Bratislava, Slovakia 23 June 2013

An hour long drive through the rolling Austrian countryside to Bratislava, Slovakia for tonight's show.  A beautifully clear, warm and breezy afternoon.  We arrived at the venue, Narodne Tenisove Centrum to find the crew outside and enjoying the sunshine.  This is only the second time we've played Bratislava, the first being on the Golden Heart Tour back in 1996.  The city has developed noticeably since then.

A small sports arena, it was filled to capacity for the show.  3,100 fans turned out and helped make it another memorable gig.  I can't stress enough how these shows are a two way street, we're in it together the audience and the band.  We both held up our ends of the bargain.

We did a runner/drive back to Vienna, arriving at 11 giving us an hour back at the Stadtbrauerie beer house and restaurant.  Many pints of their clean, clear and magnificent Helles style lager were downed along with hot, freshly baked, soft pretzels and a couple of platters of roast pork, sauerkraut and spectacular dumplings that were the size of a grapefruit.  That, by the way was their lighter fare due to the hour.  We closed the place down at midnight and it's just as well we only had an hour.  I think we have a winner for best beer of the tour.

Tomorrow we de-camp Vienna after several good days.  To quote Charles Bukowski, "It was a hell of a Vienna."

So long,

Richard