Storks and other fascinating tidbits

By Pam Lundell / Guest Contributor

Did you have any idea that from March to about September, stork families make their nests in the eastern European countries that we have visited. What occurred yesterday in the town of Vukavor , Croatia is not uncommon; We glanced upward at a centuries old church and noticed a mom and tot stork perched in the center of a three foot nest. Such a sight repeats itself over and over in the obscure towns and villages in Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia.

Frequently, we listen to the folk music and view the age old dance of the regions complete with the country of origin costume. It is an art form that should not be lost to the formation of the European Union. The listener is drawn to the subtle difference in the instruments that accompany the vocal groups. There is always a bass, usually a tenor and bass guitar but these three are rounded out by a specific instrument from the particular country which is usually smaller in size and shriller in pitch. The men’s voices are deep bass , sometime perfectly pitched, other times just loud.

What I find captivating are the historical dance costumes. Each are made of fabrics from the regions they represent, in bright hues of primary colors. A scarf or a rose in the hair sets off the natural beauty of the young women dancers. The young men dancers are flirtatious and handsome. Interesting but not surprising is the expression of the joy found in their faces. Music and dance connects all of us regardless of language or background.