Fjellkoret has for more than one year prepared a performance called “The promised land”. The performance is based on the norwegian immigration to America. The performance starts with the song “The dream of America”. This week the dream came through and we are in New York in connection with the cellebration of the 200th anniversery of the immigration.
October 5th – Travelling to “The promised land”
Ready for travelling:
Singing 10000 meters above sea level:
October 6th – Visiting Liberty and Ellis Island
On our way:
The Statue of Liberty…
…and “Guttene”.
For the pleasure of other visitors to Liberty Island, we held a short, improvised concert:
The correct tune is important for a good start.
Annie Moore welcomes us on board the boat to Ellis Island:
On Ellis Island we had a very interesting guided tour in and around the building, where the immigrants were transported for examination. They had to have a particular amount of money and to be in good psycological and physical condition. If not, the immigrants could be refused to enter America and had to go back to the country of origin.
Among all the pictures, we found a picture of a previous edition of Fjellkoret:
Back on Manhatten it was time for dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant:
October 7th – Guest concert in St. Patrick Cathedral.
St. Patrick Cathedral doesn’t look so big among the tall scyscrapers on Manhatten, but inside it was impressive and beautiful:
The concert was streamed on YouTube, press the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDqdMpAtsPE&list=RDlDqdMpAtsPE&start_radio=1
After the concert it was time for a Big Burger at Bill’s Burger and Bar:
In the evening some of us went to a karaoke bar, where we became so popular that we were strongly encouraged to come back the day after. Whether it was because of great singing or solid contribution to the bar, they didn’t tell. Maybe it was both.
October 8th – 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
When in New York, we had to visit 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
The two twin towers before and soon after the plane attacs:
One memorial site has been built for each of the two towers located in the footprint of the towers. Pools with waterfalls where the names of all who died are inscribed on the edges surrounding the pools:
The north Tower:
The south tower:
Visiting the 9/11 Museum moved me deeply and gave me chills on my back. So many impressions from remains of the towers, destroyed equipment and an exhibition (not allowed to take pictures) showing so many aspects of what happened the day of the attacs. I also learned to know that, because nobody knew what was happing and whether more attacs would come, people wanted to get away from Manhattan. A message was sent to all boats on Hudson and East river and 500.000 people were evacuated from Manhatten with boats in 9 hours.
Remains of the towers:
Destroyed fire truck:
Motorcycles used in a memorial ride between the three places that were attacked in Pennsylvania, Pentagon and New york, each with a special history connected to 9/11:
A new subway station built with a roof shaped as a dove of peace, outside and inside:
October 9th – Celebrating 200 years of immigration.
Waiting for the subway that shall take us to Pier 16 and Fjellkoret arriving there:
Preparing to sing, waiting for our crown prince…
…and finally he is there, but???… he looks a little distracted..
…. and he leaves in the direction of the stand of Sjømannskirken after our first song. Maybe he was hungry and wanted another waffle with brown cheese?
Anyway there was still a big enthusiastic audience and we carried on with our performance, Ine telling about Fjellkoret and our Crossing 200 project:
The boat Restauration arrives:
The Crown Prince gave his speech…
…and then it was time for a dance:
Smiling representative for Norsk Sjømat, relaxing Fjellkoret singers and Brooklyn Bridge:
After the celebration it was time for dinner in the oldest restaurant in New York, Fraunces Tavern, which was frequented by George Washington:
In the evening I had the pleasure to go to Madison Square Garden to watch an NBA basketball match between New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberkwolves:
Basketball is a small sport in Norway, but a big sport in America, and one of the largest in the World with 450 million performers, compared to football with around 265 million performers, and as you can see from the pictures, there was also a hudge crowd in Madison Square Garden this night watching the game. If you look closely, you can see the basketball on it’s way to the basket on two of the pictures. New York Knicks won 100 – 95 after one extra period:
October 10th – Visitng the UN building.
I started the day with a walk in Central Park and was welcomed by this nice fellow:
As I went along, I was singing Nøtteliten and then this guy suddenly showed up to listen:
It is very good that and important that Central Park has been preserved for the millions of inhabitants in New York, where they can have some relaxing time away from the busy life in the city.
Some pictures from the park:
In the afternoon we went to the UN building:
Outside the building:
Inside the building we were reminded of two significant persons:
Some pictures from our very interesting guided tour: A part of the Human Rights, a painting with the text “DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM TO DO UNTO YOU”, the General assembly and The Sustainable Development Goals.
UN need more force to put behind the rights and goals to make the world a better place.
We hoped that we could sing inside the building and some put great effort trying to get permission to do so…
…but without success.
Happely leaving for our nightly river cruise:
We were allowed to sing outside the UN building:
Our cruise boat, Spirit of New York:
Brooklyn and Manhatten Bridge at night:
Singing from the red staircase on Times Square on our way home, with more people present (not paying) than on any other Fjellkoret concert:
October 11th – Going home.
Leaving Hotel Edison:
If someone are curious and wonders how it has gone on “Gutterommet”, I can reassure them that everything has gone well, even to share a doble duvet.
It would be no problem to repeat the success, but maybe we could ask for a single duvet each next time?
On our way to J.F.K. airport we stopped at this pillar in Brooklyn with a bronce plate showing a Viking with the text: “Leiv Eirikson discovered Amerika year 1000”. Not bad!
A day and night later we said goodbye to each other at Bergen Airport by singing “Home on the Range”.
Thank you all for a wonderful week in New York. It gave me a more positive view on USA compared to the negative impression we get from the news all the time.
A special THANK YOU to Lillian, Jan, Ine and Trine who have prepared and arranged this 40th anniversery trip for Fjellkoret to “The Promised Land” full of experiences and new impressions.
Bestepappa 