Travel Theme: Entertainment

There are many different kinds of entertainment and music is probably my favourite. I've attended some formal concerts in wonderful settings, like St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London with its amazing acoustics.  I've also come across some memorable musicians playing outdoors.

St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London

The ensemble at Caffé Florian is one of three orchestras that perform daily on Piazza San Marco in Venice. (Caffé Quadri and Caffé Lavena across the square have orchestras too.) You'll pay a cover charge at the outdoor tables when the orchestra is playing but passersby enjoy the music for free.

Caffé Florian Orchestra, Venice

Piazza San Marco, Venice

The city of Avignon in Provence welcomes thousands of visitors every year in July for the Avignon Festival of performing arts. Most of the action takes place in the evening but this drummer was set up on a sidewalk, ready to entertain much earlier in the day.

Avignon Festival Drummer

Avignon Festival Posters

The Avignon Bridge, le Pont d'Avignon

These street musicians wisely chose a shady spot beneath the plane trees to entertain shoppers on the elegant promenade Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence.

Street Musicians on Cours Mirabeau

Cours Mirabeau, Aix-en-Provence

On the French Riviera, we ran across an accordion player entertaining diners on the waterfront of Villefranche-sur-Mer. He'd performed for us two years earlier at a restaurant in Eze Village.

Accordion Player in Villefranche-sur-Mer

The Waterfront of Villefranche-sur-Mer

The most unusual musical entertainment I've come across was at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on nearby Cap Ferrat. The aquatic show in the villa gardens featured fountains splashing in time to classical music.

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Cap Ferrat

The Musical Fountains

Visit Wheresmybackpack? for more photos of entertainment and next week's travel photo theme.