UK Europe ‘08

We covered lots of ground my friends, the three of us, Tony and Jérémie and I

Highlights? Arriving in Ilfracomb after driving hours through traffic and floods, to witness the rocking world beat of Trasglobal Underground vibrating through the ancient seaside town. Thrilling to see the real people up there after owning a record for a good 15 years.

Walking down the steep steps on the rocky cliff to the ocean late at night, staring, listening, smelling the sea beneath the haunted night sky, feeling the cool rocks and touching the water.

The rowdy gaggle of Manchesterians hooting in the corner at the Selby gig.

The familiar faces, the return to places. Carlisle.
The Curving staircase and the sheep on the hill behind our B&B in Uley. The green rolling forests and fields and the setting sky, the calming beer in the parking lot with new friends as I skipped out after an ear blowing soundcheck.

All the mossy rocks and slate roofs.
All the woody pubs.
The stellar cups of tea and the delicious English breakfasts.
The flowers in the dressing room left by Rebecca in Norwich.

Eastern Europe: The taste of Halousky with Brynza. (It’s kinda like gnocchi but more randomly shaped, in a sheep cheese sauce… like a Slovak version of mac and cheese… but smoky and flavourful).

My dad, at the last minute, deciding to come and join us for the Slovakia trek.
My adorable little tiny relative Peter, tapping along to the music in Liptovsky Mikulas, displaying his new sneakers to me from the front row.

The audience in Banska Bystrica demanding another soft and sentimental song instead of an upbeat one.

Budapest, sipping fruit tea with honey out of a big red clay mug, soft antique lines cracking through the glaze in an establishment that felt like a pantry, shelves full of beautiful jars of pickled things, rustic enamel pots and ancient bottles.

The train ride from Vienna to Zurich, the alps, oh my god.

The taste of chocolate in Switzerland. My old friend Elaine and I, re-united, her taking us under her wing, showing us around, the bubble bath she drew, the first home cooked meal in a month, the Riesling Michael, her partner, opened.

Paris. In the morning, the most delicious café au lait I have ever tasted, sitting in the Étoile de Montmartre. I would return to Paris just for that.
The steaming pot of Moules Provençale. The delightful way absinthe was served up after the show at Les Taulieres, water poured from a little ceramic jug, strained through a sugar cube. The evenings, the way friends gathered to eat, drink and laugh.

You know, it’s a strange life, to go away from a sense of home, leaving things behind, human relations packed into little moments, the physicality of hauling stuff everywhere, the cramped up state of constant travel, the anxiety of finding ones way every day, of setting off to go… But you know, Elaine said it well for me when I delighted in her sharing of the good things in life – There is so much to enjoy and this life is so precious.
Budapest, photo by Milan Chvostek