“Spec Bebop” by Yo La Tengo was the first song to play on the shuffle as I drove to SFO. I’m taking that as a good omen for the tour.
The tour…finally here after months and months of planning, discussing, working out schedules, emailing with promoters and bands, routing and re-routing. Julie gets most of the credit for making this happen. She was tenacious in tracking down like-sounding bands, convincing them to book dates with us, getting them to help us back line, figuring out payment and lodging details. Others chipped in as well, me with putting together maps and directions, booking the car, a ferry, a room in Prague, arranging lodging in Copenhagen. But most of the credit for making this a reality goes to Jules.
(pro-tip...Mono cases for checking instruments on flights. As good as advertised)
The flight itself was routine. We took off, we landed. Meals were served, including pretty decent (as airplane food goes) vegetarian curry. But, this being United, certain things were lacking. No free wine or beer (unlike Geoff and Jules on Lufthansa), no seat-front entertainment. I ended up in the first row of coach behind business class, with nothing but a thin curtain, never fully closed, between us. So I got to see the full service…linen on the tray, real tableware, plastic cutlery at least colored silver, free flowing wine. The oddest thing about United b-class on this plane was the configuration. The rows were alternated front and rear orientation. Which meant for the entire flight I was looking right at a guy facing to the rear of the plane. It was also a bit disorienting getting on the plane…seeing half the rows facing rear made me wonder which side of the plane I boarded.
We all met up in Frankfurt, got the van (with a bit of sticker shock on insurance costs), and off we went to Leipzig. Scott got to talking about castles with a guy working at a rest-stop and he suggested Wartburg Castle above the town of Eisenach (where Martin Luther studied for a bit, JS Bach was born). Ended up being a grand idea. By the time we got there, a bit after 6:30, the crowds were gone and we had the place almost to ourselves. We were rewarded with spectacular early evening views of the valley and the quiet of the nearly deserted castle grounds. Sometimes it’s the detour that makes the trip.
(our ride)
We arrived in Leipzig around 9:30p, and after wrangling the room situation went off in search of food, beer and fußball, which we did find at a little joint up the street. A nightcap, then finally off to bed.
(Wartburg Castle)
Very cool! I am loving all your Instagram pics too. I hope it's a great tour with few mishaps and large turn outs.
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