Part 4: Paris

I meet up with Alexander on the train to the airport; Benny was meeting us there for the flight to Paris. After landing there we took a long walk for one end to the other to meet up with Promise.

We took a cab to Bercy to join the line; we got numbers 127 to 130, so not bad at all since the line was started on the Thursday and it was now Tuesday.

There was about 1½ hour to the next roll call so decide to go for a late lunch around the corner, there we meet Bruce and the 2 women are taking him around Europe.

 After the 17pm  roll call it was time to go on the metro to find the apartment we were staying in, it was about 30 minutes ride on the metro and with one changes. The place was huge so not problem getting room for everybody.

After at little relaxing and a change of clothes it was time to go back to the 20pm roll call and meeting up with the Laugesen clan, after the roll call we went across the street to eat dinner with them. After the last roll call it was time to get some sleep before the big day ahead.

Manchester

After the show it was straight to the car and on the way to Manchester.

We got numbers xxx to xxx, then off to the hotel and sleep before the 7am roll call, the rain was coming down all ready and would not stop before show time, but at this time we were happily unaware of the heavy rain and cold there were ahead of us.

 Back to hotel for 2hrs more sleep, then back to the 9am roll call where the rain got really heavy and we all got soaked. Then back to the hotel for dry clothes, breakfast and check out before the 11am roll call. After the 11am roll call we went to check into the next hotel for 1 night- 5miles away but 100gbp cheaper!! Additional rain gear was also purchased before the 1pm roll call.

At the 1pm roll call we all lined up in rows of 50 at various entrance gates where they kept us in the lovely rain until time to open the doors. We got wristbands at around 3pm and then approx 30mins before the doors were to open we learned the asshole security people were not going to honor  Bruce’s system and they would open all doors at the same time- as this was allegedly the safest way to get 3,000 people in!! We all agreed that it was too dangerous to run and we would take a place at the side or the back of the pit and just enjoy the show from there. However when we got in there was no-one at the far left side walkout so we all went there and got to be with some other friends also.  The pit did not completely fill so we had very few people around us and had the freedom to dance and get back to the walkout if Bruce visited….which he did 3 times ;)- show was amazing also with standout s being ’78 intro for Prove It, lots from the River and a stunning  solo piano of The Promise. Also Curt became the flying trumpet player!  In the end a completely rain free show!

Then back to the hotel for much needed sleep and feet rest, before taking a week’s break….missing the Isle of Wight festival.

To The UK + Sunderland

We got the rental car and left Montpellier for a road trip to Marseille to fly to Newcastle via Gatwick.

After some tries we got out of the city and on the way.

And with the exception of the disappearing toll road ticket it was a nice trip

Not much time in the airport so after a little food shopping we were on board and in the air.

But they came around with free coffee and cookies, and we were lucky, there was no pork fat in them!

We arrived in the cold UK, compared to where we came from; there was no rain….yet!

We had dinner at the airport and I got the biggest chicken burger ever.

 Then we found out that our 20.05 flight was now being 2.5 hours delayed!

Now info besides “we hope to fly”, then around 22.00 we got free voucher for drinks, not a good sign. But after a short meeting with Mr. Jack D, they were ready to board us.

The nice rental car man in Newcastle stay at the office waiting for us, so we got the car and went straight to the Sunderland line and got number 105.

Then we went looking for our hotel, and after scaring the poor guy in reception when we arrived 5 persons, as Kathy from OZ now had joined us, with all our bags as he was only waiting 1 person and was fully booked, we found out we was in the wrong one.

We found the right one and could finally get a few hours of sleep before the morning roll call.

We had the roll call at 6.00 in nice UK rain. Then we had breakfast and shower and packing the bags as we were going straight to Manchester after the show.

Then back to the line to be told we should be back at 14.30 for wrist bands.  Then the security staff said wristbands at 14.00, so we decided to be back at 13.30 to see what was happening.

We then went looking for waterproofing and a place to park the car, before we rejoined the line at 13.30, now everything was chaos, they just gave us a grey wristband and say that they would soon let us into another area where they would be food and drinks to buy before they would let us into the stadium, but they would not respect the numbers.

When they open the gates people was running and fighting for they spot, nobody seem to care about food and drinks everybody just wanted a good spot in the new line.

After sometime in the new mass line, Graham showed up and he was not a happy man!

Then they started to line us up in numbers in a new line outside the “new” line, but faith was restored and we knew that with the G man in charge everything would be all right.

Then they finally let into the stadium in numbers and walking, again we got a spot at the rail in front of the video scream on the right side.

 The band was in very good mood and a bit loose after a few drinks celebrating Nils birthday with a few drinks.

Montpellier

We finally arrived in Montpellier, and made the way thru the streets with all our bags to find our hotel, and the off in a taxi to the arena to get a number for the line, there we meet up with Christina. 

Got number 42 so was very happy, after a pizza it was straight back to bed for much needed sleep.

After the early roll call it was back for breakfast and a shower, before we went back to the line. Most of the day was spend in the local shopping mall relaxing before the show.

They got us lined up 2 and 2 in the numbers as Graham started to wristband us, then they checked bags and tickets so everybody was ready to go when the doors opened, was very impressed with that. Everything went good with again not much running.

We ended up in front of the 2 walk out on Stevie’s side so a perfect spot for this indoor show.   

And what a show….Point Blank was awesome…….

After the show we said goodbye to Christina and went back to the hotel for sleep, before the next day’s journey to the UK.

On The Way To Montpellier

Then back to the train station for the evening train to Montpellier. That turned out to be one of the more strange train rides of our life, we ended up in a coach with some wired people: the girl with ribbons in the hair who need a drink and went to the train bar for 2 hours, the music guy who got deported because of his blog and then interviewed by the BBC, the dad with about ten camels tattooed on his arm, the two American boys who had the wrong ticket a pretended to been asleep and missed the get off, the train conductor who had a couple of  beers before he went to work, just to name a few.

Madrid Show

After the breakfast in the wedding room we went back to Estadio Santiago Bernabéu to re-join the line.

We were placed on the street after numbers and got wristbands there, all of a sudden we hear loud sirens as a couple of police bikes and cars are coming down the street, it turns out to be Bruce and the band arriving, after a bit of chaos people got back in the line for the let in.

It was another success with not too much running; we got a good spot at the rail in front of the video screen on the left side of the stage.

For the first ten minutes the sun was straight on us, but then it went down, and the rest of the wait was nice, but nothing could have prepared us for what happened later, to say the show was AMAZING would be the understatement of a lifetime!!!

After the show was over we made the bad decision of going back toward our hotel to find some food instead of finding something on the crowded streets near the stadium, but everything was closed near our hotel.

We had gotten some bread and stuff in the day, to take with us on the train, but now we used it as a very late dinner.

After that it was time to pack our bags and get ready to take the 6am train to Barcelona.

First my I-phone charger was missing, so after accusing the maid for stealing it, I found it in my bag, but the muffin Promised had bought early in the day at Starbucks was forever gone.

After breakfast on the train it was time to sleep, before we arrived in Barcelona, after breakfast part 2, we went out to catch the sightseeing bus, but after about 7 steps I found a stand selling old stuff, so now I'm the proud owner of a Spanish vinyl pressing of Human Touch.

The bus took us around Barcelona, and we got off in the city center to get lunch and meet up with 2 of Dana's niece who also happened to be there.

Madrid

We where set to meet in Madrid, shelia o Dana was surposed to land 3 hours ahead of us, but due to airplane problems, they where delay with 3 hours, so we all landed at the same time.
They where at terminal 4 and Alexander, Eddie and me at terminal 1, so decined to taking taxi to the line.
Somehow they ended up paying 10E for there taxi than we did.

We got numbers 422 to 427, the surprise was the roll calls, we hade one at 16.00, one a 21.00 and then at 10.00 and 14.30.

After the roll call we started on the walk to the hotel with all the bags, we where in one hotel and Alexander and Eddeiin one on the next street.
Our hotel was and appartment hotel, the room was full of doors.....we had 6 closets...the was a big livingroomwith a dead looking plant that was made in brown plastic.

Ros and mewent out to get some food, found a nice cafe, but somehow we manged to piss the girl there off, so she was very annoyed with us.
After some time she started to mop the wall! while smoking.
We went by the supermarket to buy water, but endede up buying bread, yougurth, pate, cheese, banana, juice and water, wich later turned out to be very lucky.
Went to check on if there was wifi, there was at 12E or free in the lobby....a bit strange.

After the evening roll call we went out to dinner at a street resturan with spaninsh food. Was very nice.
After a bootle of champange to celebrate the start of the tour, it was time to sleep.
In the morning after the roll call we went to the hotel for breakfast. You had to walk to basement via stairs to take elevator up to 2nd floor for breakfast....never heard of that before.

Round 3

Of to the airport soon, will meet up with Alexander on the train, then with his brother in the airport.

When we arrive in Madrid, we'll meet up with Promise!!!

Been for ever since I saw her so will be so nice, also joing us are Dana & Shelia from the US for their first european shows.

Going Home

After the show, Alexander and me say bye bye to Skip and Nils.

After a little food in a strange bar....we went on the early early morning train on to Venice

After a little sigthseeing there we went on to the airport to fly home, I was so tired and just wanted to be home. On the other hand I was so glad thing about that I would still see Bruce one more time this week :-)

Triest

The GA line here was not so big, maybe most people was still not here

Got number 293, the winner was 53, so finally a little luck

Got a nice spot in front of 2nd walkout, Bruce came by a couple of times, and then in Born To Run he came over with the guitar to let us all play it.....was so awesome

Road Trip

Alexander and me was planing on taking the night train from Florence to Triest, but we could not book in online for some reason, and mailing the train company gave us no reply. And upon arraving in Milan, the train was sold out.

But then we got lucky, in the Florence GA line we meet Skip and Nils.

Skip is from the US and came over to do the show from Berlin to Triest with his friend Nils from Germany, and they did the trip in an autocamper.
They where happy to let us join them in the 6 hour roadtrip thru the night to Triest.

This just again proves the one came meet the most amazing people standing in the street waiting for a Bruce show, a funny twist to the whole thing is that Skip and Nils meet each other on the streets of Dublin in 2008, the very same GA line I meet Promise at.

Sadly I just realise that I took no pics on the trip, guess I was to tired.

Florence Rain Show

After some relaxing at the hotel and later in the pit I was ready for the show

We got an ok spot, after again no luck in the lottery

The place started to fil up, and as everybody knows by now, the rain came!

It was so heavy that I did not dare to take out my phone to take pictures, so this one is from Bruce.

But yet again he put on an amazing show for us.

Florence

I arrivede in Florence at my hotel, wich is closen to the stadium, and my Alexander has joined me for the last 2 concerts in Italy.

Somebody else aso arrivede here :-)

Went to the GA line and got our numbers and meet up with @RedHeadedGoose and Dennis.

Then back at 6 this morning to get the wristbands at 8

Now back at hotel relaxing a bit before the going back to the lottery at 12.30





The show

The lottery line, I was 168 so not so lucky with that.

But got an ok spot just after the last walkout, next to a nice english couple, that I forgot the names of, but they promised to sent me pics from the show.

As the hours past by us, the stadium started to fill up, and I ever got a power-nap

We all know smoking is dangerous, but is that why cigarette girls have a bodyguard?

Then we where ready for Bruce, but not for what happened later. It was one amazing show.

Standar setlist in the begining, but relly great atmosphere, and then he just went crazy

Showtime

Went to the stadium for the roll call at 05.00, not more than 350 people there at the time

But the line got bigger and by 07.30 we were into the 700's. Without too much caos they startede to hand out the wristbands

Went from the 191, wich was actually 181 but they wrote the wrong nr on my hand causing a bit of stress to the italian man with the right nr 191, but everything worked out

Milano

Arrived In Milano

Checked into my room, that seems to have to many beds

Went to the huge stadium to get my number

Italy

I'm so ready for my first trip to Italy, always been a dream of mine to see Bruce in Italy.

My hopes for the setlist is still Breakaway (after he played Save My Love in Berlin).