We saw a skycraper with the counterfeit of Eva (Evita) Perón. I think for us Europeans the most famous argentinean person! Evita Perón, second wife of Juan Perón, at that time still Minister of Labor and by her support from 1946 President of Argentina! She was very popular with the working class and did a lot for the rights of women in Argentina. She was either loved or hated, I cannot relate to this position, I know to less about the situation in Argentina. She died very young at cancer.
Our hotel was close to the Obelisque, a really good start point to discover this big city. This was another long life dream of mine, to come to Buenos Aires, can't say why.... I loved from childhood on the name of the city, the sound saying ' Buenos Aires"!
Our hotel " Broadway hoteles and suites" wasn't like the both hotels in Lima or Santiago, it was a bit more basic, but I loved the clean white room with the two small beds.
They have a gym and a wonderful deck on the top with a funny pool, tiled red, so it looked like as I swam in blood. Great view over the city. We enjoy every minute in this nice hotel with the friendly crew!
The first evening we met our two american friends. Martin rested in the hotel, he didn't feel so much better. We other 5 had a great vegan/ vegetarian meal. The waiter was so friendly, I felt so beloved!
Next morning Martin recovered finally and after gym, swimming and breakfast we started our sightseeing tour through Buenos Aires.
Plaza Mayor..... and Palermo, a quarter with many small restaurants and bars, shops and cafés.
We had an unbelievable delicious lunch in a vegan restaurant. As we sat there a while two waitresses came to us - we wore Depeche Mode t-shirts - and told us, that Martin Gore had lunch there 30 minutes ago.... Arghhhhhhh, we were so close to him....
Later we found a nice bar and watched the football game / international friendship game between Italy and Argentina. Italy lost, but for me it was a pleasure to see my big hero Gigi Buffon back on the lawn!
The rest of the evening we walked through the busy city.... a city that never sleeps... a real Metropolis with all the bright and dark sides!
Next morning we met our Argentinian friends. They made the impossible possible, they found a front of stage ticket for my friend Martin! We are so thankful, because now we could enjoy the concert together. They gave me a present, a box with " Alfajores", small cakes with "Dulce de Leche", a speciality of Argentina. Can you imagine this? We are the guests and became gifts? Thank you Veronica and Guillermo for your friendship and kindness! Hope I can give it back to you one time!
"No Gore"
Then we rented a car and drove to La Plata. La Plata is the main city of the province Buenos Aires and yes, La Plata is part of the agglomeration Buenos Aires, but La Plata isn't Buenos Aires.
We heard that the argentinean fans are angry because Depeche Mode announced a concert in La Plata and not in Buenos Aires. Next day other argentinean friends told us there is a kind of Mafia, which is controlling all events in Buenos Aires and it is not easy to make a fair deal with them. However that be, we will never really know why Depeche Mode made this deal with la Plata!
On our way to La Plata we came through the small town Quilmes, known for its beer brewery, an old seaside resort at the River La Plata, which is now so extremely dirt, that the old resort is completely expired. On our way we saw many " ghettos". Argentina is a very poor country with a high inflation which is marauding the country. The gap between rich and poor is unbelievable big. The country was corrupted by a few rich people. A city, a Metropolis, a moloch with many faces.
La Plata offered the same, a beautiful place in the middle of the town, but then the streets looked very ruined. The neighborhood of the stadium " Estadio unico de la Plata" was ghetto like, the stadium modern, place for more than 50000 people. We catched our t-shirts with the flag of Argentina, met a german friend, Torsten. He came for the concert and to tango in the centrum of tango.
I met a few facebook friends, devotees, we are connected, I was really happy to meet some of you finally in real life.We found a good place in the spacious front of the stage area, no alcohol again.
After the long playing support band and a 30 minute pause Depeche Mode entered the stage at 9 p.m!
Depeche Mode was welcomed with an unbelievable applause, long awaited by the argentinean fans.
What a screaming as Dave walked down from the podest, which looked meanwhile like a temporary arrangement, because the crew use the lower part of the podium which is part of the screen, to replace parts of the sidescreens, which are partial broken.
Dave was in an very good mood, he looked again very good in his red jacket and he started with wild moves.
" It's no good ", Dave made his first pirouettes and the audience started dancing and singing.
At the end of the song, the screens on the sides didn't work anymore!
"Barrel of a gun", powerful like every time ended with Dave's welcome slogan " Good evening .... Buenos Aires!" But the most fans reacted a bit angry, there was no big cheer after this, because Depeche Mode didn't play in Buenos Aires.
For the most fans it was very uncomfortable to come to La Plata, and still more uncomfortable to come back home after the concert, so they weren't amused by his slogan!
" Pain that I used to", Dave came like every concert on his catwalk, but only the fans in the front of the stage area could enjoy this, bcause the screens didn't work anymore. The stadium was big and without the screens Depeche Mode look like dolly-birds on a model railroad layout!
Dave gave his best to do a good show, but all his poses wasn't made for a stage in a huge stadium. It was made for the screens, on point, sometimes only grimaces to underline a song but not effective without the screens. The lightshow was made as additional to the screens and so the show and the mood of the fans began to wobble.
We were disappointed too,we heard about the unbelievable mood of concerts in Argentina, but here many things come together ( it was raining) to destroy the good will of the fans.
As Martin come on stage and sang as second song " Home" the screenings started again. What did Dave? Did he fix the screens or the technical equipment all by himselfs?
So the mood getting better, but as " Where is the Revolution" the problems came back and the normal film did not start. We saw Dave in the middle of a big spotlight, I took amazing pictures.
" Everything counts", Argentina you deserve to be the best, because you gave all.
Amazing!
Songs like " Enjoy the silence" and " Never let me down" didn't need any screen.
How often we were so angry about the screenings because you look only to the screens and didn't see the band or didn't enjoy the music.
I ask myself, " deaf or blind" and in my opinion I came to a concert to enjoy the music live.
But in these days all is only a big event, a show machine and everybody want to get the maximum show effect.
I enjoyed the show with my friend Martin, for him the last show in Southamerica. We danced happy together to "Personal Jesus"!
Dave say Goodbye and see you in better times! But no statement by the band or any excuses. No special song or setlist change. Depeche Mode didn't cry for Argentina!
So many poor people gave all their hard earned money to see the band after a long time again and then this happened.
I'm so surprised by this great fans which made the best mood as possible under this circumstances.
We drove back to Buenos Aires with mixed feelings:
A few years ago, screenings were not so important, all the arounds became more and more important over the years. Costumes, gestures, everything just for the screens.
Of course a band looks like toy figures from so far back in a giant stadium, but does not music remain the main reason for coming?
I really don't know. Many fans were very happy after the show, many not.
My doubts from the beginning of the tour came back.
Next day a digital excuse via Facebook by Depeche Mode aka the webmaster. That's all.
Next day Martin and me visited La Boca, an old Italian Quarter with many Tango Bars, Cafés and stores. Home of the Football Club Boca Juniors.
The rest of the day we spent with an old friend from Cologne, which turned back a few years ago to Buenos Aires. I love to travel to meet peoples, old friends, new friends....
It was my last evening with Martin, next morning he had to say Goodbye, he had to go home....
So I spent my last day in Buenos Aires alone by walking through this city. I saw this city from many sides, not only the beauty side, no, I saw behind the scenes and believe me, it must be very difficult to live there.
Goodbye Buenos Aires, Goodbye Argentina!
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen