We Stayed At André Rieu's Hotel Too???

Karen, Alice and Claude at The Ottawa Concert

The following is a description of a "funny" incident that happened to Claude and I when we stayed in Ottawa for the concert.
Alice has done a great job in describing the concert in her report, and I don’t want to repeat her. But I do want to say that it was a pleasure to meet Alice and her parents at the concert. Alice and I had corresponded through Sonja’s Guest Book, but we hadn’t met before. I’m so glad that she and her parents came to the Ottawa concert. They really helped contribute to the lively atmosphere by handing out the 300 André/JSO flags that they had made. The crowd loved them – as well as André (as you can see from Alice’s video)!
After reading Alice’s report I realized that we had stayed at the same hotel. I’m so happy for Alice that she had the chance to meet some of the orchestra members, and get Mirusia and André’s autograph!
Claude and I had different experience.
We drove from Quebec City on Friday afternoon. When we checked into the hotel I noticed there was a sign in the lobby about a convention. I thought to myself with the convention, the Tulip Festival and the May long weekend that the hotel was probably booked to full capacity. So I dismissed in my mind the idea that André and the JSO would be staying there.
Claude and I spent Friday evening and the day of Saturday visiting Ottawa and discovering the beauty of Canada’s capital city. Saturday evening we went to the concert and enjoyed it thoroughly! We were so thrilled to have front row seats in the centre section! After the concert, we returned to the hotel, had a bite to eat and slept in Sunday morning.
Sunday afternoon we checked out of the hotel. Claude went to get the car and I was with the bellboy who came to help with our luggage. When he asked why we came to Ottawa, I told him it was for the Tulip Festival and the André Rieu Concert. Then he asked me, "Did you know that André’s personal manager was in the room next to yours?" "And," he continued, "André was on the same floor at the end of the hall." He also explained that the JSO had stayed on the same floor, as well as the floor below.
I was so surprised!! At first, I couldn’t even believe it! I kept asking him questions and he explained that André had come in late the night before and they had left early in the morning. I just couldn’t believe though how Claude and I could stay at the same hotel and be on the same floor as the Rieu Company and not even realize it!! But I thought it was interesting that I happened to meet a hotel employee who informed me. Otherwise we would have been totally oblivious!
Actually, I think the whole incident is kind of funny. And kind of sad too… We accept that, and we are sincerely happy for those who have attended concerts and have had personal contact with André and the JSO. Perhaps it will be our turn next time! ~Karen