Mindo Ecuador – Garbed in raincoat and mud boots this past Saturday around dark, I trekked past Mindo’s Catholic Church on my way to the market. Through the whoosh-whoosh sound of my rain gear and the drizzle hitting the roofs and sidewalk, a stronger much-sweeter sound brought me to a halt.
Mindo’s Main Street
“Is that a violin?” I wondered, then followed the beckoning music until I stood in the doorway of the church. The church was empty aside for one lone figure standing to the side near the front row. In formal attire, perfect posture and with violin at his chin, he seemed like a mirage. Or was he a life-sized poster? No, that was a real person standing there, and his music was pure and sweet.
Captivated, I listened for a very short time, and decided that my presence was most likely an intrusion. I bowed slightly and backed away, all the time wondering who was this person and why was he in this empty church? I resumed my trek, bought my token items and returned for one more discreet glance before going home.
A second person was peering inside, and this younger woman and I exchanged mystified expressions. Who was this person, and why was he there? It was then that I noted the 8 x 10 notice taped to the wall of the church. It stated that Michael Grube, a world-class musician, would be performing at 8:30 at the Catholic Church. He had performed the night before at CasKaffeSu, a popular Boutique Hostal known for its dedication to the arts.
“Oh boy Oh boy Oh boy!” I couldn’t believe that a chance moment redirected me to an opportunity to hear a world-class musician here in Mindo! I dashed home, put away my things, and returned at the proper time for the concert.
Mindo’s own maestro Luis Alban introduced Dr. Michael Grube, who seized our attention with the first chord and held us captivated until the final note was played.
Luis Alban & Michael Grube
From Michael Grube’s YouTube channel:
And the program for March 11, 2017 in Mindo Ecuador:
A few waited to thank the musician in person; we parted company and like Cinderella after the ball, returned to the quiet sleepy little pueblito of Mindo. Was it just a dream? No, the photos confirm, Mindo was blessed with a special visit from a maestro!
Thank you, Maestro Grube!
Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
First the National Ballet and now this! Wow! Wish I could have been there, I LOVE the violin, all the more when I can watch the musician. Thanks for sharing this wonderful find 🙂
Ha! yes, I wish you could have been here as well. Mindo seems to keep playing little trump cards when one least expects one… Wonder what lovely surprises will follow?
Hope the rain is being kind this week!
Listening to the music while writing the comment. What an artist and how amazing that you learned about the concert just in time! Lucky you 🍀
I’m not surprised that you enjoyed the Maestro’s music while writing a comment! yes, it was my unique blessing to have heard the pied piper and followed the sweet tune!
Fantastic to experience such talents and as I said just discovering it in time makes it more special!!
Music hath charms…….. Lovely! Thanks!
Yes; I think the world needs more moments like that, especially if people would pause from their focus on negative issues and allow the music to take them to a more peaceful attitude…..
Wonderful. Magical I am sure. Glad you had the opportunity. ❤
yes, it was a lovely evening… magical for sure. thank you, Gwen!
Lisa, this was wonderful. Thank you for sharing it with us!
you are so very welcome! thank you for being an invisible partner in the audience!
Oh wow, talk about an amazing chance – what a treat. Truly enjoyed the video – yes this was a treat. Thank you for sharing. I’ll bet everyone was mesmerized by the sounds from Michael talented hands and instrument.
yes, it was a very beautiful evening, and even the heavy rains seemed to pause out of respect to the maestro….. thank you mary, and it’s so good to see you back!
Isn’t that wonderful. Occasionally I have had the privilege of entering a church when a talented musician is practicing, and it is a marvellous experience, coming unexpectantly like that.
Hey, and thanks for your feedback! Yes, it’s almost as if Life gives us these little presents, and we are thankful to be alive and in awareness of all of the senses…. there’s a very mystical connection, at least for those who stop to appreciate! Thanks, Tony!
ps.. you’d be interested in a friend’s medical case.. she’s diabetic and a very hard-working woman… only last week did i learn tht she has onlly one lung.. the other was removed at some point in her past due to complications of diabetes.. and this past week she was very sick with fever/headache/exhaustion — pneumonia.. she spent three nights in the hospital and returned home today much much better.. and back to work in her corner tienda….
So sorry to hear of your friend’s predicament. When one lung is removed the considerable respiratory buffer zone we are born with is reduced by 50%, some would say even more, and any slight infection can become very serious. Of course diabetics are more prone to infections too. It is pleasing to hear she improved with treatment and was able to return to a normal life. Thanks for letting me know.
Absolutely wonderful. I’m so glad you noticed the announcement, and were able to return for the concert. And I can tell you that I got hugs galore from Sandy and Chris last night at the Native Plant Society meeting. They were telling everyone who would listen about your wonderful food, your hospitality, your art — and the unbelievable coincidence that we know one another. Chris says she’s coming back — I hope she can.
Weaning back to ‘full strength,’ I just finished some correspondence, then decided there were enough reserves to tackle some comments. And here you are, with a comment box full of happy smiles and hugs!
Oh how great that the Pacchamamas enjoyed sharing some of the high points of their trip… I hope that Sandy was feeling 100 percent well again, and that Chris is still well thanks to ‘all of that garlic’ in her custom/prepared with love menus!
i wish I could have been a fly on the wall! Thanks for the report!
What wonderful serendipity that you found out about it. I can feel your joy at being at that concert.
Alison
What a nice surprise for you. I often thought I liked listening to great musicians rehearse better than when they are playing for a audience. I loved their freedom of expression.
That was truly a great opportunity. So fortunate for you. Great musician.
I see that some parts of Grube’s website are in English, others in Spanish, and still others in German. Let’s hear it for internationalism.
What a wonderful thing to stumble upon.
Very cool. I’ve been traveling and saw a headline about major flooding in Peru which catapulted my mind to you and Mindo. Just had to pop over and find out if all hell had broken loose again. Hopefully not.
thank you so much! the rainy season is pretty normal here, but i’ve heard that it’s raining more on the coast… no friends have written with scary tales, so hopefullly no news is good news.
the peru flooding is horrible… http://ht.cdn.turner.com/cnn/big/world/2017/03/17/peru-flooding-mudslide-erm-orig.cnn_1298611_768x432_1300k.mp4