Oh dear, where to go? I stood at the corner of Rembrandtplein and asked Google's opinion- their first suggestion was De Maria, but I went there last year, and wanted variety. So I went with their second choice- La Vaca, just around the corner, white tables and chairs outside on an attractive courtyard bordering the canal.
Mind you, it was a bit chilly to sit outside, so I sat just inside the window, where I was the only customer- it pays to go mid-afternoon. I ordered bread with garlic butter, a 300g (!) rib-eye with mushroom sauce, and ooh goodee, they do carafes of wine. So I had one of those too.
Ok, so the bread with garlic butter was a basket of slices of bread, accompanied by a pat of garlic butter. Not heated or anything. But that was as described, and boy was it welcome. As was the wine. I'd got half the bread eaten by the time the steak arrived- on a separate, sizzling hot plate that shared space on a larger plate with two dishes, one of chips, the other of salad. Sauce was on the side. And despite it being bigger than I normally have, I pretty much polished it off! Delish. And to top it all off, they had tartufo for dessert, which I love. Not cheap here, but good eats, and great service. Terrible WiFi though- don't even bother. As I left, the evening rush was just starting.
I set off for the concert in good time - and of course, the Metro line is 54, not 4! Easy enough to find my way, anyway- and a great way of getting rid of change. The fare seems expensive at €3 one-way, certainly in comparison with Madrid- but then, it's £2.70 in London Zone 1, and the €3 covers unlimited travel within the Amsterdam area and surrounds for an hour.
I was the one to enlighten five of my fellow passengers that we shouldn't wait for the Bijlmer ArenA stop, but get off at the one before, Strandvliet. See, the ArenA is just across the road from the Ziggo Dome , where U2 are playing this year - but Strandvliet is just a little closer than the other station. Mind you, it was confusing, exiting the station into a crowd of Ajax supporters headed the other way, from a match that had just ended in the ArenA.
Also confusing is the lack of information at the Ziggo Dome, considering that a large crowd were headed around the back of the building! Well, I don't know where they were going, but I was in the right place, at the entrance. It's simple enough really- South ring to the left, North ring to the right (which is pretty correct, geographically). Floor entrance is in the middle, and was the only long queue at that point- so if you're not standing, get out of the long queue.
I was mildly anxious at having a ticket in someone else's name, but there was no problem and I was soon in. Gratified to see a One Foundation stand where they were actually trying to recruit- it's been a while. Upstairs to the seating area - by escalator, handily - both merchandising and the bar had ridiculously long queues, so I just took my seat, glad to see the broken rails down the middle of the steps, which make it so much easier for me, with my step phobia.
Hmm, yes. End-on to the vidiwall. Well, I've booked for 13 shows this year, and it is good to get different perspectives. Actually, this position allowed me to see a lot of what goes on around the B-stage.. and, of course, they spend most of the second half of the show down this end. It is also great to see how much attention Bono pays to the back of the room. Really, the only thing you're missing from here is the vidiwall- and that is shown on a smaller screen, high up.
Speaking of which, tonight was the least I've seen it used! Which brings me to the setlist:
setlist
- The Blackout
- Lights of Home
- I Will Follow
- Gloria
- Beautiful Day
- Zoo Station
- Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
- Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (Intermission - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me)
- Elevation
- Vertigo / Rebel Rebel (snippet)
- Even Better Than The Real Thing
- Hall of Mirrors (snippet) / Acrobat
- You're The Best Thing About Me
- Summer Of Love
- Pride (In The Name Of Love)
- Get Out Of Your Own Way
- New Year's Day
- Ode To Joy (snippet) / City Of Blinding Lights
- One
- Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way
- 13 (There Is A Light)
encore(s):
Holy crap, look what happened to the setlist while my back was turned! Gone are all the home videos and the video clips from the first half: in their place, old favourites from Achtung Baby. And Gloria live! Woah, what a treat- and how they can still work a room. It is as awesome as ever to watch the crowd during that song. Don't worry though, all the politics of the second half are still there.
The crowd around me stayed seated until Bono paid us some attention- which he did quite early. Even when they weren't inclined to stand in general, there was no problem if someone did- that's the great thing about an Amsterdam crowd, and the main reason I'll keep coming back here.
Afterwards, the merchandising stall was much quieter, so I got to spend loads of cash on some excellent merchandise I hadn't come across before. And then headed to Bijlmer ArenA stop to go back to town. That's strategic, you see - it's not that far, but the Metro stops there first on its way into town.. so by the time it gets to Strandvliet, it's packed. My quick thinking got me a seat..
And I get to do it all again tomorrow- picking a different steakhouse, I guess! Flying back Tuesday lunchtime, taking the whole day off, naturally, and that evening I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Height of the Storm, at Wyndham's. Booked through What's on Stage.
On Wednesday, I'm with Let's Do This for another Turkish meal - this time at Sofra. It'll also be the first time since June I'll have met Mary!
On Thursday, film again - already booked though, because they were already selling out. It's part of the London Film Festival at the BFI - Be Natural is the story of Alice Guy - Blaché, the first female filmmaker, and is narrated by Jodie Foster. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, again.
On the 15th, back with North London Friends for The Wild Duck, by Ibsen, at the Almeida. I wasn't in time to get one of their tickets, so booked my own - what the hey.
On the 16th, comedy with Ahir Shah at Soho Theatre.
On the 17th, a real dose of nostalgia - Mayerling ballet, at the Opera House. My favourite ballet, this was also the last event we attended here with the Man with the Hat. And the second last event ever. At least it'll be less evocative since, for once, I'm sitting facing full-on! He always had us in the slips, so I haven't faced the Opera House stage since I started with his groups! I'd watch it blindfolded just to have him back again, though. We miss you, MwtH.
On the 18th - why, I'm off to Manchester. For U2, unsurprisingly. Yes, I get busier around now as they come around these parts. Taking the train that evening - it was the cheapest, and so much handier than having to make my way to and from airports and watch what I pack! I should arrive walking distance from my hotel, Roomzzz Corn Exchange, which itself is walking distance from the venue, the Manchester Arena. And right beside the shopping centre, apparently! That could be handy.. if only to buy provisions, as this is an aparthotel, so I can cater for myself.
The concerts themselves are on the 19th and 20th. Ironically, the English concerts are the only ones whose tickets are being posted to me - and would you believe it, what with booking them in January and moving in June, I completely forgot to make the connection. So I forgot to update my address with Ticketmaster (TM). Just remembered last weekend, by which time it seems they'd already been posted. I've contacted my old flatmates, but the only response I got was from one who's also moved out - happily, TM says, if I contact them that week, they'll void the old tickets and issue new ones that I can pick up at the box office. There's always some palaver on a U2 tour, and this isn't the first time I've had to pick up my tickets in Manchester!! Outside of England, they're all e-tickets..
I take the train back on the 21st. Better not leave it too late, as I've actually booked for the Smithfield & Clerkenwell Walk: Guts & Glory, with Walking in London - but more specifically, with Katie of Look Up London! Excellent - I was booked for this in July, but she had to cancel. She's one of the best around. Should be close enough to me, too, and it doesn't start too early. And it being a Funzing event (like all of Walking in London's) I scoured my old Funzing discount codes, and discovered that Funzing_Fb20 seems to be working again - for all of them I've recently booked! So, a 20% discount - better than any recently offered on their Facebook page.
On the 22nd, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club for Buddha Babies, again at Soho Theatre. Naturally, not advertised on their Meetup group - they advertised an event today, but of course, I'm out of the country.
On the 23rd & 24th, I don't have to travel so far to see U2 - they're playing the O2 in London. These tickets, I got my address changed in time for, it seems - they're also being posted. Helen is going on the 23rd.. sat in the corporate box, poshly! Nah, I'd rather be closer and sweatier, thanks!
The 25th is my colleague's last day before he quits for a new life in Stockholm - we're headed out that night. Amazing that I still had that day free when we arranged it!
On the 26th, I fly to Belfast. Yep, U2 again. Told ya. Staying in the Crescent Townhouse, walking distance from the SSE Arena, where the concerts take place on the 27th and 28th. On the 29th, I'm taking the train down to my mother for a week - makes more sense than jetting back and forth to her!
On the 5th, I'm back up to Dublin. U2 again, dont'cha know? Staying in the Clayton again, which is a hop, skip and jump from the 3Arena in Dublin, where there are concerts on the 5th and 6th. Would you believe, not even I could swing a ticket for the 5th - well, I'll just rock up on the day, and hopefully I can get something at the box office. I have heard of such things happening. I've had stranger things happen!
On the 7th of next month, I fly back to London (BA) - purely so I can work on the 8th, before flying back to Dublin that night! Was supposed to be Cityjet, but they've now ended their flight schedule after this month - so now I'm going Ryanair. Same hotel, same venue, same band - on the 9th and 10th. I fly back on the 11th, exhausted, and finished with U2 concerts for the year!
On the 12th, I've decided to treat myself to a performance of Macbeth, at the Wanamaker Playhouse.
On the 13th, we have our monthly team outing - our colleague from Mexico might be joining us!
On the 14th, back with UITCS at last for Love Lies Bleeding, at the Print Room at the Coronet. Got my ticket from London Theatre Direct.
On the 15th, I'm going to try the Seven Deadly Sins Pub Naughty History Tour. Walking in London again, so discounted again! Then I'm back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 19th, News of the Strange, from the Crick Crack Club, at Soho Theatre. Not advertised on their Meetup group, of course.
On the 20th, back with UITCS for Pinter at the Pinter - Pinter plays at the Pinter Theatre. Two long ones on this occasion - this is Programme Four: Moonlight & Night School.
On the 21st, back at last with The London Jazz Meetup, who are off to the London Jazz Festival for a concert by the Faraj Suleiman Quartet at King's Place. UK premiere, apparently!
On the 22nd, with UITCS at the Garrick for Don Quixote. The only cheap tickets left for this were terrible, so I went a bit upmarket. A bit - I'm still behind a pillar!
On the 23rd, I'm on a Paranormal Activity Tour - ooh! Now, for this one, we get ghost-hunting equipment, which could make it interesting - I don't fancy the dowsing rods, myself, but we'll see. Walking in London, again. Discounted, again. And this was after my loyalty discount - so I got it at better than half price! which is good, considering the price.
On the 24th, I'm off on my own to see A Small Place, at the Gate.
On the 25th, back at last to Winter Wonderland! That evening, I'm off to Cirque Berserk - an annual tradition for me. The latest show is the cheapest, so that's the one I booked.
And on the 26th of next month, I'm back with UITCS for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue.
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