Apr
23
Filed Under (General) by Rob on 23-04-2006

Hi folks! This is gonna be the longest post ever, as I recap the past 3 or so weeks with photos…

So, I caught an Afriqiya flight from Cotonou at about 1:00am on Sunday 26th March, via Tripoli to London. Thankfully, both planes were quite empty, so I got 3 seats to lie across and have a bit of a kip! Arriving at around midday in London, I then met up with 4 good mates: Ed, Reggie, Billy and Clive for a curry and a pint. See post further down for photos of that get-together

Then it was off on an 18:05 Easyjet flight to Cologne, arriving around 20:30 local time. Then, a train as far as I could get, which was Siegburg, where I stayed overnight in a hotel which literally overlooked the railway line! Just as well, as I had to catch a 6:45 train the next morning to Haiger, where a lift was waiting to take me to the Wycliffe Centre in Holzhausen. Here it is:

Wycliff centre.jpg

(click on image to see a larger version)

Holzhausen is a lovely village, quite contrasting from Cotonou (which is ‘lovely’ in different ways!) Here’s Holzhausen taken from the Wycliffe centre:

lovely Holzhausen.jpg

Upon arrival, I was ushered straight into the classroom, where the first lecture was about to begin. Here’s the room and the other members of the group:

lecture room.jpg

So, straight on with work, learning about the history and theories of ethnomusicology, studying the works of Merriam, Merryn and Nettl amongst others. Here are some of the course details:

ethno course info.jpg

Part of the course was to give a presentation based on an ethnography. The one I read was about the music and dance of the BaAka pygmies in the Congo and C.A.R. Here I am giving my presentation to the others:

Robs presentation.jpg

The first weekend, I visited Frankfurt and had a whale of a time at the Music Exhibition, where there were hundreds of pianos to play. The second weekend, I visited my friend Gerald, whom I did a German exchange with nine years ago. Here I am with him

Rob & Gerald1.jpg

From his house, I went into Frankfurt and had an explore. Here’s Frankfurt, viewed from the top of the 200 metre high ‘Main Tower’:

Frankfurt.jpg

And here’s a picture of the old part of Frankfurt. Very pretty:

Frankfurt old town.jpg

And one more Frankfurt photo I must include (for Mike Webb if no-one else). Here’s the monster of an organ in Frankfurt Catherdral:

Frankfurt organ.jpg

Once the course was over (including submitting a project of about 4000 words) I caught a train to Dortmund, then a flight to Luton, where Lois’ friend Clare picked me up and gave me hot cross buns and coffee for breakfast! Then off to Ampthill, to visit folk, including lunch in Bedford with Mum & Dad. Here they are:

Rob with mum & dad.jpg

Then in the evening, there was a get together at the Woods place, where lots of folk dropped in to say ‘Hi.’ (thanks to all of you who did – great to see you!) Here are a few shots from the evening:

Rob & 3 tall men!.jpg

(Rob with 3 tall men!)

Rob & the Woods.jpg

(Rob with the Wood family)

Rob & Plummers.jpg

(Rob with our pastor Stephen and his wife Carole).

John F & the plane!.jpg

(John the train/plane spotter!)

…and here’s the man who makes this whole blog possible. The brains behind robbaker.org, Mr Reggie Thompson:

Reggie.jpg

(no Reg, don’t delete it – although I know you can!!)

Finally, after bed at 1:30am, I was up at 6:30 to get a lift to Gatwick with the inlaws. Here they are enjoying breakfast:

Brian & Jean at airport.jpg

Finally, back to Cotonou, Benin, to be reunited with my lovely family. Here are the kids (taken once I’d got back:

Back home & kids.jpg

There. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed hearing about the trip and seeing some of the photos. More Benin news soon. Watch this space…



Comments:
5 Comments posted on "Here are the photos at last!!!"
Tall man on April 23rd, 2006 at 3:07 pm #

Ha what a picture – nice to see yooou tooo.

Clive


Maryla on April 23rd, 2006 at 3:55 pm #

I enjoyed this international tour and photos of friends and strangers very much indeed. What was the title of your 4000-word essay/thesis-thingy on Ethnomusicology, Rob?


Reggie on April 25th, 2006 at 4:15 pm #

Hi Rob, Lois et al,

Excellent set of photos. I enjoyed clicking through them the other day.

I’m glad to see the new camera is being put to good use – and the batteries are clearly working well!

I’ve only just completed sorting out my own photography blog after the fun and games of last week’s server crash! I had to reload some of the pages using the Yahoo cached version!

Thanks for keeping in touch.


Eddie on May 2nd, 2006 at 3:16 pm #

Hi Rob and Lois,

Lots of nice photographs – a few of people I know. Hope all is well and that you have survived the hot season.


Claude Hotobah-During on May 3rd, 2006 at 7:48 pm #

Mr.Baker it’s Claude from your class.I loved the photos.I just want you to know that I will whatch you website from now on.Cheers