And now:perduta

and I thought I was getting lost in *Miami*.. Bwahahahaha!

Fortuna (a note from Venice)

There is something I just can't explain about my past few days. It's hard to believe my luck and the way things happened;
After lots of difficult time trying to find proper accommodation, I actually landed on a wonderful little boutique hotel in Paris; welcoming and warm (yet with WiFi!). Once I feel good with my surroundings, it's not very difficult for me to be happy and do a good job singing.
The concert went very well and the dinner afterwards with Maestro and his fascinating friends, was just a great ending to what I can only describe as "La Folle journee". (Flying from New York, being sick, having lots of good friends I wanted and needed to see, go to rehearsal and do the concert. All with no time to breathe).
But what came next was really strange:
I took a taxi to the airport, where I met a very nice Italian gentleman who offered to drive me into the port in Venice where I'd take the boat.
On the boat, I asked the guy who was sitting next to me where I should get off for La Fenice. Turns out, he was going there too; he sings the "officer" in my production! (what are the chances!).
We got off the boat and he kindly helped to wheel my big suitcase directly to La Fenice (I would have NEVER managed to either find the place nor get there by myself, bridges and stairs to cross, with 2 cases and a bag!).
Then a charming restaurant owner asked to help, and pointed out my address; Across from the theater!
Then a lovely guy came downstairs and helped with my suitcases into his apartment (which he agreed to sublet while going away), which could not,( I repeat: could not) be more perfect! We became friends instantly (and strangely enough, a lot of his stuff is EXACTLY what I own on the other side of the world...like clay dishes from Jaffa , little glass lamps, and so!).
After a wonderful dinner (at a restaurant only a local would know to recommend!) ,I had a very good night sleep and as I am writing this, my favorite symbol of Venice; The winged lion, is watching me from right outside the window.

Subway time

Yesterday I discovered my favorite way to pass time on the Subway (so far , it has been listening to my ipod), but last night I really had a quick 35 minute lucky trip:
I had a pair of identical twins sitting right across from me, so I could play: "find the differences"!
Lucky they got off a stop earlier, otherwise I would have stayed on the train way passed mine...

Back quickly

The celebrations of Fallas in Valencia have kept me from sleeping for a while, with large explosions (not a great source of pleasure for anybody raised in the Middle East) and constant fireworks and the entire Spanish population rejoicing at the sound of noise, mainly. (but there were also lovely parades with pretty good bands and wonderfully traditionally dressed people celebrating; Block parties with live music and dancing, and all kinds of happenings 24 hours a day).
Now, back home, a big cold landed on my head and I am snotty and sinussy and miserable, since I only have 3 days until I return to Europe.
I could have stayed there, of course, and save my self the trip and the money and the double jet lag, but hey; Girl gotta get home. Husband, best friends and urgent errands, (like getting a work visa for my next trip and finishing up with tax) are the main 3 reasons. Then there's change of (some) suitcase content, and being in my own bed, in my favorite apartment in my favorite city.
I made sure that my hotel in Paris will have WiFi and so will (cross your fingers for me) the one apartment with Internet connection I finally managed to pin down in Venice.
So more to come from back there.

Rambling

Am packing again. Some objects, I noticed, have not left my suitcase for the past half a year. like my black high heels; It's one of those things that come handy no matter where you are or which season it might be; There will always be some kind of a fancy dinner or opening night gala or an event where my boots just won't do.
So those few permanent items;I just gave up on taking them out of the bag and putting them back in. They now officially reside in my big 4 wheel Samsonite. (travelers: I can not recommend enough that you go and buy one of these 4 wheelers; Best thing ever for small European sidewalks and crowded airports, as they wheel sideways as well).
At any rate; I still have 3 more days here, and I am already panicking in happiness about the day I leave. As much as I enjoyed Valencia and I could actually be very happy to come back,(some of the things I liked here, are the amazing fresh seafood, the great wine, a few very friendly and nice people around, a fantastic "sea-world" right around the corner, and some cool looking streets in the center), I have to be frank and say that I am SO THROUGH with this whole Spanish "dinner at 10PM" thing (well, our Nozze opened at 8:30PM, mamma mia; This meant that most of OUR dinners started no earlier than ONE THIRTY AY AM!). Hello: I am a freaking MORNING PERSON! I wake up when there are birds out, and sun, also cars trucks and some people on the street. I can't do the usual opera singer "sleep till 1". What a drag.
So all I am saying is: I would be so grateful to be supper-ing at 7 and going to bed at midnight and oh, singing a role where I am treated mostly nicer than a little tiny screw in their 'build it your self ' machine called cast. I think I am over that too. I like to wear skirts on stage and pretend I am an important woman. How wrong's that?

hear hear.

I have learnt that sometimes, your talent of performance has nothing to do with whether you'd be liked or supported by the very same people who have chosen to work with you or hire you in the first place.
Here are some of what you might encounter : Women who'll hate you cuz you are pretty or cuz you have a big personality, or big hair, or cuz you might be younger. Gay men who'll hate you cuz you are a woman. (yes, imagine, this exists too!). Straight men who'll hate you cuz you didn't go to bed with them. Nazzi's who'll hate you cuz you're a jew. And then there will be people who simply will hate you because. Cuz you've got a mole, or freckles or you are simply damn annoying to them.
Live with it and know that it's OK. Keep your friends and family and support circle very closely to you so when you are hated by the *&^$ that rule your career, you can always remember that's all it is.