TUESDAY, JUNE 21st, 2022 – SALZBURG, AUSTRIA TO BAD RAGAZ, SWITZERLAND:

I purposely did not add the information on where we were going once we left Salzburg yesterday.  Fourteen years ago, I was contacted by a nice man asking if he could book the Bellamy Brothers to perform at his wife’s surprise birthday party in Walenstadt, Switzerland.  The date he wanted actually worked with our European Tour Schedule.  That’s the first time we met Bill and Susann Loop and we have been friends since that day.  They are wonderful people – including their amazing daughter Jessica.  While we may not see each other every year, we do manage to stay in touch and visit at various concerts in Europe.  They have event visited the Bellamy’s ranch in Florida.

Bill contacted me again several months ago with a similar request – a special birthday for Susann AND she is retiring from the corporation.  He wanted the Bellamys to perform in August but they are already booked every weekend in the USA.  We decided it would really be a big surprise to have her party in June – when she would not be expecting anything.  So, we have managed to keep it a secret until yesterday when he told her his plans.

We were supposed to depart Salzburg at 11:00 am but the bus got delayed by traffic and did not arrive until after 11:30 am.  It was a long drive but a nice bus – only no WiFi!  We only had to stop once for the driver’s mandatory break.  The bus did have electrical outlets so I was able to plug in my laptop and use my T-Mobile Hotspot for internet connect and work the entire trip.  Had a really nice lady – Karen – escorting us and a nice bus driver named Danny.   It’s still hard to get used to having to “pay” to use toilets in Europe.  It’s only 50 Euro but most of us don’t have “coins”.  The good news is, if you make a purchase, you get your 50 Euro back.

We arrived at the hotel at around 5:00 pm.  It’s the same hotel where we stayed 14 years ago and AMAZING.  It’s a 5 star hotel with 7 restaurants, a world famous Spa, several swimming pools, outstanding fitness room, etc., etc., etc.  The name of the hotel is The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz (Switzerland).  I was cracking up over some of the comments by the musicians who haven’t stayed in a lot of 5 star resorts on our tours.  One in particular was “OMG, there is a TV in the bathroom mirror”.  LOL.

Rooms are amazing and I’m sure this is where I will finally “leave” some of my personal items.  Anytime I’m given a lot of space with multiple closets, drawers, etc., I manage to spread my things out too much and inevitably leave something.  Stephanie has managed to leave her ipad in the back of the seat on the Germany bus ride and again on the bus here. Thankfully the drivers found it each time and she got it back.

David and I met and had dinner at one of the 7 restaurants.  We had Thai and Dim Sum and it was excellent.  Most of the guys went to the restaurant at the Golf Course because it had a much more “Americanized” menu.

Be sure and check out the photos on my FB page!

 

I worked until 1:30 am and went to bed still needing to work longer!

 

Jude