Day 1 - 11th January

 

 

Our trip starts with going to Brussels Airport, and when almost the rest of Holland were still asleep (lucky bastards) we were packing our bags and got into our cars and drove off. Belguim, here we come!

 

A slight panic when we arrived. It seems that they were not prepared to check in a band. So there was a bit of a chaos. We tried to travel light packed but still at the airport we had to pay a lot for the extra inches for the keyboard-  and bass suitcase (yes size does matter). But there was a nice surprise waiting for them when the second band arrived: Callenish Circle. We met each other right before we entered the plane and ready to fly straight ahead to our mutual adventure.

 

Waitng at Brussels Airport

 

In Atlanta it seems that they had handled our luggage with care It cost us 240 euro; and you get something for it, a totally smashed up bass suitcase and even the keyboard case will never be the same again. Of course they couldn't help us out in Atlanta we had to be with their colleagues in Mexico City. In the end there is not much differences in the world.

Our flight was leaving at 19.35 so we had to overcome some hours and met loads of soldiers up for their own tour. And even some of them knew our music so rocking in Iraq and for us rocking in Mexico.

 

The Mexican Mountains

 

It was time to leave for another four hours flight. When we all arrived at Mexico City, we where a bit tired and looking forward to catch some sleep in a hotel. Everyone was waiting impatiently for the coach to arrive.  In the meantime Martin and Karin were looking for the Delta desk to arrange the smashed up suit case and what a big surprised ....The desk was closed!

He made us overjoyed  by telling us that we would drive straight to the hotel. We were all so relieved. ... Actually he wasn't lying, but the hotel was just an louzy 11 hours away, in Monterrey.......

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Day 2  - 12th January  Café Iguana 

We had a little sleep as far as possible in a coach, and the view of the Mexican countryside was great. It was awesome to see the mountains. When we flew over we where trying to figure out how high they would be  Well they're high.

We had to drive to the nearest Immigrantion office where we were held for a louzy two hours. Two hours with filling in some forms surrounded by very flirtatious policemen.

they made some copies from the pictures for us as well ( that was nice) and wanted our autographs. But time was running out and we really had to go to the venue  ....not without our passports....

But in the end we got our bags on time and we had to go straight from our Hotel to Cafe Iguana and being on stage. Our first gig in Mexico.

After the show we couldn't stay very long sadly enough cause in a couple of hours the coach would hit the road again.. So we where able to sleep for two hours and then we had to go, much to soon.

 

But Karin was missing a bag and everyone (and than we mean really everybody) was looking for it We will never know how many telephone calls where made for that one. But we had to leave without it.

 

Day 3  13th January  Hard Rock Live - Guadalajara

The weather was great, especially when we were thinking about the cold weather back home, Marcel made a call home for the weatherreport.

 

We wanted to explore the rest of the street but even that was hard to do. They needed us inside and we're waiting for the upcoming line-check and the schedule for the rest of the evening.

In the meantime, they found Karin's bag ..

 

We were ready to Rock and this night we wanted to watch more of the bands. They really rocked on stage.

 

After the show we where enjoying ourselves, talking with almost everyone and doing an interview for television.

And this night we had another (hole) one hour of sleep in the hotel before we hit the road again. (Touring is all about being on the road ...again)

 

Day 4 - 14th January - Gran Forum - Mexico City

Before we arrived at Mexico City we had a busstop for getting some breakfast, streching our legs and even buying some souvenirs... And again time for photos

 

The Gran Forum, is the largest venue of this tour and it looks great in his own way. Missing a black carpet on the white stage, but we're not  complaining. The stage itself looks like a ballroom so more than  enough space for all the drum kits and tonight we have only three on stage.

(Up for some blood, sweat and blisters).

 

Asrai & Callenish Circle

Asrai & The Birthday Massacre... It was such a great time ;)

Asrai & Paradise Lost

 

 

Straight from the bar into the plane, with no sleep at all it's almost insane.  Carlos and Rodriques brought us back to the airport. With the last zombyfied photos.  (it can't be a pleasure to see those photos. Are they taken for blackmail?)  There was an enormous queue and with all the mess we had to bring with us, it wasn't a pleasure. We couldn' find a trolly so totally exhausted  we had to drag all of our gear to check in.  And they where really thrilled to do so. It  took them two hours.

 

While checking in Margriet misundersttod them and thought the guy was talking about chicken instead of check in.  After that we all got  chicken-inn.

 

Up for the four hours flight to Atlanta. And for a while we where sleeping like little babies, but actually talking about babies..... We were so lucky that we could wait for only 5 hour in Atlanta. And trust us, over there there's not much to do. Small shops and we're not going to talk about the (happy?) people who work there.

 

Flouncing around to nowhere, meet and greet each other over and over again, we finally could check in. It was hard to understand, (Ever heard an American pronounce a Dutch name?) but it seems that

Beer got a call to change seats. Marcel wasn't so lucky. It seems that on the way back there was another noisy twin on board, but these were still babies. Checking their lungs and trying to find out how long they

could scream. (respect!). But the panic in our eyes was unmistakable and the stewards where doing everything to get those twins quite.. And we all know from experience. That's a job not done!

 

At 8.30 we finally had Belguim ground under our feet.

We just had to arrange some minor things.

It took us only three hours to do so.  By than we wished we were home, or to be back in Mexico again.

 

We met so many nice people and we're really missing this tour..

It was crazy but so much fun.

The crew was truly amazing and a pleasure to work with..

 

Callenish Circle,  The Birthday Massacre , Paradise Lost

where great and we hope to see and play with them again.

 

We want to thank everyone who made this tour possible.

We also like to thank all the people who where there and made those few days unforgettable

 

Thanks.