Parentheses

One of our last events in Berlin was a visit to the the Philharmonie, the city's legendary concert hall. Although Berlin boasts around 15 orchestras, our tickets took us to the visiting Czech Philharmonic and their Verdi Bel Canto evening. By general agreement, at least from our crew, the soprano conceded the evening to the baritone shortly after the interval.

Then the next day we headed out to the Berlin Olympic Stadium on a just for fun outing to watch a soccer game in which third-ranked Hertha – Berlin's professional soccer squad – took on their fourth-placed rival, Bochum. Lots of thumping action; ended 3 to 3. We sat at the end of this massive stadium not far from Berlin's rabid young soccer fans, savoring the best of the wurst, chilly fingers locked to the beverages traditionally associated with such events.

How could this trip conjure a better set of parentheses?