Planes, Trains, Automobiles...and a lost bus.

Although there was a great deal of movement, and intense focus in this very short period it was really about the people that I am fortunate to have in my life at this time, and the treasured moments of this very focused trip. I hope you get a sense of the many special moments amidst a furious schedule. This is the Toronto CN tower taken from the shuttle bus on the way home! But let us begin at the beginning....











CHISWICK, LONDON .... 1st after leaving the Balkans


Ruth Waterman is a lovely, vibrant woman and a brilliant violinist who's home I stayed in while passing through London. Her playing captures my heart even with its dazzling uncomplicated virtuousity ... I highly recommend her CDs - especially the Bach Sonatas for Violin and Keyboard (Volumes 1 - 4)!













Part of Ruth's warm hospitality - a lovely walk through this park, a home cooked dinner and a chance to stumble around on her grand piano!













...love at first sight! He had soul - what can I say! ..and so he is a keeper - one of my special people and stuff.














A quiet Sunday morning.... and a classic english bridge complete with young lovers .... yup, they are there - we passed them in their own world... totally unaware of us.














what a beautiful time to visit England. Chiswick is exceedingly lovely...reminds me of a similar picture I took in Blagaj two months ago. (see emerging from the chrysalis of winter)














Native american indians had a sense of spirituality that 'soul' - or 'spirit' existed in everything and, so - must be honoured. In the busy travel of this week, Ruth's back yard provided such 'spirit' - and the moments to appreciate it.














Later that same day, I was MONTREAL, QUEBEC




Had to have the flags.... fleur de lis, maple leaf and the even the british one...


















Odd... i started to see 'spirit' everywhere....




















It was happy synchronicity that my itinerary brought me to Montreal and Tiffany who volunteered for us in Mostar last year. Tiffany helped me spend a lot of money! You can see she is pretty focused about anything she sets her mind to... which is why I ended up broke, but with GREAT sandals... and a GREAT dress... and....
















WINDSOR, ONTARIO



Early the next morning, after intense shopping and talking and dining with Tiffany in Montreal, I caught a train et voila - 8 hours later I was in WINDSOR, ONTARIO!! This was my ultimate destination where, together with my former colleague Brian Harris, I would present our work to the national conference for music therapy.



That would be Detroit as seen from the Canadian perspective - and once again a river!









Brian Harris, my colleague from Mostar - and I on our first night in Windsor - at the speakers reception. I was very anxious about our presentation the next day, but I dont think it is showing.















While planning our presentation, Brian grabbed my camera and spontaneously took this shot of me - and since he is now a professional photographer, I thought ... well, maybe it might be worth something.
















Ellen Lindau, another Canadian music therapist who had worked in Mostar prior to both Brian and I came to our presentation. So it was great to have this connection - the three of us. And yes, our presentation went very well - to a full room of interested people.











TORONTO, ONTARIO




- which is a city I was surprised to be impressed with. Old and new mix together comfortably and artfully. Everything is intentional in this city - and it shows that mankind's need for aesthetic sensitiblities were part of that. I have never experienced 'space' and 'spirit' in the overall architecture of the business centre of a large city.
















MOSTAR - again (after arriving in London one day after my announced arrival time... resulting in anxious messages around the globe that I was lost!... but there is more...)



This most amazing journey ended in an extraordinary way - a routine bus trip from Dubrovnik to Mostar ended up in a medium-high adventure through unknown territory, lost luggage - a private small auto packed with 3 confused bus drivers, (none of whom spoke english) - me and another traveller - and a curious rendezvous on the roadside with a bus that had our luggage - and my meeting with Meral Abay, an attorney from Istanbul who ended up being an overnight guest in my home... and another story...