Warsaw (Poland) - Here we go again

WARSAW (Poland)
05 January - 06 January 2018

Here we were yet again, back in good 'ole Warsaw. That stimulating stop between Belgrade and Riga that has become our go to for all things protein related.

As I have said in previous entries, Warsaw is not a bad city. It's ok, in fact, it can be good, just that it's not dynamic, not stimulating and doesn't sparkle like a lot of other cities might.

In any case, considering where we were heading after Riga, on this occasion it would be fair to say that this Warsaw visit might be our last for quite some time.

Warsaw, you have been the perfect host. Perfectly nice, decent and cordial. You'll eternally be in the Friends Zone for us, but admittedly we weren't looking to get into any long term relationship with you. 

Warsaw (Poland) - Our European Panama City

Warsaw (Poland)
28 September - 29 September 2017

Warsaw became our Panama City of Europe. The amount of times that we transited through without having any real intention of discovering the city, it became our Panamanian equivalent. Our Clayton's destination  in Europe was becoming very familiar with our arrivals and departures.

This stop was more than likely going to be our last in Warsaw. Considering the Riga-Belgrade transits were ending then so to would our rights of visitation to Warsaw.

Hard Rock Cafe - Warsaw - Poland

We'd like to thank Warsaw for being quite the hospitable city. Welcoming and polite, we did have some good times whilst moving through. I'm sure somewhere down the track we'll visit again and look back fondly on the now, but please, lets not make it too soon.

Krakow (Poland) - Just looking, not buying

KRAKOW (Poland)
21 August - 22 August 2017

Poland makes for some hard driving, it really challenges your patience as all major roads seem to be constantly under construction or re-construction.

Inching along at 60kms an hours when you really want to be beating a path through a flat, unchanging landscape has you visibly beaten at day's end.

We stayed at the Apartamenty Grzegorzki Park,  a little outside of the centre. It was supremely comfortable, had reasonable city views and was fully equipped.

That's all to add on this stop in Krakow, just a drive-by, but a destination in waiting, that's for sure.

Suwalki (Poland) - Never say never

SUWALKI (Poland)
20 August - 21 August 2017

Somehow we found ourselves transiting through Suwalki again, this time heading south to Belgrade. If felt as though we were migrating early for the Winter.

Considering this was our second stay in the town, and unexpectedly so once again, I'll add a couple of quick facts as to what it's about.

A north eastern Polish town with a population just shy of 70,000, it's the first major town of notes as your cross over from the Lithuanian border. We've founds ourselves now, twice, bedding down for the night after a light run from Riga which would usually take 5-6 hrs depending on how many times we stopped on the way.

I would like to make a small mention to the Fresco Hostel in Suwalki. It doesn't come across as a hostel at all, even though it appears in the name, I'd term it as more of an Inn. A warm, welcoming, very clean style of accommodation that has no resemblance to its poor cousin, the hostel, in other parts of the world where they don't to be petri dishes of festering bacteria.

On both occasions I enjoyed our stay here, so to you Freso Hotel in Suwalki, here's my salute!

Gdansk (Poland) - The Concert Series - Part 2 - Guns N' Roses

GDANSK (Poland) 
20 June - 21 June 2017

I recall heading to Soccer training back in 1987 and a friend of mine showing me a tape of a band he'd just started listening too. The tape was Appetitie for Destruction and the band, of course, was GNR. Like some other 'epic' failed calls that I'd made to myself, mentally, not out aloud, I thought that this 'garbage' band was just another demonic, shyster, gutter-trash type of hair band that had nothing going for them. Incidentally, another monstrously EPIC failed call I made was thinking back in '95 that the INTERNET  was just a passing fade....literally, W ..T.. F..

Guns N' Roses - Stadion Energa - Gdansk - Poland

Guns N' Roses - Stadion Energa - Gdansk - Poland

Guns N' Roses - Stadion Energa - Gdansk - Poland

Guns N' Roses - Stadion Energa - Gdansk - Poland

Guns N' Roses - Stadion Energa - Gdansk - Poland

Guns N' Roses - Stadion Energa - Gdansk - Poland

A relatively short drive north-east of Warsaw, a short 4 hour hop, brought us to the Baltic Sea city of Gdansk, previously known as Danzig.

Again, due to the short time frame that we allowed ourselves on the Concert Series tour, we didn't get to see a lot of this port town, but, we did get to see GNR do their thing after having been broken up for 20 years, during which time I came to the realisation that the garbage band was actually a diamond that only need a slight bit of polish.

Guns N' Roses - Stadion Energa - Gdansk - Poland

Guns N' Roses - Stadion Energa - Gdansk - Poland

Guns N' Roses - Stadion Energa - Gdansk - Poland

Their concert, in all honesty, was perhaps a little underwhelming. They played what they needed to and performed the way that you'd expect - Slash with is unique guitar sound, Axl was additional weight still attempting to enough ground on stage, Duff kind of stoic on bass. It was ok, but not great.

Here is the setlist from the night

Performer:  Guns N' Roses

Location:     Stadion Energa, Gdansk, Poland

Tour:            Not in this lifetime

Setlist

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. Song played from tape
   Looney Tunes
   Play Video
4. The Equalizer
   (Harry Gregson-Williams song)
   Play Video
5. It's So Easy
   Play Video
6. Mr. Brownstone
   Play Video
7. Chinese Democracy
   Play Video
8. Welcome to the Jungle
   Play Video
9. Double Talkin' Jive
   Play Video
10. Better
    Play Video
11. Estranged
    Play Video
12. Live and Let Die
    (Wings cover)
    Play Video
13. Rocket Queen
    Play Video
14. You Could Be Mine
    Play Video
15. Attitude
    (Misfits cover) (with "You Can't Put Your Arms… more )
    Play Video
16. This I Love
    Play Video
17. Civil War
    (with "Voodoo Child" outro)
    Play Video
18. Yesterdays
    Play Video
19. Coma
    (with band introductions)
    Play Video
20. Slash Guitar Solo
    Play Video
21. Speak Softly Love (Love Theme From The Godfather)
    (Nino Rota cover)
    Play Video
22. Sweet Child O' Mine
    Play Video
23. My Michelle
    Play Video
24. Wish You Were Here
    (Pink Floyd cover) (Slash & Richard Fortus guitar duet)
    Play Video
25. November Rain
    (with "Layla" piano exit intro… more )
    Play Video
26. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
    (Bob Dylan cover)
    Play Video
27. Black Hole Sun
    (Soundgarden cover)
    Play Video
28. Nightrain
    Play Video
29. Encore:
30. Patience
    (with The Allman Brothers Band's "Melissa" intro)
    Play Video
31. The Seeker
    (The Who cover)
    Play Video
32. Paradise City
    Play Video
33. You Know My Name
    (Chris Cornell song)

Warsaw (Poland) via Suwalki (Poland) - The Concert Series - Part 1 - Coldplay

WARSAW (Poland) via SUWALKI (Poland)
17 June - 20 June 2017

Summer in Northern Europe not only means great weather, a fun vibe and party atmosphere but it also means that all the big bands that you love to see head out on the European circuit. In the lead up to our wedding, or should I say, in the planning of the lead up to our wedding we discovered a whole raft of concerts that were going to be on. The first cab off the rank that also aligned with our bucket list was Coldplay.

Heading out of Riga late one afternoon we did a six hour drive, mostly south, to the small Polish town of Suwalki. With a population of nearly 70,000 inhabitants it lies some 30kms off the South-Western border of Lithuania. In all honesty it was only an overnight stop, so I don't have a hell of a lot to report other than our lodgings were surprisingly good and we had a pleasant nights sleep in Suwalki. Also, somewhat surprisingly, this would not be the only, or even the second time that we would end up staying in this town, but more about that in later entries.

On the road in Lithuania

All set for Coldplay in Warsaw - Poland

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Travelling further south to the Polish capital the next day we encountered a highway system that was under construction. Unbeknown to us, but somehow known throughout the region, it apparently is common practice for major Polish arterial roads and highways to be constantly undergoing some of of re-construction and re-formulation. This of course was our bug-bare all the way into the capital as mentally our constructed time of arrival in a 'perfect' setting literally turned to shit with a 60kph speed limit for what felt like 200kms.

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Inga & I had passed through Warsaw previously and found it to be a 'nice enough' city. There are elements to it that make it pleasant but somehow to me it feels sparse. It feels like there's a lot of character and potential charm missing from the the centre of the city itself. Whilst it appears to be trying to turn itself into a modern European city there's a lot of absent soul and I can only guess that WWII did an absolute number on this place. Those wounds obviously cut deep and recovery, full recovery, not just of the cosmetic nature, will take more than just a few generations.

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

Coldplay at the PGE Narodowy Stadium - Warsaw - Poland

First on the Concert Series agenda was Coldplay. Neither of us had been to a live show previously but a sneak peak online of snippets from their Head Full of Dreams Tour, said a lot for the spectacle that was about to eventuate.

They were absolutely brilliant and their ability to encapsulate the crowd, making them part of the theatre and performance was quite special. No matter what you think of Coldplay (and I know they hit a variety of points on the likeability spectrum), their live shows are dynamic, brilliant and engaging. And let me say, for the record, I think Coldplay are fantastic! 

For the record, here's the setlist

Performer:  Coldplay

Location:    PGE Narodowy Stadium, Warsaw, Poland

Tour:            A Head Full of Dreams

1. 
   
2. O mio babbino caro
   (Maria Callas song)
   Play Video
3. A Head Full of Dreams
   (extended intro with Charlie Chaplin speech)
   Play Video
4. Yellow
   Play Video
5. Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall
   Play Video
6. The Scientist
   Play Video
7. Birds
   (with ''Oceans'' excerpt in intro)
   Play Video
8. Paradise
   (with Tiësto Remix outro)
   Play Video
9. B-Stage
10. Always in My Head
    Play Video
11. Magic
    Play Video
12. Princess of China
    Play Video
13. Everglow
    (single version)
    Play Video
14. A-Stage
15. Clocks
    (with ''Army Of One'' excerpt in intro)
    Play Video
16. Midnight
    (partial)
    Play Video
17. Charlie Brown
    Play Video
18. Hymn for the Weekend
    Play Video
19. Fix You
    (with ''Midnight'' excerpt in intro)
    Play Video
20. Viva la Vida
    Play Video
21. Adventure of a Lifetime
    Play Video
22. C-Stage
23. Kaleidoscope
    (extended)
    Play Video
24. In My Place
    (acoustic)
    Play Video
25. Don't Panic
    (acoustic; Will on lead vocals;… more )
    Play Video
26. Us Against the World
    (audience request song)
    Play Video
27. A-Stage
28. Something Just Like This
    (The Chainsmokers & Coldplay cover)
    Play Video
29. A Sky Full of Stars
    Play Video
30. Up&Up
    (extended outro)