When I first came to Groningen in 2005 to study abroad, I decided I had to join a choir. That choir was Bragi, and it was one of the best decisions I made during that semester (dating my now fiancee was obviously the very best decision, which relegates Bragi to a slightly lower position in my decision-making). Every two years, the musical group - consisting of a choir, an orchestra and an a cappella group - goes on tour somewhere in Europe. In 2005, it was France and Belgium, and in 2013, our destination was Croatia.
Croatia felt like Italy in a parallel universe with more blond people. Like Italy, the largest religion in the country is Catholic, which was easy to see in the nuns crossing the street in Zagreb and the arches inside the sweltering cathedral in Pula. The Adriatic Sea was astoundingly clear and so salty that you have no choice but to float on the surface, hearing the Pop Rocks-crackle of the smooth white stones clicking against each other below. The beer and wine are good and cheap, the heat was dry and the sky was almost always cloudless. As a singer and as a photographer, getting to perform in inspirational settings and to take photos of those venues was about as good as it gets.
Croatia felt like Italy in a parallel universe with more blond people. Like Italy, the largest religion in the country is Catholic, which was easy to see in the nuns crossing the street in Zagreb and the arches inside the sweltering cathedral in Pula. The Adriatic Sea was astoundingly clear and so salty that you have no choice but to float on the surface, hearing the Pop Rocks-crackle of the smooth white stones clicking against each other below. The beer and wine are good and cheap, the heat was dry and the sky was almost always cloudless. As a singer and as a photographer, getting to perform in inspirational settings and to take photos of those venues was about as good as it gets.
I also put together this promotional video for the musical group, for any students (and recent students/former students/grown ups) who would like to play with us.
Kom bij Bragi! from Traci White on Vimeo.
