The coaches took us to Leeds’s International Airport. There we were to get a Jet 2 flight to Milan. The day was clear and the flight was on time. Before boarding the plane Gaby went shopping for a few of those essential items a lady always needs on her. The actual flight took about 2 hours. Some of the group were very excited as this was their first time away from home. After clearing customs we had a tour round the city first visiting the Domo otherwise known as Milan Cathedral. We hit the shop with a vengeance. What a choice the Italian ladies have and so reasonable. We Where to play at La Scarla or Milan opera house as it is otherwise known. Laden down we went back to our hotel to prepare for tonight’s performance. At La Scarla everyone was in full dress. The show went perfectly With Gaby dancing with Dan & Maddy with Dominic. We travelled from our Hotel in Milan to the other Venues in Italy. It took 2 coaches to take the dancers and supporting crew. Meanwhile the Appolonaris Support team had been arriving via a slower route.
Our next destination was Venice. We visited the Doges Palace and St Marks Cathedral. We saw the bridge of sighs across which condemned criminal went. We even managed a trip in a gondola & a visit to the Glass blowing works. Gaby was presented with a special presentation vase that had been specially made for her. In Venice we again where to play in the opera house before returning to Milan.
The next day we where to perform in the Evening in Florence. The home of Romeo & Juliet We again visited the Cathedral in Florence and had a short break in Pizza to look at the leaning tower. The Italian certainly take there theatre seriously they where again dresses like penguins. We had eight curtain calls before we finally called it a night. The next day was supposed to be a rest day. But we where taken on a trip of the Italian Lakes Como, Garda & Majorie. We stopped in Bavano and ordered an ice cream. The waiter asked if we would like their speciality and it was called a cumbo jumbo this brought smiles to our faces as only recently we had all had one at Junction 32 Retail Park. When they came one of our ice creams would have fed an Army. It took us an hour just to eat the ice cream.
Gaby asked if she could speak with the owner of the hotel. A very tiny Italian man appeared. “Madam asked for me?”
“Yes I would like to say that we all enjoyed the Cumbo Jumbos. The next time we come here I would like A Royal Cumbo Jumbo like I had recently in Yorkshire at the Duke of Savoy.”
“You met my son. How is he doing?”
“I believe some of your elder grand daughters are here dancing with us. As for your son. He along with an Austrian Duke who was staying here recently have expanded and opened an ice-cream parlour in Scarborough.”
Three girls stood close to Gaby. “Grand papa we are here. Before we leave Milan we have one last performance at La Scarla. We brought you and the family some tickets.”
The waiter while clearing away the empty glasses asked us if we had taken the ferry to see the saint who was interred on one of the island.
“Sorry we had not, but as we had some free time we will go and visit him.” The ferry stopped at several islands & we could get off and have a short break. Eventually we got to the correct Island.
Gaby turned to Maddy, “It is strange I feel as if I know my way round this place.” The guide showed them to the glass tomb of the saint. Painted on the walls where murals. Maddy looked at the murals & thought that looks like Gaby and me.
The Guide. “The mural is supposed to be the saint with the Queen of Heaven & her angels. The legend tells us that one day she will return with her nine companions to right the wrongs of this world. The most Evil of men will tremble in her wake. The Empress must always be accompanied by her life long companion.”
He then looked at Maddy & Gaby. “Take good care of your Empress little one for she is still in great danger.” They returned to the others and all of them went up Monte Rosa in a cable car. At the top they found it was deep in snow and they had a snowball fight. Even Darcie, Carole & Jenny participated. Whilst they where there a body was found on the top of a mountain. It eventually transpired the body was thousands of years old. After having tea in the restaurant on the mountain they all returned to their coaches and Milan. That night they had their final show at the Opera house. After the show Gaby and the chorus received a message that somebody wanted to see them. It was the Hotel owner with his entire family including an elderly lady being pushed in a wheel chair.
The elderly Lady. “I instructed all the family they must drop what they are doing as it is not every day my great grand daughters and friends appear on the stage of La Scarla.” The girls came and gave the lady a kiss. The lady’s face brightened up. “I thought I had seen the last of you all when your Papa took you to England. Now you dance with a great ballerina.”
“Nena we also cycle with her and when we move to Innsbruck we will also have our first cycle race.”
Gaby handed the elderly lady an itinerary of where they would be staying and what they would be doing. The lady smiled. “We will be there to cheer you on. I will instruct the entire village they must go to Innsbruck to watch you.”
Nena looked at her watch and tapped it. “Sorry your reunion could not be longer. We have to get ready to move on.
Innsbruck & Munich
The following day they had packed up as they where moving on to Innsbruck in Austria & the capitol of the Tyrol. The journey to Innsbruck was a relatively short one. Gaby and the dancers where taken to see to Olympic ski jump and the graveyard that the ski jumpers could see when they took off. They visited the church at the bottom of the Ski jump. It was very beautiful with 13 gold and silver altars. Gaby & friend’s then went to their hotel. After unpacking they found they had had a day free in Innsbruck before they where due to dance in the evening.
09.30 Darcie, Gaby, Maddy, Jool’s, Kat & Em decided they wanted some culture. So off they went to the Hothberg palace and the Spanish Riding School. After been taken round the palace by English speaking guides. They went to see the display at the Spanish Riding School. The show ended with a dressage display. As they where leaving they heard a voice say, “Excuse me please can you help me I need a Band Aid.”
The girls turned round to see a girl about 18-19 years of age with long blond hair and green eyes and about 5ft 2inches tall. The girl repeated her self, “Excuse me please can you help me I need a Band Aid.”
Gaby searched her handbag and found an Elastoplast. “Will this do?”
The girl, “I caught my arm on something and it is all bloody.” The girls took her to the ladies and cleaned the cut. Darcie had some Antiseptic cream and put that on then Gaby put on the Elastoplast.
“Thank you very much. My name is Renate. What are your names?” Gaby introduced the others to Renate. Then Gaby explained we where dancing in various European cities over the next few weeks.
Darcie, “Tonight we dance at the Royal theatre in Innsbruck, but then tomorrow we are free. Gaby here and Kat have to enter a cycle race in addition to dancing.”
Renate, “After you have finished dancing tonight will you allow me to take you all out for a meal?” Gaby looked at the others as Darcie gave the thumbs up.
Gaby. “Yes we would love to.” Kat looked across at the girl and smiled Renate smiled back at her and put her finger to her mouth to tell Kat to say nothing.
That evening the dancers performed a super show in Innsbruck, which culminated in nine curtain calls. Darcie, “I though we would never get away.”
Maddy “I for one am famished.” As she rubbed her tummy. As promised Renate was waiting for them in a Black BMW.
Renate, “Willie will drive us tonight.” The girls took Willie to be Renate’s boyfriend. We arrived at rather a posh restaurant. A strange thing happened as we walked in. The headwaiter & all the other staff stopped working and looked our way.
The headwaiter came across, “Madam your table is ready.” It was ready amassing as all the other waiters came flocking to our table to take our orders. It was like bees around a honey pot. Willie did not join us though.
22.00 As we where about to order when a very smartly dressed couple came in and saw Renate. “Fritz, Heidi come join us.” This seemed to us more like an order than a request. The couple came across and joined us.
Fritz being a gentleman said, “Renate please allow me to pay for the meal.”
Renate introduced us to Fritz and Heidi. She explained we had been dancing in Innsbruck before moving on to Munich the capitol of Bavaria for our next venue.
Fritz informed us that he had a little place in Liechtenstein.
Darcie, “Where was that?”
Gaby. “Oh it is a principality close to Switzerland. In fact we pass through Vaduz the Capitol when we go to Switzerland. The country is ruled by a prince.” Gaby noticed some hand signals pass between Renate & Fritz, but did not know what they meant.
Gaby turned to Fritz, “What do you do sir?”
Fritz, “Oh I work for a bank.”
The evening went very well and then Renate asked. “When are you visiting my country?” We must have looked puzzled.
Renate explained, “She lived in the kingdom of Bavaria.”
Darcie, “Is that not part of Germany.”
Fritz . “The Kingdom of Bavaria is part of Germany. Like England is to Britain.”
Maddy. “We have tomorrow free and then we have to pack up and move to Munich.
Renate. “I have an idea, pack up tonight. I will collect you and take you to your hotel to meet the rest of your group.”
Maddy. “We will have to check with the Principal that it is OK.”
After having a word with the Principal we discovered it would be ok.
Renate. “I will be back in half an hour for you.” Willie was again driving the Black BMW.
Before we met Renate again though Darcie said, “Did you notice anything strange last night?”
Helen. “I did it the restaurant how everyone behaved around us.”
Gaby. “Renate gave Fritz a hand signal, but I have no idea what it meant.”
We all shrugged our shoulders. “Perhaps it was our imagination playing up with us being in a strange place”.
Darcie. “What happened to Willie he vanished just before Fritz turned up?” The porters carried out our luggage and placed it in the Boot of the BMW. We joined Renate in the back of the car and chatted. Eventually we reached Landeck in the Upper Inn Valley. Shortly after this we passed through in to Bavaria. At the customs check points we where not even stopped. We where waved through the custom post. Unlike all the other cars that where been stopped and had to fill in customs declarations.
10.00 Renate, “I was wondering if you would like to see one of Sigfried palaces.” We drove right up to Newswanstein Castle & just got waved through. Renate said something in German to the guard & he vanished. I told the Guide I would escort you through the Castle.”
Darcie. “Renate before we look round could I go to the toilet”. Renate did not come with the four of us.
Maddy. “Did you notice the border guards when we went through?”
Darcie. “Yes they saluted us.”
Jool’s, “I have noticed that Renate could be Gaby’s twin sister if they where dressed alike.”
Amanda, “Renate did not tell the guide she would take us round. But said, “We where Sigfried's guests.”
Gaby. “Yes I noticed the similarity myself.” After showing us round the castle including some that appeared to be private apartments. In one Gaby noticed a photo of a lady with two babies. The Lady looked like her mother when she was younger. We then where taken through a gorge.
Renate informed us, “We had just walked back into Austria."
13.00 Maddy by now was complaining that she was hungry. Renate said, “There is a very nice restaurant nearby. As we went in the headwaiter went to Darcie & asked if we had booked. Darcie was just saying no when he noticed Gaby & Renate. He did a double take and said, “Sorry I did not realise who it was. Please come this way. This is a very nice table it has a good view of the lake.”
With that he snapped his fingers and all the waiters came running to serve us. Darcie & Gaby once again went to the toilet.
Darcie. “Have you any clue what is going on? That waiter was about to say no. Then he saw you & Renate and he looked terrified as if he might lose his life or something. He had all the staff bending over backwards just like in Innsbruck when Fritz bought us the meal.”
Gaby. “I have noticed Renate never pays for anything she just gets waved through. Tonight I am going on my laptop to do some checking. At the moment this has got me stumped but I do know Renate has already spent a fortune on the four of us.”
We rejoined the group and had a nice meal. We did notice a group arguing with the Head waiter & saying we booked a table for five & now you tell us we have the wrong day and we are booked in for next week.
As we where leaving Renate asked. “Would you like to meet the family?”
We said, “We would love to." We were taken to a Swiss type Chalet in Fischen-Langenwang.
18.00 Outside the Chalet there were several BMW & Opal cars. We where introduced by Renate, To an elderly gentleman & a lady. Then we where introduced to Isolde & her two brothers. We have a meal with the family before returning to Munich & our Hotel.
At the Hotel Darcie ordered a drink and a sandwich. The waiter arrived and asked for payment.
He was taking the money off Darcie when Renate said, “What do you think you are doing?”
By the terrified look on his face we all knew he had made a terrible mistake. The next thing he was in front of Gaby & Darcie on his knees. He was asking for forgiveness and said he was sorry for trying to charge her.
Gaby looked at the petrified man who was kneeling in front of her and said, “We forgive you. You where only doing your job.” The terrified waiter almost ran away.
The manager came. “I apologise for his mistake there will be no charge for your entire group during your stay with us. Please accept this Champagne from the Management. I hope you enjoy your stay in the Kingdom of Bavaria & this will not mar your visit here.”
20.00 Later that evening Renate left them but assured her friends they would be seeing her soon. After she had gone. Maddy again ordered a drink & ham sandwich to see what the reaction would be.
Em. “ Maddy I do not know how you manage to eat what you do and never put weight on.” It was the same waiter who came. He looked petrified as he saw Gaby.
Gaby. “Sit.” He did as he was ordered. “Now explain why you are scared,”
The waiter. “Please mistress I have a wife and daughter.”
Gaby spoke to the manager and ordered Coffee & cakes for them all. “This waiter will stay and serve us. Now you relax,”
21.00 Gaby switched on her laptop she typed Bavaria. After emailing her parents and Justine to tell them about the strange occurrences In Germany. The computer came up the fact Bavaria had a king called Sigfried who was also the German Prime Minister. He had no family but his niece was his heir apparent. There were no pictures of either of them. Gaby did find two pictures of some people she had met. The pictures where of Fritz & Heidi. Gaby decided to keep quiet about this as she had an idea about Renate.
Darcie, “I am called Darcie; this is Gaby, Em Maddy & Jool’s.” Gaby. Slipped a Valium in his drink to calm the waiter down.
“Mein namen is’t Gustaff, “I am head waiter here at the Royal Sigfried hotel.”
Gaby, “Do the Bavarian royal family own this hotel.”
“Madam you know the answer already.”
Gaby, “Do you know these two pointing at the photos of Fritz & Heidi.”
The waiter, “Yes that is the Prince & Princess of Liechtenstein.”
Darcie. “Wow they told us they worked for a bank and had a little place in Vaduz.”
The waiter looked at Gaby and then at Jool’s, “You are her sisters and are testing me out.”
Gaby. “You can go now but send the manager to me.”
The manager came promptly. Gaby . “I want Gustaff to continue serving us whilst we are here. After we leave he is to be promoted.”
“Yes Princess.” Came the reply.
09.00 The following day the girls where due to dance at the Royal Munich Opera house in the evening. Margaret called to say they now had an additional date in Liechtenstein at the Royal Opera House.
Gaby smiled. As they where informed they now would have free time in Liechtenstein instead of Switzerland. The smile spread across all of Gaby’s face.
Darcie noticed the smile. “You know something that I do not.”
Gaby “After we have danced tonight I will tell you. I will keep it to myself until then. Yesterday Renate let slip she had a friend in Skipton.”
Jool’s “Oh anybody we know?”
Gaby “Yes William Church from the youth centre or Wilma as she now is.”
Em. There is something odd about Renate.” An email came from England. To say Justine had dropped what she was doing and was coming to Munich Airport with your father Gaby's. They have a direct flight from Leeds International and should be here for tonight’s performance.”
19.00 That evening The Opera house was packed to capacity. The Audience was all dressed up yet again. The girls had noticed most of the men had sashes over their shoulders and all wore black tie. The ladies all where in exquisite dresses. Two national anthems where played the German boots and laces. This was followed by the English National Anthem. There was a slight difference though the audience said king instead of Queen.
After the performance Margaret appeared and asked every one to put on their best dresses. They then had to wait until instructed to move. Margaret came back with a list in her hand. They had to line up when called outside the dressing room. The last five to be called where Kat, Maddy, Nena, Jool’s. & Gaby. Coming down the passageway was an elderly gentleman sporting a red sash. He had The Iron cross and other decorations on. Standing on one side of him was Justine & on the other was Gaby’s mother. It took all their nerve for Gaby & Jool’s to stay put and not go and greet their mother. Eventually the Gentleman arrived at the last five after stopping and talking to the others.
22.30 Justine “I would like to introduce these girls for as well as being super dancers they also form the basis of the junior cycle team. Nena here looks after them and rides in the cross country events with them.”
“Which of you is Gaby?” Gaby stepped forward. “My niece the Crown Princess of Fischen-Langenwang & her cousin have been talking to me about you.”
Gaby, “I am sorry you must have made a mistake as I do not know the Crown Princess. We have only one friend in Bavaria & If we where dressed alike she would look like my twin. The girl is called Renate & we where expecting to see her tonight after the show.”
The gentleman took Gaby’s hand as he did so Justine said, “Gaby May I introduce a very dear friend of mine Sigfried King of Bavaria owner of Appolonaris.
As she said this Gaby noticed a girl with a tiara gliding down the passage Gaby smiled as Darcie said, “Renate oh my god.”
Gaby’s mother, “Gaby may I formally introduce The Crown Princess of Bavaria the Princess Renate of Fischen-Langenwang & your twin sister.”
Darcie, “Where are Fritz & Heidi?” Just then they appeared dressed up and walking down the passage.
King Sigfried. It gives me great pleasure to introduce formal my great niece and Prima Ballerina with the Royal & Northern Ballet Gabriel Bond-Peters.”
Fritz took hold of Gaby’s hand and kissed it. Then Justine said, “Gaby may I introduce from the Principality of Liechtenstein His Royal Highness the Prince Fritz & his wife the Princess Heidi. Your cousin & my great nephew.”
Justine. “Tonight we all depart for an evening at the Royal palace where you all are guests. We had a super evening at the palace.
Gaby. "We will have to be going to get ready for the next show.”
Renate. “Everything has already been packed and brought here for you whilst you where in the Opera house. For the next two days you all are my guests.
Darcie. “What about the extra show we have to perform. There are also the cycle races some of the team are entered in.”
Renate. “The show is for the Royal Family only and will take place here.” For the next couple of days we had a super time with Renate.
Gaby. “Renate about William Church & how had you meet?”
Renate, “It was strange I met him in a similar way to you.” “I was in Yugoslavia visiting the Spanish Riding School there.” “When I injured myself. He also met up with Fritz & Heidi. Unlike you though he never knew who they where. He has visited me on several occasions, but he never knew my correct title.”
“Gaby said if you wish to join us on the 30th July you could be one of his bridesmaids.”
Drew and the Half-Term Break Chapter 3 - Milan. Florence & Venice copyright Sharp 25.10.08 © 2008
To Be Continued...
