Looking towards to the next trip report, I began by navigating some extreme weather in April in both Switzerland and the Italian Alps. The Swiss village of Blatten in Switzerland, in the Lötschental where I often have rehearsals, was destroyed by a collapsing glacier. So much ice, water and rocks came down the mountain that the village was almost completely obliterated. All inhabitants were evacuated in time except one who was taking care of his animals. I made a couple of trips to Milan, a city I thought I knew so well, but I saw things that I didn't know existed. Otherwise, it was a very busy period with daily rehearsals and recitals, which of course I love doing.

The Miles & More programme was due to undergo a major change and overhaul at the beginning of June so, like many bloggers, I panicked a little and quickly booked some award flights. I managed to secure seats in Lufthansa First Class which was great because I thought I would otherwise never get the chance to try it. The trip took me to Chicago and Charlotte, from where I booked a flight to Altoona in Pennsylvania to see and musically coach a very good opera singer friend. The Mischler Theater in Altoona is a total jewel, modelled after the beautiful 19th century theaters in Paris. In Cincinnati I met up with another friend and we made a very interesting road trip following the entire length of route US-22. This took us through south Ohio, Pittsburgh, Altoona (!), Harrisburg, Allentown (yes, Allentown!) and ended at Newark airport, which is the official terminus of US-22. From there I just had the time for a quick 2-night visit to my friend's house in the woods of western Connecticut.