Stop #8: Monaco

 

Editor's Note: Due to Internet issues we have not been able to publish this post for a few days. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Greetings from Monaco!

A view over the main port of Monaco

A view over the main port of Monaco

The Dins arrived in Monaco on June 24th, and were immediately welcomed by our very own member's (Jacques Berguig) family! We then settled into bed at the beautiful Fairmont Monte Carlo, strategically located on the waterfront as well as the main road that serves as one of the hardest turns during the Grand Prix.

Tired Dins arriving in Monaco from Luxembourg

Tired Dins arriving in Monaco from Luxembourg

During our first full day, the Dins had some relaxing time at the rooftop pool before heading to Jacques' apartment to rehearse. Our first gig was then at the Monte Carlo Bar, where we were served a delicious dinner in endless small courses in exchange for intermittently performing. That night, the Dins then headed to La Rascasse for drinks and a good time with a few of Jacques' high school and family friends.

A very nice Lamborghini parked outside our hotel

A very nice Lamborghini parked outside our hotel

The next morning and early afternoon was just as uneventful, with even more pool lounging! At night, the Dins sang at the famous Café de Paris, which is situated directly in front of the grand Monte Carlo Casino. On our way over, we spotted a black Lamborghini Aventador with a lime green trim—a beautiful car meant for beautiful people, hence why the Dins were not driving it! After the performance, a few Dins gathered aboard the 220' Oasis yacht to celebrate a successful Monaco leg of our trip. (We were invited on board by a few friends that we met at the Fairmont and our various performances.)

Posing at the Monaco Yacht Club

Posing at the Monaco Yacht Club

The following morning, a couple Dins went up to the royal palace to explore and potentially fall in love with Princess Charlotte. Then later in the evening, the Dins sang at the Yacht Club de Monaco, where we had the pleasure of performing for the former Reagan-era Canadian Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, on top of other distinguished guests from the Consulate of Monaco in Boston. Our many thanks to Consul General Mrs. Rina Spence for helping us organize this performance.

A few Dins out exploring the what the small country has to offer

A few Dins out exploring the what the small country has to offer

The Dins now have a few days to explore the world in smaller groups before reconvening in Osaka, Japan. Our destinations range from Seoul, South Korea to Saint-Tropez, France, and we look forward to keeping you all updated on our travels through Asia in the coming month! Until then, take care.

Matt Barber #222

Harvard '16, Underwater Basket Weaving

Bikini Bottom, CA

Stops #6 and #7: Paris and Luxembourg

Editor's Note: These two stops are combined because our Luxembourg stop, intended to be two days, was shortened to just one.

Paris

Getting ready for our gig in the Travellers Club on the Champs Élysées

Getting ready for our gig in the Travellers Club on the Champs Élysées

Bonjour from Paris, the sixth stop on the Dins’ tour and third to last in Europe. For many of the Dins, Paris was a city of legend, seen in movies (like Ratatouille of course) and read about in books, but only a select few of us had actually been before. And of course, the beautiful city of Paris, rich with history, grand architecture, and very good escargot, did not disappoint.

We left Strasbourg early on the morning of the 18th, and after two separate train transfers and some pretty good Turkish food, we crept into Paris on a regional line train from Belfort, France. We hit the ground running, or rather, quickly walking while dragging 40 lbs of luggage behind as soon as we set foot on the Parisian soil. While it was late in the evening by the time we arrived and therefore we traveled almost directly to our home stays, we couldn’t help but to be enchanted by the lights and sounds of the city. And while wide-eyed we stood outside the Paris Est station, we knew to continue our travels out to our homes in Pont du Sevres and Gif-sur-Yvette to rest up for the coming days of tourism and singing ahead.

In front of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral

In front of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral

Four of us stayed with Florence Courtinat and her family, a lovely French and English family who hosted Dins (including myself) on our last tour of Paris. On the metro out to Pont Du Sevres, we were all reminded of the Euro Cup events taking place in France by the packed train cars of screaming and chanting fans. When we arrived in Sevres we were greeted with open arms, peanuts, chips, and of course, an ice-cold beer. It was nice to kick our feet up for a little and catch up with a an old friend before taking part in what can only be described as a classic French dinner of duck confit and potatoes, cheese and crackers, salad, wine, pastries, and three hours worth of conversation ranging from Donald Trump and Brexit to world travel. It was an amazing experience for the four of us, but it was merely the beginning of what would be a great stay in Paris.

Watching the Euro 2016 game between France and Switzerland in the Eiffel Tower Fan Zone

Watching the Euro 2016 game between France and Switzerland in the Eiffel Tower Fan Zone

The next day, our day off in the city, began with a nice brunch of Croque madame and escargot and ended, 15 miles later, in the fan zone beneath the Eiffel Tower. We walked all over Paris and down the Seine, stopping on the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower, the Esplanade des Invalidesand the Louvre along the way. It was exciting to take to the city on foot and cover so much ground in one day, but for me, an avid futbol fan, watching France play Switzerland on a giant screen with tens of thousands of French men and women was the highlight of the day…oh and as mentioned above…it happened to be right in front of the Eiffel tower.

Some Dins posing by beautiful columns of colored marble at Versailles

Some Dins posing by beautiful columns of colored marble at Versailles

The rest of the group spent their day walking around the gardens of Versailles, taking in the picturesque views and immense grounds (and somehow running into fellow Harvard students) before heading to Notre Dame in the afternoon. It was an exhausting day for us all but was well worth it for the sights seen and the meals eaten.  The next day we woke up to none other than…rain…a common theme here in Paris, which is experiencing record levels of rainfall and flooding throughout the city. With our performance at the Traveller’s Club that evening it made for the perfect day to visit the Louvre and stay indoors. We reconvened at 6:00pm in an elegant room on the second floor of the Traveller’s Club, a private club on the Champs Elysées through which the Harvard Club hosts the Dins. Our concert consisted of three sets of songs, in between which we were given the opportunity to mingle with members of the Harvard Club of Paris, fellow students from the college, and other guests. After the concert many of the Dins met up with friends new and old for a quiet and relaxing night on the town.

By one of the Louvre's famous pyramids

By one of the Louvre's famous pyramids

Our next and last day in Paris will be one that I never forget, for we, for the second tour in a row, had the honor of performing with Anaiki, an all male Basque choir based in Paris. Leading up to the concert many of the Dins went to the Musée D’Orsay while others took the day off, reading and relaxing before the big night ahead.

The factory-like decor of Notre Dame du Travail

The factory-like decor of Notre Dame du Travail

We arrived at 6 PM at the Church of Notre Dame du Travail, a magnificent church made from the scrap metal of the Eiffel Tower. The narthex stretched high into the sky, supported by metal beams. It was almost like singing in a factory turned church. The Basque choir Anaiki is well known around Paris, and it being the Fete De La Musique, the church was filled to the brim with hundreds of people of all ages. The two choirs before us mesmerized the audience, and were tough acts to follow, but although the Dins sing in a very different style, we were well received by the audience.

At Le Petit Journal Montparnasse after the gig with Anaiki

At Le Petit Journal Montparnasse after the gig with Anaiki

The real fun began after the concert, though, when the Basque choirs took us out to Le Petit Journal, a famous jazz club in Paris. When there was a break in the action following a spot on performance by a Louis Armstrong impersonator, the men and women of the Basque families rose their glasses…and voices…for a song of their own. It wasn’t long before the Dins were called up onto the stage for two of our very own songs, after which the Basque song, food, and sangria carried us to the end of the night.

We arose early this morning to catch a train to Luxembourg. And while sad to be leaving, we all are thrilled to have had such an enchanting four days in the city of Paris. And so until next time, Au Revoir.

Will Jaroszewicz #228

Luxembourg

Dins in tails on our way to the Cercle Munster for a great dinner gig

Dins in tails on our way to the Cercle Munster for a great dinner gig

After a great time in Paris, we took an early morning train to Luxembourg to enjoy our shortest tour stop! With only one night in the city, we made sure to go on the eve of National Day to experience the country during one of its most exciting times!

Eating dinner and relaxing at Cercle Munster

Eating dinner and relaxing at Cercle Munster

That evening, we performed at Cercle Munster, a club located in the center of Luxembourg. Throughout the night, we sang for club members and distinguished guests in between a delicious five-course meal. Billy Cox’s mom, Jocelyn, made an impromptu stop to see Billy on her birthday. Luckily, she was invited into the club watch us perform, and of course we sang Happy Birthday for our very special guest!

Hundreds of revelers were out on the streets to celebrate National Day after the fireworks display

Hundreds of revelers were out on the streets to celebrate National Day after the fireworks display

Right after our performance, we rushed to watch a fantastic fireworks display alongside cheering Luxembourgers. We were also able to meet up with Din alum Ari Peña, sharing stories about past Din tours and our longstanding tradition of coming to celebrate Luxembourg National Day. We then headed to the city center to enjoy the rest of the night by showing off our amazing dance skills. While Luxembourg seems like a fleeting memory, we had such a great time performing and celebrating!

Daniel Giebisch #238

Stop #5: Strasbourg, France

Dins posing outside of a building in the small village of Hunawihr

Dins posing outside of a building in the small village of Hunawihr

Hello, everyone! The Dins are currently in transit to Paris from Strasbourg, and we have had a fantastic time here. In just four short days, we performed at pool parties, middle schools, conservatories, and pubs, and saw monuments, cathedrals, castles, and vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see. Strasbourg is a very unique city, located just west of the French-German border in the northern part of the country. It is in the historic region of Alsace, a place with its own culture and even its own language that is neither entirely French nor German. Strasbourg, captured by Germany during World War II and returned to the French in December 1944, was later selected to be the seat of the Council of Europe because of its strategic location. It also boasts the headquarters of the European Parliament and is home to a very large community of diplomats who work together to keep the European Union stable. Independently it is the site of a massive Gothic sandstone cathedral that was the world’s tallest building for 250 years until 1874. Our time here was appropriately steeped in history, but we took time to enjoy ourselves in the present as well.

The majestic cathedral of Strasbourg dominates the city

The majestic cathedral of Strasbourg dominates the city

Our first day in Strasbourg was an early morning. We woke up in Wohlen, Switzerland bleary-eyed for a very early train out of Zürich. Traveling to the central Wohlen station with our student hosts, we bade them goodbye and began traveling through the region bordering France, Switzerland, and Germany. It was not very long, perhaps three hours, until we arrived at the Strasbourg train station. Before we went into the city, though, we were invited to a pool party in a nearby village graciously hosted by Luther L. Weathers III and his partner Jacky Freiss. The two manage a wonderful farm house owned by Jacky’s family for generations, and they have decorated it beautifully. After an excellent luncheon of only the finest Southern-style barbecued ribs and pommes frites washed down with the local Crémant d’Alsace, some swimming in the heated pool, and of course a few songs, it was time to head out again. We traveled by tram into the city center of Strasbourg and re-convened with our hosts at the home of Molly Tennis, president of an expat group called Americans in Alsace. This house was to become a central meeting point for all occasions in the days ahead. Molly, one of the kindest hosts we have had yet on our trip, gave a short speech and we were introduced to our homestays. We then walked back to the homes in which we would be sleeping for the next few nights and collectively passed out.

Exploring a bit of the city

Exploring a bit of the city

The next day we had a relatively relaxed wake-up call – we didn’t need to be anywhere until 2 pm. We took some time to explore the city in separate groups, ate lunch, and re-convened at Molly’s place for some rehearsal. We later headed over to a rehearsal for our upcoming gig at the Cité de la Musique the next day. We were to perform with two youth choirs and an all-female group, and we were assigned a round to all sing together called “Le Cœur des Gens.” The French lyrics were occasionally difficult for some of the Dins, but we did our best to learn them in the time that we had. We traveled back to our homestays and ate dinner before heading out to a local middle school, College International de l’Esplanade, for our first gig. This was a longer performance to benefit a trip to China for local students. An impromptu Din impression of the Strasbourg cathedral was particularly well-received.

Jacques, Sydney, and Danny at the very foggy Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg

Jacques, Sydney, and Danny at the very foggy Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg

On the third day of our stay, we woke up much earlier and showed up at Molly’s house at 10 for our first excursion through Alsace. We drove about an hour north to see the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, one of Alsace’s many castles dating back to the Middle Ages which was restored to its former glory by Kaiser Wilhelm II in the early twentieth century. Today it is a major tourist destination, enchanting visitors with its dramatic views outside and ornately furnished rooms within. After taking an innumerable amount of pictures of all of the castle’s halls and towers (even in heavy fog), we grabbed lunch at a nearby pavilion and headed back to the city. Our later afternoon was spent alternately relaxing at Molly’s and sound-checking for our Cité de la Musique gig that night. Our gig was interesting, with all four of the groups mentioned above sitting on stage throughout everyone’s performances, but we were very well-received by the crowd. This was in no small part due to Jacques’s oration skills in French – he often had the audience reeling with laughter. After the concert, we ended up autographing and selling a fairly high number of CDs. It felt great to reach out to so many people.

Taking a stroll through the town of Ribeauvillé

Taking a stroll through the town of Ribeauvillé

Our final day in Strasbourg was theoretically a rest day, but it also started early. In the morning we drove to another picturesque Alsatian village called Ribeauvillé, where we were welcomed at a house called Le Manoir by Bob Heuer and Mark LaFata. Original plans were to go on a hike to check out the ruins of three castles surrounding Ribeauvillé, but because of the rainy weather we instead toured the beautifully decorated private home of Bliss Hebert and Allen Klein, two more opera figures, downstairs. Bliss and Allen were very kind hosts and provided some interesting lessons on the history of Alsace while showing us around their place. To thank them, we performed a few songs for them. Later in the day, as the weather improved, we walked through Ribeauvillé and through trails in vineyards to a smaller and less-traveled village called Hunawihr. Seeing the timeless French countryside was a real gift for us. After returning to Strasbourg we dined at Molly’s with hosts for one final night and went to perform a few songs at an Irish pub, where the owner Alan joined us as a soloist in the folk song “The Water Is Wide.” It was a late night, but a fantastic way to end a great stay in Strasbourg.

Tremendous credit is due to our homestays: Molly Tennis and Olivier Seguin, Lynn Kramer and Charles Moll, Kathleen Rokosz, Victor and Juliana Benedetti, and Ana and Mark Gorey. Thanks also to Luther and Jacky, Allen and Bliss, Bob and Mark, and the US Consul General of Strasbourg Amy Westling for hosting and/or promoting us during the past few days.

Signing off,

Ethan Craigo #237

Stop #4: Wohlen, Switzerland

Posing above a metal toboggan ride on Mt. Pilatus with hosts and friends

Posing above a metal toboggan ride on Mt. Pilatus with hosts and friends

Hello from Switzerland! A few days ago, the Dins arrived in the small city of Wohlen, located about 27 kilometers from Zurich. We continued a long cultural exchange tradition with Kantonsschule Wohlen, a public school there which serves as a bit of a combination between a high school and a college. We were paired up with students around our age who were in an English immersion class. These students generously provided us with home stays. The program was facilitated by Karen Reinhard-Adler at the Kantonsschule. We spent the afternoon getting to know the students while playing volleyball, soccer, and basketball!

Playing volleyball behind the school with some members of our Kanti Wohlen class

Playing volleyball behind the school with some members of our Kanti Wohlen class

The day after arriving (Friday), we went to school with our hosts. We first participated in a Q&A session where we talked about our experiences at a liberal arts college. The discussion also gave us a chance to better understand the Swiss education system, and how greatly it differs from ours. After a performance for most of the school, we had time to both sit in on our hosts’ classes and enjoy the wonderful sunny weather!

Dins posing with chocolate medals after our main gig in Widen

Dins posing with chocolate medals after our main gig in Widen

We then had a performance in Reformierte Church in Widen, a neighboring town. The church’s high ceilings made for an excellent acoustical space. An enthusiastic audience, as well as a surprise ceremony in which we were all given chocolate medals, provided for a truly memorable performance.

Some Dins in a Zürich square

Some Dins in a Zürich square

The weekend gave us a chance to spend more time with our hosts and explore Switzerland. On Saturday, several of us went on a day trip with our hosts to tour Zurich. We took a boat cruise across the beautiful Zürichsee and visited the city’s churches and shopping areas. A stop at a Läderach chocolate shop proved that Swiss chocolate lives up to its reputation. We then enjoyed a long session at a rooftop spa, where we comfortably overlooked Zurich during sunset! Others went with their hosts to Bern, Switzerland’s capital. They walked through its old architecture, touring a cathedral and visiting the city’s famous bear pit.

Bowling with hosts at Bowling Baregg

Bowling with hosts at Bowling Baregg

On Sunday, we went bowling with our hosts. Top scorers included Everett, Matt, and Jacques. Later on, some Dins ended up at a Swiss restaurant where we ate a delicious meal and actually ended up entertaining our waiter. We spent the evening truly assimilating into European culture by watching the Euro Cup! Go Switzerland!!

Billy and Sydney hiking down Mt. Pilatus

Billy and Sydney hiking down Mt. Pilatus

On Monday, students in the English immersion class were given the day off to take a day trip with us to Lucerne, a city southwest of Wohlen. The main destination was Mt. Pilatus, a peak in the Emmental Alps that overlooks Lucerne. We first travelled via cable car to a metal toboggan ride located about halfway up the mountain. Each of us rode solo down the path, with top speeds reaching over 40 km/hr! Don’t worry, all the Dins remain fully intact!

The Dins on a bridge in Lucerne

The Dins on a bridge in Lucerne

After hiking down some of the bottom of the mountain, we spent the rest of our time in Lucerne walking around the city center eating gelato near the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre, a world famous concert hall. Overall, the Dins had a fantastic time in Wohlen. We would like to thank Karen, Kantonsschule Wohlen, our hosts and their families for welcoming us and showing us many of Switzerland’s cities!

Can’t wait to arrive in Strasbourg!

Daniel Giebisch #238

Stop #3: Amsterdam, Netherlands

One of the many canals in Amsterdam, with some of the city's stately architecture behind

One of the many canals in Amsterdam, with some of the city's stately architecture behind

Hi readers! The past four days have been incredible for the Dins here in Amsterdam. After a fantastic time in London with West End shows, beautiful sights and English culture galore, we arrived in the Netherlands early Sunday afternoon to an incredible ocean view and an intimate look at Amsterdam's unforgettable skyline. 

Spectacular views of the whole city can be found at the newly-opened A'DAM Lookout

Spectacular views of the whole city can be found at the newly-opened A'DAM Lookout

After initially arriving, we met up with the amazing Zwanine, our main organizer for the Amsterdam leg, and immediately put our vocal muscles to work by performing in a spontaneous flash mob at Amsterdam's Centraal Station. Afterwards, we took an amazing trip to the new Amsterdam Lookout tower, where we got to sing again on the tower's top floor while looking at the beautiful scenery. The evening was spent eating dinner at a cozy estate with some of our hosts, including Zwanine, the rest of the Siedenburg family, Edwin and Ken, Noa, and Sophia!

An excellent dinner picnic in Amsterdam's Vondelpark with some hosts and their friends

An excellent dinner picnic in Amsterdam's Vondelpark with some hosts and their friends

We spent the following two days exploring the best that Amsterdam had to offer - munching on cheese and bread with our feet dangling by the lovely canals, exploring some nooks and crannies in the historical parts of the city - and all the while pubbing for our show at Nassau Church on Tuesday evening. We even got to take a tour of the original Heineken brewery in Amsterdam, and ended the tour with an impromptu performance in the last exhibit! 

Jacques and Ethan having a mini karaoke session (in Dutch) at the Heineken Experience

Jacques and Ethan having a mini karaoke session (in Dutch) at the Heineken Experience

Our concert at the church that evening, along with the spectacular accompanying dinner, was one of the highlights of the trip thus far! With the amazing help of the church staff and Zwanine, our show was a success and we got to celebrate with another free day in Amsterdam the next day to explore the city. Whether we were venturing through the Rijksmuseum, admiring the Van Gogh works, or just relaxing by the water and the city's glorious parks, we definitely made the most of our Amsterdam experience.

Hanging out near one of the city's many tram stations

Hanging out near one of the city's many tram stations

A special warm thanks to our incredible hosts - the Siedenburg family (special shout out to Josine and Fleur for being amazing friends and tour guides during our stay!), Ken and Edwin, and Sophia - for letting us into your beautiful homes the past few days. Amsterdam wouldn't have been the same without you!

DST,

Leon Pan #235

Stop #2: London, England

Touring around the city of London

Touring around the city of London

Hi everyone! The Dins just completed the second leg of our world tour with a couple days in London! After traveling from Iceland on June 1st, we checked in at the Darlington Hyde Park, a cozy hotel right next to Paddington station. Early the next morning, we left on a train for the Dorset area, arriving at the Westbrook house in the small town of Upwey. 

The grounds of the beautiful Westbrook house in Dorset, where the Dins stayed for a night

The grounds of the beautiful Westbrook house in Dorset, where the Dins stayed for a night

We spent the day with our amazing hosts, Allen and Caroline Edwards, enjoying the gorgeous grounds and facilities of the house, which ranged from waterfalls and ponds to a tennis court and swimming pool. We also met the Canadian National Sailing Team, fellow guests at Westbrook! That evening, we performed on the patio for a gathering of friends and family before enjoying an amazing meal prepared for us by our hosts.

Dins posing with members of the Canadian Olympic sailing team, shortly after the dinner gig

Dins posing with members of the Canadian Olympic sailing team, shortly after the dinner gig

A full English breakfast at Westbrook before heading back to London for our Harvard Club gig

A full English breakfast at Westbrook before heading back to London for our Harvard Club gig

On the 3rd, it was back to London, after a delicious breakfast at Westbrook! Our first performance that evening took place in the lobby of the Darlington, where we performed for some of the hotel guests.

Posing after our short performance in the lobby of the Darlington Hyde Park hotel

Posing after our short performance in the lobby of the Darlington Hyde Park hotel

Next up was a performance at the Oxford and Cambridge Club, hosted by the Harvard Club of the U.K. We sold out this luxurious venue, and enjoyed mingling with our audience following the performance.

Matt taking a picture of Tower Bridge

Matt taking a picture of Tower Bridge

On our last day in London, we spent our time touring around one of the greatest cities in the world. We walked all over, visiting Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Globe Theatre, Borough Market, the Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and the National Gallery, among other landmarks. That night, many of us enjoyed London's cultural scene, watching various shows on the West End.

In front of Buckingham Palace

In front of Buckingham Palace

London was an amazing tour stop, and it wouldn't have been possible without the help of many people. The Dins would like to thank the Darlington Hyde Park, Allen and Caroline Edwards, Caroline Costin and the Harvard Club, and the Oxford and Cambridge Club for making our visit to London incredible!

Now, on to Amsterdam!

James Baskerville

#232

Stop #1: Reykjavík, Iceland

A few Dins at the historic site of Þingvellir, at the Eurasian-North American continental divide.

A few Dins at the historic site of Þingvellir, at the Eurasian-North American continental divide.

Hello everyone! This is Everett here, Din #236, reporting from Reykjavík!

Iceland has been an absolutely amazing first stop on our world tour. The very first night that we arrived, we were amazed by how bright the sky was, even at 2 am. With the snowy mountains in the distance, we quickly unpacked our things and got some rest before our first full day in the city.  

Some brave spelunkers/snorkelers

Some brave spelunkers/snorkelers

The day started with some members taking a guided snorkeling trip looking down at the tectonic divide between the North American plate and the Eurasian plates. Others toured the city of Reykjavík, climbing to the top of Hallgrímskirkja, the biggest church on the island, and exploring the local cuisine and stores. We later met up with Bartónar, a 30 man a cappella group that was born out of a nearby bar, and were immediately drawn towards their amazing personalities and great fashion senses. The entire time, Svavar Knútur, a local musician and friend, took us under his wing and introduced us to Bartonar as well as two wonderful Icelandic jazz singers, Andrea Gylfadóttir and Kristjana Stefans. The evening performance turned out to be a fantastic success, filled with camaraderie and laughter.  

On our way to our first gig in the city

On our way to our first gig in the city

For day two, the Dins set out on the classic Golden Circle Tour of Iceland's beautiful backcountry. There we enjoyed picturesque settings filled with rugged mountains, powerful waterfalls, mesmerizing geysers, and winding rivers. In the distance, glaciers dominated the horizon of this land of ice and fire. The tour guide spoke of the history of the country, including how Iceland has the oldest continuously operating parliament in all of Europe, and also stopped to allow the Dins to pet some local horses. After the day trip concluded, the Dins immediately traveled to a restaurant beside one of Iceland’s famous black sand beaches, where we indulged in lobster bisques and cod. There we sang for a local audience and learned more about the amazing singing culture that is found everywhere in Iceland. For example, in a local town of only 1,500 people, there are more than 4 choir groups!

Matt poses in a field with an Icelandic horse

Matt poses in a field with an Icelandic horse

Today, the last full day of the trip, we sang at the nation's largest radio station and had the opportunity to meet one of the radio DJ's. Afterwards, Svavar guided us around Reykjavík and introduced us to Café Rosenberg, a restaurant where we will be performing tonight. I can't wait to sing with my fellow Dins one last time in Iceland at Rosenberg, and I definitely will miss the wonderful time that we have spent on this island.  

Shout out to Ása Hjálmarsdóttir and Brynjolfur Magnusson (Billi) for helping the group nail gigs and coordinate moving all 11 of us around.  Also, thank you so much Sam Schoenberg for joining our group for this stop and London! 

Here is to 12 more countries and countless memories together!

Signing off,

Everett Sussman #236

First Post and Official 2016 Tour Announcement

The Dins of 2016

The Dins of 2016

Hello and welcome to the official blog of the Harvard Din & Tonics! Here you'll receive updates on the Dins' movements and adventures as we sing and travel around the world (in just under 80 days).

For our first order of business, we are very excited to announce our 2016 World Tour! Since the early 1990s, in each even-numbered year the Dins have gone on a ten-week summer tour bringing our unique blend of a cappella, jazz, and comedy around the world. You can read more about tour traditions and see some pictures from previous tours here.

In just a few short weeks, we will be embarking on our next journey and we want to take you with us! Throughout this coming summer, we will be sharing our best stories, photos, and other memories from each location we visit with you through this blog. Be sure to check it often to stay up-to-date with our worldly exploits.

We'll be making our first official tour post around the time we get to our first stop in Reykjavík, Iceland. In the meantime, here's a list of dates and locations for this tour:

May 28 - June 1: Reykjavik, Iceland
June 1 - June 5: London, United Kingdom
June 5 - June 9: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
June 9 - June 14: Switzerland
June 14 - June 18: Strasbourg, France
June 18 - June 22: Paris, France
June 22 - June 24: Luxembourg
June 24 - June 27: Monaco

July 1 - July 5: Osaka, Japan
July 5 - July 7: Tokyo, Japan
July 7 - July 9: Choshi, Japan
July 9 - July 12: Shanghai, China
July 12 - July 13: Beijing, China
July 13 - July 20: Hong Kong
July 20 - July 24: Bangkok, Thailand
July 24 - July 31: Singapore
July 31 - August 5: Sydney, Australia
August 5 - August 8: San Francisco, USA

If you happen to be in any of these areas at these times, let us know via e-mail or our Facebook page and we'll give you a list of performances! We are thrilled to have the opportunity to spread our music to all these places, and even more so to be able to share our experiences with you.

Signing off,
Ethan Craigo #237