So, last U2 concert in the Ziggo Dome for the year. First, I needed to eat - so I decided to try Vapiano, just across the road from the hotel. Never tried it before- it turns out that you get a card, which you take with you to the open kitchen (in this case, two stories down, but there is a lift). Queue at the counter for what you roughly want - salad, pasta, pizza - specify exactly what you want when you get there, and it's cooked in front of you. You can tell them exactly how you want it, and two can be done at a time. You can also pick up soft drinks there- alcohol is available at a separate bar. Hold your card up to be charged- you hand it in as you leave, and the total is calculated.
Plenty of seating, most already occupied on the kitchen level. I was lucky to get the last free table there - and not even a high one! I have to say, my carbonara was delicious, and good value. However, it wasn't going to be enough for the night - I was going to have to eat again.
Back to the hotel- for one thing, my phone needed charging- and once I'd finished watching Paul O' Grady in South Africa, I set out again. Decided on De Nachtwacht on a whim, knowing I wasn't as hungry as on previous occasions, and seeing they had beef satay.
I was sat in the attractive conservatory overlooking the square. Seeing "bread with garlic butter" on the menu again, but this time in the "hot starters" section, I had to give it a shot. Not as successful as La Vaca, I'm afraid- the bread wasn't very good, the butter was kind of greasy.. oh, and of course it wasn't hot! My satay was very tasty, but the taste became cloying after a while and I couldn't finish it. It came with salad - I'd also ordered fries, which were doughy. And the sauvignon blanc was watery. Not a place I'll be returning to.
And so to the stadium, where the floor queue must have extended for half a mile. I was in much faster, and all the way up to the second tier, where I was in the front row. I'd been worried that I'd get vertigo and be unable to stand- but the railing is quite substantial. Or that, like the 3Arena in Dublin, they'd ban people from standing in the front row of the balcony, for safety reasons. Nope, the only restriction was on leaving your drink on the rail, in case it fell. And although I was higher than last night, on balance I prefer to be where I can see the vidiwall properly.
Flying back tomorrow afternoon, 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.
Plenty of seating, most already occupied on the kitchen level. I was lucky to get the last free table there - and not even a high one! I have to say, my carbonara was delicious, and good value. However, it wasn't going to be enough for the night - I was going to have to eat again.
Back to the hotel- for one thing, my phone needed charging- and once I'd finished watching Paul O' Grady in South Africa, I set out again. Decided on De Nachtwacht on a whim, knowing I wasn't as hungry as on previous occasions, and seeing they had beef satay.
I was sat in the attractive conservatory overlooking the square. Seeing "bread with garlic butter" on the menu again, but this time in the "hot starters" section, I had to give it a shot. Not as successful as La Vaca, I'm afraid- the bread wasn't very good, the butter was kind of greasy.. oh, and of course it wasn't hot! My satay was very tasty, but the taste became cloying after a while and I couldn't finish it. It came with salad - I'd also ordered fries, which were doughy. And the sauvignon blanc was watery. Not a place I'll be returning to.
And so to the stadium, where the floor queue must have extended for half a mile. I was in much faster, and all the way up to the second tier, where I was in the front row. I'd been worried that I'd get vertigo and be unable to stand- but the railing is quite substantial. Or that, like the 3Arena in Dublin, they'd ban people from standing in the front row of the balcony, for safety reasons. Nope, the only restriction was on leaving your drink on the rail, in case it fell. And although I was higher than last night, on balance I prefer to be where I can see the vidiwall properly.
setlist
- The Blackout
- Lights of Home
- I Will Follow
- All Because Of You
- 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
- Women of the World (snippet) / One
- Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way
- 13 (There Is A Light)
encore(s):
So, same as last night, with the substitution of All Because of You instead of Gloria. I love Gloria live- so I was to be glad they didn't play it tonight. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, for all my praise of Amsterdam as somewhere I wouldn't be required to sit, I had the misfortune, tonight, to be in a section of zombies, who couldn't be persuaded to stand at any point of the evening.
I've honestly never seen anything like it. They made me sit during I Will Follow, and the poor guy beside me thought, surely for Pride he could get them up.. Nope, they stared him out, and he was forced to sit instead. As someone once wondered, WTF are they doing at a rock concert if they're not prepared to stand at all?! Let them stay home with a hot drink and watch a recording, let the seats go to proper fans. We'd all be much more comfortable.
It wasn't the whole crowd, they were standing all around us. And the band played their hearts out- but these concerts, for me, although I prefer the setlists, don't come up to the standard of those in Madrid. Bono remarked, near the end, that he didn't know when he'd see Amsterdam again- no new tour planned then, I guess, but at least he didn't say they'd never be back.
Flying back tomorrow afternoon, 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.
Next Monday, 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, and I'm expecting a more enthusiastic audience than my section tonight! 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.
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! I wonder how many of them stand..
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, 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, I fly back to London (BA) - purely so I can work on the 8th of next month, 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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