Depeche Mode in Mexicocity, March 11 or " I thank you for bringing me here!"

Time was running so fast after the Moscow concert, because there was so much to do before the great adventure trip to Southamerica.

Saturday morning we finally left a cold and rainy Cologne with a flight via Amsterdam to Mexicocity, our first destination. After 14 hours travelling we arrived in the early evening in Mexicocity. 

 

Ciudad de México, 8,8 millions residents and about 20 millions residents the whole region surround Mexicocity.

As we left the airplane we all three ( I travel with my friends Arkadi and Isa) have a feeling of dizziness. We were really surprised, Mexicocity lay on 2300 meters altitude. 

Our journey will bring us to Cusco and Machu Picchu Mountain, both about 3000meters altitude and I got really anxious.

We took a " Uber" ( private taxi ) to our Hotel. Hotel PF, located in the Zona Rosa, a quarter with many restaurants and cafés, near by the "Angel of independance", a monument really simular to the " Siegessäule " in Berlin.

The hotel was very clean and comfortable.

We had dinner, not easy for me as a vegan in this city.....

After dinner we went to bed, we all had a few symtoms of Anoxia!

But next morning everything was fine and after a breakfast ( fruits and juice for me), we started a walk through the city passing the Angel, the Parc Alameda, the " Palacio de Belles Artes".

We took the elevator to the observation deck of the "Torre Latinamericana", from where we had a wonderful sight over this huge " Metropolis"!

Next station was the "Plaza de la Constitución", called by the Mexicans " Zocalo".

A huge place with an ultradimensional flag of México!

The Zocalo is the heart of the city and this place was even the heart of the old Aztec City Tenochtitlan.

You can visit the rest of an old aztec temple there. 

But we visited the Cathedral of Mexicocity, the biggest cathedral of Northamerica.

Then it was time for an early dinner, we visited the " Bar Bukowski" in the calle Hamburgos. All streets in our quarter have names of big cities. There we drank our first Margarita. But it was a myth, that México is the country of Margarita. They drank usually Tequila, the Margarita was created in the USA, in the period of prohibition, not in México!

I got there in the Bar Bukowski vegan tacos, so I went happy to our first concert of this leg.

We used the Metro, the price for one ticket was 5 Mexican $. 0,25 Euro. 

The Metro net is easy to understand, every station has a special sign, it is not necessary to read a map. I think it is made for all the people who cannot read and unluckely I think this is not rare in México. I saw many childrens running through the streets when they have to be in school, I ask myself if they don't have school attendance?

The Baseball stadium Foro Sol has a concert capacity of 55000, but the newspapers wrote next morning, more then 60000 people saw Depeche Mode at Foro Sol.

Around the stadiums were so many small stalls with unofficial merchandise of Depeche Mode stuff. I've never seen this before, wow. We needed a long time to buy a few good t-shirts. Inside the stadium I bought two official T-shirts. 

One with the Southamerican dates and one only made for the Mexican concert with the mexican flag on the left arm. Hope there will be such a shirt for every country they will play in Southamerica!

We had places really far away from the stage, but I love to have this great view over the whole stadium. You could breathe the amazing athmosphere.

They were many flying beer sellers, so we didn't have to leave our place the whole evening for getting enough beer.

Finally Depeche Mode entering the stage. The sunset was very early and so it was already dark. Sometimes I hate all the people with their mobile phones, but they had a great fan action there. In one area all the people had red cellphone screens, in the next white screens and then green screens. The Mexican flag! That looked so beautiful.

Nobody was seating, the atmosphere was unbelievable.

I couldn't believe, I was finally in México!!! It was a longlife dream of mine to visit Southamerica and see Depeche Mode! Ok, México isn't Southamerica, but I started my trip through Southamerica there and I was so happy to be part of this great concert. Cannot describe it...

Unfortunately the sound wasn't very good, but we had a great concert ( no setlist changes except Martin sang  "Strangelove" again).

But inspite of all this circumstances it was an amazing concert.

The first three songs Dave was very concentrated, no " thank you", he only sang his songs.

But after his powerful "Good evening Mexicocity!" he was tbe entertainer we know.

He made an unbelievable show, he is a kind of tumbler, we saw his funny moves on the two big side screenings! He got so many applause, the audience loved him so much.

"Cover me", the moon dance was so beautiful and two songs later "Home": I got out of my socks!

These words: " And I thank you for bringing me here", I was deeply touched and tears ran from my eyes. 52 years old and a longlife dream came true. I'm so thankful for this!!!!

"Everything counts" was great but not as much we knew from Europe.

But "Enjoy the silence" and " Never let me down" were amazing, what a party.

Best song was " Personal Jesus"! I sang so loud as I could " Reach out and touch Dave" with the fans surround me, happy to be a part of them.

Dave was the Personal Jesus of this Mexican fans, you could touch this feeling.

After the Goodbye the stadium rested a short while without light. We saw a few cars leaving the stadium: Depeche Mode! 

Then we walked again through the streets of unofficial merchandise and picked up a taxi to go back to our hotel and fell happy into our beds!!

And I thank you 

for bringing me here.....

 

Depeche Mode in Moscow, February 25 or Goodbye Winter

I spent nearly 12 days at home between the concert in Gdansk and Moscow.

12 days, I didn't be 12 days at home for a long time. From January 11 on I was the most time on the road, I slept so little. Don't know how I survived the last weeks. But it was such a happy time and so we were fired up for the last gig of the third leg of the Globalspirittour.

4 years before I was in Moscow for the last concert of the "Delta Machine Tour". It wasn't a good concert and I was so sad after the concert. Not sure if I would see Depeche Mode again.

But I saw them again and this really often. Moscow was concert number 52 on this tour for me! 

And I was happy to be in Moscow again, because I like this city very much. 

But it was so freaking cold this time, almost minus 20 degrees Celsius, which is about 14 degrees Fahrenheit. But sunny and dry, so it was ok. And the snow was white, not so dirty like in Cologne.

The first evening we had a great meal in a small restaurant which specialized in pelmeni.

Pelmeni are small stuffed dumplings, similar to the Polish pirogues or the Chinese Wan Tan.

Delicious. 

Then we drove by "Uber" ( the private taxi app) to the Preshow Depeche Mode Party.

The Party was in a small basement bar. But we were to early. It was a little bit like in a party cellar in the 70ties. 

It smelt of sausages, which turned on a grill grate and the beer tasted musty. Unfortunately not very inviting, so we escaped to the bar opposite our hotel where we each drank a very delicious cocktail and then threw ourselves into our warm hotel bed.

Which, by the way, was very comfortable due to the good mattress. " Hotel Old Town",

 a small nice and not expensive hotel in a pedestrian zone. Very close to all the sights like the Red Square and the Kremlin.

And after a nice breakfast in a coffee shop called Prima, where I ate a vegan beetroot sandwich ( they had more vegan options than I can find in Cologne for breakfast!) we walked over the Red Square.

Wonderful place with the unbelievable St. Basil's Cathedral and the department store "GUM".

We had a great morning. Then we visited the Kremlin. Inside the walls of the Kremlin are numerous religious and secular buildings - cathedrals, palaces and administrative buildings - from different eras. The Kremlin is the oldest part of Moscow, it dates from the 15th century and served as the residence of the tsars. Enjoy my pictures.

I will come a third time to Moscow, then in summer, to visit all the other interesting places of this big city, but if you have only two days, like us, you have to visit the Red Square and the Kremlin, even  if you have already seen it!

Before we went out to eat, we drank a "samogon", which is a home-made vodka. We drank it in the "Four Seasons Hotel", a luxury hotel right on the Red Square, which was rebuilt in the 30s style of the legendary Hotel Moscow, which previously stood in the same place.

Of course, Depeche Mode slept there, but we were out of luck this time.

Then another ride by Taxi to the sports complex Olympiski ,which is a multifunctional hall. It is also known as the Moscow Olympic Hall, as it was built for the 1980 Summer Olympics.

But inside it was so unorganized. No beer, only a few wood tables where you could buy bland long drinks. The sound at the beginning wasn't very good and it was the biggest front of the stage area of the whole tour, nearly the whole standing area was the front of the stage area. The fans stood so close to each other, so we decided to go to the right side where we had lots of space to dance. And we danced the whole time, sang a last time together on tis third leg.

We enjoyed it so much and from song to song the mood and the sound became better and better.

A wonderful " Goodbye" to the winter. Dave spoke a lot, but he mumbled strongly, unfortunately he was hard to understand, but he was in a good mood. Solved and relaxed.

I didn't take a lot of pictures, because I danced the whole time as if it were the last time.

No setlist changes. But I have to say, I find the setlist now so perfect and the whole show. It is a party setlist. Dave is the movie star and we're the extras. We copy his terrific drama. But it is not just rehearsed by the paper, no, his presentation comes from the depths of his soul, it is simple and honest and who recognizes this, like this setlist. I do not need more to be happy.

And were not we all made happy by Depechhe Mode? Man and woman, old and young, heterosexual and gay, people of all countries and all skin colors?

" Going Backwards", a very good dramatic opener

"It's no Good", The pirouette party begins

" Barrel of the gun", very good version and the end is really surprising!

"Pain, that I used to"...a invitation to party!

"Useless", so useful

" Precious", at the latest here, the audience  always rages

'"World in my eyes", Yes, Depeche Mode are the world in our eyes.

" Cover me". what an unbelievable song. Here Dave shows every concert what a great entertainer he is.

Mr. Gore with "Insight"

" Home"

Depeche Mode is my home

" In your room"

Powerful version, a short moment to breathe

" Where is the revolution", the single, good screening, boring song

" Everything counts"

How my friend Michael said: "but for this song the tour was worth it"

"Stripped"

yes, it is a soul striptease 

" Enjoy the silence"

I'm back where I always wanted to be.

" Never let me down again", the text is program

" I want you now", thank you Martin for this wonderful song

" Walking in my shoes", yes, please try it.

" Question of time", Mr. Gahan and his relationship to his Microphone stand. 

"Personal Jesus".

Can't live without.

Jesus Christ himself.

We heard that Depeche Mode left Moscow directly after the concert.

They have only 14 days until the next concert in Mexico, well deserved holidays.

But we drank another drink ( Moscow Mule) in the Four Season Hotel, to celebrate this last evening together. It is a big Goodbye. Not easy, because we spent so many days and nights and concerts together. It was a wonderful time with you all and I will miss you all.

Goodbye Moscow, Goodbye my friends.

Goodbye Depeche Mode.

Goodbye Winter Tour, 

Goodbye Winter.

What an amazing leg, what an amazing start into 2018 with this 13 concerts.

The Cologne Concert was my favorite but all the others were great, too.

Best part of the tour so far and I'm now very excited to go the first time in my life to Southamerica to see Depeche Mode again.

                                                               " Take my hand 

                                                                  Come back to the land 

                                                                  Let´s get away 

                                                                  Just for one day"

Depeche Mode in Riga, February 20 or takeover by Traicy

The winter European Leg is over.
I couldn't find guest writers for all the concert after the polish concerts. But for Riga I found Traicy.
I met her a few times on this tour and we spent a wonderful afternoon in Gdansk.
So read her great report.



Ice, Nice... Dave's Riga: 

Riga - it should be my 22nd and provisionally last Spirit concert until the summer. Oh I wish such an arena, such an atmosphere and such sounds would have been my first official Spirit concert ...

But for now we arrived in the snow sugared sweet city. Still during the flight we should learn how kind the Latvians are. We studied our guide and immediately our Latvian neighbor became aware of us and knew advice and advice. Not only that, he insisted in a very friendly manner that he and his wife should bring us to our accommodation in Riga. So we were finally in beautiful Riga and enjoyed a few days the city, a bit of wellness, the snow, the legendary DM bar - until friends and acquaintances and especially our boys arrived.

And they arrived, right in the heart. Fortunately, vitamin D and a little courage gave us the opportunity to greet Depeche Mode on arrival with a smile and some more heartbeat.

Dave was in a good mood when he came up to us and nodded to us That evening, we unexpectedly met our smiling dream singer again.

Dave in a stunning suit, which he wore on the occasion of Peter's "birthday party", with funny slogans on the lips ... What a dreamlike unreal evening ...!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqa8dxo5THo

It was a restless night and the anticipation of the next concert was unbelievable. This time we had seats (row 17, 101 and 102) so we took it easy.

We were thrilled by the sound of the Arena 2 days before the Depeche Mode concert, as we were fortunate enough to see "Kraftwerk" spontaneously. What a sound - paired with a madness show. It was just fantastic to be beamed back to the old days listening to the electronic "birth sounds" that shaped my love of music.

But all of that immediately moved into the background when our boys came on stage. Wow. There was no sign of the cold outside. Old, young, colorful, black - it was a very mixed crowd and from the beginning a great atmosphere.

"Do you live in Riiiigaaaa?" Oh yes, after a few days we almost felt like that. And now in the middle of the sold-out arena, we were once again able to experience a wonderful concert with a great stage show. And it certainly was for the band,  too which was not only impressed by the thunderous applause of "Everything counts" ...!

Thanks Riga. Thanks Depeche Mode & friends and Kraftwerk. Thank you for all the encounters and moments that will forever remain in our memory.

Equipped with much less wellness than planned, but with more encounters with the band than dreamed. With small hand luggage and experience overweights back ...

Back to Berlin with Riga temperature on board - but above all with 101 beautiful memories.

See you next (summer) time!

Thank you Traicy for this great report. 

I have only one trump in my hand, a last report on the winter tour. So stay tuned, he will come in the next few days!