There are no two words a Cleveland Orchestra member likes better on the schedule than "free day." Not that they don't love their jobs; it's just that touring means hard work and high stress, and breaks mean players that are better-rested, more prepared, and yes, more musical.
The musicians are a varied bunch, and their activities were just as varied. Some took organized tours. Violinist Felix Freilich took a bus tour of the mountains, where he saw a banana plantation (and some banana-eating lizards). Some toured the ancient part of the city, visiting the Cathedral of Santa Anna and the Christopher Columbus Museum. Others went walking on the beach in 75-degree
sunshine, or shopped, sampled the cuisine, or just slept in.
Las Palmas's "boardwalk" (it's really a "brickwalk") is lined with small cafes. You'd expect Spanish fare, and there is some, but the list is a bit more international. I've spotted several Chinese and Italian cafes. Someone mentioned Scandanavian. And there are many shops serving -- of all things -- hamburgers of every variety. Except for the hamburger shops, most serve fresh seafood at reasonable prices. The menus are almost always multilingual and have numbered selections -- so it's possible to build your Spanish vocabulary when ordering. Just match up the numbers and try to pronounce your order. If all else fails, point.
As in most European cities, dogs are welcome here. They wander in and out of shops and cafes, with and without their people, and no one seems to mind. Very few are large breeds, though. Cats are fewer, or at least less visible, but the few I've seen (though alone) look well cared for. It's hard to imagine they are strays.
There are plenty of ads for local events, but if the orchestra's concert has been promoted, it's not been done anywhere we've seen it. No one has found it listed in arts events roundups. There are no announcement posters on the streets. No matter; a capacity crowd is expected when the orchestra plays the first concert of their tour on Thursday.
David Roden
WKSU Assistant Program Director
