli review, but I hope some of you will have found it just grand!
Ciao from Ireland, Carole

[Zingare]

GRAND review Carole, simply smashing! Are you able to stay in Ireland and use your concert tickets later in the month????

[Anna in NY]

Dear Carole,
Talk about turning lemons into lemonade! (Complete with a "Hairy Lemon" at that!". ) It sounds like you did indeed have a GRAND TIME! I have a friend who plays in a well known, all women Irish group called "Cherish the Ladies." Whenever I see them play, I'm just so taken with the livliness of the audience. If that is the case here in America, I can only imagine the intensity of feeling displayed in Ireland itself!
Your story about the family at the restaurant gave me a much needed smile today. Thank you!
Hopefully, Andrea will be feeling much better very soon. Will you be able to make the rescheduled dates? Bless you for your cheerfulness despite such disappointment! And thank you for taking the time to write about your visit in Ireland. I hope that the rest of your journey brings you many happy moments.
Buona Fortuna!
Anna
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Beddu Turridu !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joan]

Hi Carole,
Glad you enjoyed Riverdance - I know it's not Bocelli but it is a great show. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Dublin despite your disappointment.
Have a safe trip home.
Kind Regards, Joan.

[Lindy]

Thank you, Carole, for a colorful post! I truly enjoyed it! I would love to hear more, especially since I'm Scottish, Irish, English and Jewish! I'm a Heinz 57, here.
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Lindy :)

[Carole]

I'm back now from Ireland, and I'm sorry to say that I couldn't stay there, nor could I return for the postponed concert. I returned my ticket for a refund right at the ticketmaster office in Dublin, and one happy fan will be thrilled, because it was the first row, dead center. They say things happen for a reason, but I'm still trying to figure out the reason for this one. I guess it's for me to learn a valuable lesson, that if I'm going to follow Bocelli, I should plan to arrive only a day before the concert, so if he cancels, I'll also have time to do the same. Live and learn, huh?

[Lindy]

Hopefully you will have another chance real soon, Carole.


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Lindy :)

[diadhuit]

I would do absolutely anything to go the my homeland. I'm 100% Irish, and learning gaelic...but how am I supposed to use it here?!