Depeche Mode in Bogota, Colombia at March 16 or Schulzi on Machu Picchu Mountain

The morning after the concert we have to leave Mexicocity very early. Next stop Lima, where we spent only a few hours at night to take a connecting flight to Cusco from where we wanted to travel to Machu Picchu.

We reached Machu Picchu the next early afternoon after some unexpected stops on our way ( the airplane couldn't land in Cusco because fog and other difficulties. The last part was the best, we took a train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu and the travel was along the river Urubamba and we saw the great green mountains of the Andes,  that was so unbelievable beautiful, you have to do this by your own. Pictures cannot build up what we saw. Every picture looked like a postcard, to clean, to perfect. The best memories , the best pictures are in my head!!!

After a short stop in our vey small hotel " Andino" we took the bus up to Machu Picchu. A real crazy trip up the serpentines. It is better you don't look down! 

We spent in awful sunny afternoon at the Machu Picchu Ruins. This old town was build by the Incas in the 15.century in a high of 2430 metres. An unbelievable effort. 

Very soft and sweet llamas live there. 

I enjoyed this beautiful and calm atmosphere.

Wonderful view, a goody for the eyes and ears, really far from civilization we know.

The evening ended with a meal of Quinoa and vegetables, before we layed early in our beds.

Next morning after a breakfast of fruits, Arkadi and I took again the bus to Machu Picchu platform.

Isa rested in the hotel because the day before she sprained her ankle.

I had very hard problems with my stomach, convulsions, pain. 

It rained without a stop and it was unbelievable cloudy. This wasn't the best settings for the 650 meters way up to Machu Pucchu Mountain, but I saw the way as a challenge. I came to this mountain to reach his top, a personal challenge for myself. Yes, it would have been a greater experience if we have had a view from the top, but I was so really happy as I reached the top after more than two hours walking upstairs an unbelievable number of stairs. The last hour the stairs were so rampant and very close to the cliffs, it cost me quite an effort to step up higher and higher. I developped my own kind to conquer the Mountain. I walked up nearly 100 stairs very quick and then took a short pause. My stomach convulsed and convulsed, I was not sure why, maybe a gastroenteritis, or the altitude sickness, or  because the vertigo. I asked many people which came back from the mountain" how far to the top?" , the first said" 30 minutes" the next one ten minutes later "40 minutes" and so on. Finally two mexican guys said: "5 minutes" and it was the truth. I was so wet and breathless as I reached the top, but so lucky, so proud!!! I did it, can you believe it?

The way upstairs was easier than I thought, I lost my fear, the vertigo was gone. 

I did many crazy things on this tour like the funny attractions at the " Stratosphere" in Las Vegas, but nothing can top this experience. 

I spent a last hour down at the old buildings of the Incas between llamas and tourist. 

It was crazy to imagine more than 500 years ago nearly 1000 people lived there in this small stone houses. They build a efficient waste water system. An unbelievable wonderful small town. Then a last crazy bustrip down to the small village. Even the Machu Picchu village is so special,  no cars ( only the few busses for bringing the tourist up to the mountain and back), many of sweet funny streetdogs and the friendly people who live and work there. A beautiful getaway of the normal way of life.

Unfortunately I became really sick as I came back to my hotel. My host took my wet clothes for drying and I took a hot shower, but the fingers of the travel gastroenteritis grabbed my stomach and retched it. I rested for the remaining day in my bed and next morning I felt a bit better and so we left this great place in direction of Cusco, where we spent the rest of the day.

Many people told me, what a wonderful town Cusco is, but I cannot share this fascination, it's a shock after this two peaceful days at Machu Picchu mountain.

And so I was really happy as we sat in the plane to Lima, where I finally met my friend Martin of Cologne.

We traveled a long time together and we had so many years the dream to go together to Southamerica, see Depeche Mode. 

He started his tour in Bogota and so he was on the concert of them, while I was at Machu Picchu.

He said, it was a very good concert with a little bit nutty Dave... he missed his entry at " Going backwards" and they had to start again.....Maybe he had altitude sickness, too?

Later he was to late to announce Martin L. Gore while "Enjoy the silence"! 

Martin told me, every person got two beer, no more, strong arranged.

He enjoyed the concert and the city. A city which has more cars then residents. Not very touristic at all!

Here are a few pictures he made in Bogota!

Depeche Mode in Mexicocity, March 13 or "who needs feets when I've got wings to fly?"

Next morning I ran through the he busy awakening city and after running I had  a " cold brew" coffee at Starbucks, you can find Starbucks at every corner in the citycenter. 

There is such a hard difference between rich and poor people in Mexicocity, for us Europeans the life circumstances are unbelievable. The most of the people live there, are poorer than the most people in Europe. The food isn't very good, to much flour in every meal, so many thick overwaisted people. The well feeded people looks good, the poor people are thick and the people at the end of the foodchain are so skinny.....

After breakfast we drove to the pyramides of Teotihuacan, an old pre-aztec city, with the sun and moon pyramides. The pyramides are from year 100, so amazing. We climbed to both pyramides and spent a wonderful and sunny day there 40 kilometres outsides of México.

A quite soothing atmosphere, a special place, so old, full of myth for a human like me, very inspiring, mediative!

Then back with a bus to the city, we visited the complex of churches with the main church " Basilica of the virgin of Guadaloupe". After the Vatican it is the most visited catholic Pilgrim site.

The Basilica is an extraordinary building and one of the biggest churches of the world. It is part of Guadaloupe, a place of several churches. 

Then we were so thirsty and found a very cool place. A kind of cantina or bar only for locals: " La Nueva Guadalupana". We ordered two kinds of Tequila. All the people looked to us, probably no tourist will come to this place. The waiter, an older man, he looked like Manolito / Henry Darrow of" High Chaparal", was so amazing friendly to us. He gave us two plates with food only for try, it costed nothing. 

Later we had diner, I had a vegan Quinoa bowl! Great.

Next morning after the breakfast I took the metro to the " blue house" of Frida Kahlo. I waited more than an hour to go in but it was it worth it. I love her work and took a deep breath of her living and working atmosphere. Such a great woman, unbelievable artist. From her is the sentence: "Who needs feets, when I've got wings to fly!" She said this a short while before she died and one of her legs was amputated. According to this I visited the " Palacio Nacional" where I saw the beautiful wall paintings ( murales) of her husband Diego Rivera!

There are not enough words to describe the beauty of this paintings in this old building, where the government has his place.

And then finally a total vegan experience at " Gatorta", a street food stall near my hotel. I had two vegan " Chorizo style" tacos with a selfmade lemonade only for 40 mexican dollars. This meal made me so happy. 

I know that Martin Gore visiting in every town a vegan hotspot. Hope he discovered this small peacefull place. And I hope to meet him one day in a vegan restaurant, I'd like to speak with him about vegan lifestyle and his experiences on this tour. " Globalveganspirittour!"

The time came to go to the second concert in Mexicocity! This time we had front of the stage tickets, what meaned you found place in the first third of the standing area! All people stood very close to each other but no problem for us bcause we are the biggest people there, like aliens, and we had a good view to the catwalk.

Dave's stage--fright was totally gone and he delivered a very relaxed good show. I enjoyed every moment of it. 

The second show wasn't so good like the first one, songs like " Cover me" and " Everything counts" aren't so good like in Europe. But a " Policy of truth" ( for " Where is the revolution") thrilled the people much more. 

Andy made many funny moves to this song and I had to laugh about, I saw on the screens that Dave laughed about him, too.

"Stripped"! Dave looked really strained as he sang it.

Martin sang "Judas" and later " Somebody". This is one of my favorite songs sang by Mr. Gore and I was really happy to hear it again in Méxicocity.

Dave thanked Martin, and "the magic magnicifent" Jingle Jellyfish Gordeno, drum clown Eigner and Fletch. Nobody of the band is able to thank Dave. So he started to thank himself at the last show and did it again. He clapped his chest and smiled! He is really the best entertainer, a machine which is running like a precision clockwork! 

"I feel you" for " Question of time" and again "Personal Jesus" took me from the ground. 

"Who needs feets, when I've got wings to fly....?

A wonderful time in Mexicocity ended with this great second concert here. What a good start for our journey. Four lucky days in this Mexopolis with all this facettes of a city, I've never knew before! 

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"