Journey through Germany - Euro tour blog 2 - September 2015
Steve in front of the Porta Nigra, Trier
Steve, Gary & Roine
On arrival in Hamburg, Jo and I took a boat through the waterways with our friends Angéla and Maurizio and their cat Toby. It was a fun ride through two lakes, canals and the river. The gig the following day was amazing with a brilliant crowd.
Then we travelled across Germany to Leipzig, once home of Bach and Mendelssohn. No time to visit the Bach museum on this occasion, but the venue was in a fab location beside a lake and woodland. Again a terrific vibe at both that show and Berlin the following night. Brilliant reactions to all the numbers.
Then on to Cologne... Here Jo and I were invited to Vringstreff, a restaurant feeding excellent food to the homeless and anyone suffering poverty. We were impressed by the place. Thank you Cornel for contacting us! We then went on to the impressively large Saturn record store for a signing session. It's great to see a store like that thriving when so many have closed down.
Following yet another fabulous show, we travelled to Trier for our day off. Jo and I explored this incredible historic city, with its old buildings dating back to Roman times. The Roman gateway Porta Nigra is on first appearance like something from a Tim Burton movie - a strange dark place at the end of a street that's completely different to all the other buildings. You go inside and you're in another universe a long way back in time, haunted by ghosts of centurions guarding the ancient empire... The cathedral was almost as extraordinary and spooky with its images of Heaven and death. We also visited the Roman baths and the cavernous place that had been Emperor Constantine's throne room. A massive stone foot showed how huge his statue had been. He founded Christianity for the Empire but also found time to have his wife boiled alive...
Trier also has many intriguing Medieval and Baroque buildings. We all felt refreshed after that day off and ready for another show.
We'll return to Germany in a few days, but now off to Luxembourg...
Berlin show
Photo © Angéla Vicedomini
Backstage in Berlin
Steve with Angéla and Maurizio on the boat in Hamburg
Steve signing at Saturn record store in Cologne
Berlin show
Photo © Frank Fradella
Image of Heaven in cathedral, Trier
Image of death in Trier Cathedral
Fountain on the water in Hamburg
