Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Hello, and welcome to a recap of Guns N' Roses' tour of South America earlier in 2014.

Some might call this a tour diary, whatever you wanna call it, hope you enjoy it.

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March 18 - Travel day: Home to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

No sleep, get to airport and fly to Amsterdam. Still no sleep.
Have a crappy sandwich for lunch and board the plane to Rio de Janeiro.
Finally get some sleep on the flight over. Don't remember leaving Schiphol airport...

Land in the evening and get picked up at the airport, then driven to Barra da Tijuca where the hotel and venue are located. Get my room key, go up and the door won't open.

Back to the lobby, new room keycard and new instructions. Get an employee to take me up to the other tower.

Door opens, get in and start to open my suitcase to take a shower, before going out for dinner, and notice... Somebody else's things in the bathroom!
Closer inspection reveals clothes in the closet as well. Obviously I got somebody else's room!

Get my suitcase and go down to the lobby, new instructions and new keycard. Back to original room in the first tower, and now the door opens.
Quick shower and go downstairs to meet some friends for a quick dinner (beef, rice & beans - I'm in Brazil after all). Back to hotel and sleep.

Hard to believe this is all in the same day as when I left home....


March 19 - Day before show

Have breakfast. They have Pao de Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread), and coffee. 

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Pao de Queijo

Then go to the venue. It's only a short van ride from the hotel in Barra da Tijuca.

Spend the day there and we go have lunch at a restaurant that has a buffet and rodizio.

Which means they bring cuts of meat to your table and slice off pieces if you want some. At first they bring all the cheap cuts.Think "chewy"...

Back to the venue before heading back to the hotel.

That made me LOL!!!  :hihi:

As many times as your luggage got lost on previous tours, did you consider this a positive omen??  :rofl:

Would be interested in reading more..  Seems like something is missing?

C'mon Jarmo,this is just a preview of the actual diary.

March 20 - Show day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Get to venue and hear about some guy selling spots in line. That's not cool...

Coffee machine and great food in catering.

Great first show on the tour. Nice to be back in Brazil again.

Show photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjVnCSrm


March 21 - Travel day to Belo Horizonte.

Back to the airport in the morning.
Staying at the same hotel where we stayed at in 2010, so it's familiar. And I get into my room, and there's nobody else's stuff there!  :D

Manage to have a in room safe malfunction where it stops working and I can't get it to open before going out for lunch. Great.
Two different service guys later it's working and I can get head to grab some food with my friends G&R.

Walk across the street and grab a quick lunch at the mall's food court. Then to the supermarket to buy water before heading back to the hotel.
Later on in the day I have to deal with a computer related emergency.
Manage to sneak in a little nap before my girlfriend arrives and we go out for dinner. Unfortunately her flight is delayed so most food places around the hotel are closed when we go out....
Get back to the hotel and see fans celebrating Frank's birthday a few days early.

March 22 - show day in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

It's a warm day in BH. The show today is outside the football stadium, that will eventually host several World Cup matches. It's sunny but there's some clouds in the sky. Hopefully it won't rain.

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This VW model was manufactured in Brazil until only a few months ago. The festival paint job is not standard. ;)


After the show, I see a guy run across the GA area diving over the barricade with several security guys after him. Wonder what that was about.

Eat some pasta with the local production team after the show before going back to the hotel. It didn't rain!

Show photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjVrkKhk

March 23 - travel day to Brasilia

Fly from BH to Brasilia, the country's capital. It's a weird city. It was planned and constructed in a few years in the 1950s/60s. The streets and neighborhoods have a special naming scheme instead of regular names. Numbered city blocks and sectors for specified activities, such as the Hotel Sector, the Embassy Sector and so on.
So for example, the address of our hotel was Conj. A - Lote 01 - Bloco F SHS Quadra 6 - Asa Sul - Bras?lia - DF
SHS means it's in the southern hotel sector. Asa Sul refers to the south side of the main avenue....

Most of the place just reminds me of a mixture of what I think was 1970s Eastern Europe mixed with modern Brazilian architecture. Lots of grey concrete.

It rains in Brasilia. There's a lake on the street outside my window. Not exactly sightseeing weather today.

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Head out in a cab to get dinner at Beirute. It's an old bar that's been around for decades serving middle eastern food, and ice cold beers.

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March 24 - day before show in Brasilia

Wake up for my breakfast coffee. Then off to the venue. Which is also familiar from 2010. Except now there's a shiny new footbal stadium next door ready for the World Cup.
Wearing my Gremio shirt today. For those that don't know, Brazilians are pretty interested in football (or as you US Americans say, soccer). I'm wearing the shirt of a team from Porto Alegre, in the south. Wrong shirt in wrong part of the wrong town might mean trouble. But today I should be ok considering this city has no football team in the first division!
Several locals working at the venue give me the thumbs up.

Spend the day at the venue. Luckily there's a coffee machine there.

Take a little walk to a mall next to the hotel in the evening. They got some exotic ice cream flavors!
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Cupuacu ice cream. It's is a tropical rainforest tree related to cacao.

We don't have this back home...

Loving this!

I love this Jarmo, great stuff : ok:

Glad you didn't have any trouble!  I was reading the news last week and saw the article about the poor man who was killed by a thrown toilet bowl at Brazil stadium.  Many of these riots probably involved massive alcohol drinking.  At Penn State college there are times when the city has tried to pay all bars to stay closed on certain weekends to avoid rioting.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/brazilian-soccer-fan-killed-toilet-bowl-thrown-stands-article-1.1778364 (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/brazilian-soccer-fan-killed-toilet-bowl-thrown-stands-article-1.1778364)

I like your other stories so far.  I like to learn about the foods and also see more photos.  I forgot about seeing photo of that GN'R mini bus!  It's cool!

Thanks.


Yeah, there's certain things down in South America that reminds me of how things used to be back here in Europe. Hooliganism is one of those things. I really hope they manage to keep people in check during the World Cup. I mean those who are there to start shit at the games....

Anyway, one of the nice things about traveling is that you get to try foods that you might not see elsewhere. Or something that is originally from there.  :)




/jarmo

Great diary, great read, Jarmo!!
Good to know you always have a great time here and enjoy our culture (even when awkward things happen).

MNGS, that case has nothing to do with alcohol. That was pure hooliganism nonsense act, as Jarmo guessed right. But I don't believe these two things will be problems during the World Cup.

The real concern is more about security (thieves, as always), "black blocs" and violent protests (allegedly against corruption and huge amount of public money spent on stadiums instead of hospitals, schools, etc - Brazil and its eternal social problems and "great" politicians).

OK I understand now.  In America sometimes fans have a small fight but never entire gangs of fans declaring war against gangs of other fans.   

March 25 - show day in Brasilia, Brazil

Was thinking about going out sightseeing, but wake up and it looks like it'll rain. Sleep more.
Wake up for breakfast later.

As I mentioned earlier, this venue is familiar from 2010. Except the offices are now in another building outside the venue. Maybe it's a temporary thing.

Before the show a TV crew interviews the whole band. Frank is wished a happy birthday on TV, as well as during the show.

Show photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjVAqpC8 (https://flic.kr/s/aHsjVAqpC8)

March 26 - travel day to Sao Paulo

Get to the airport, it seems like a different terminal than where we arrived. Because when we arrived, it was not this terminal, something off to the side. Have a coffee and wait.

Land at Congonhas airport. Which is always pretty cool since it's kinda in the middle of Sao Paulo. Stuck in the middle of the urban jungle. You fly over high rises as you are landing. Then once you land, the runway is short so it's an abrupt stop compared to most other airports.
Then walk outside and jump in a van to the hotel. Not bad traffic at this moment. Which is surprising!

It's a very nice hotel. Nice neighborhood too.
There's a bunch of fans outside and in the lobby bar.

Walk around the neighborhood and get a sandwich in a local bar. I manage to get my sandwich and a beer with my limited Portuguese. And then a coffee.....


March 27 - Day off in Sao Paulo

Meet a friend from Rio Grande do Sul and we take a cab to the (food) market.
I have a mission and it is to eat the famous Mortadella sandwich at Bar do Mane. I've failed at this every time I've been to Sao Paulo in the past. Not this time!

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After the huge sandwich, I wander around the market and try all kinds of exotic fruits. Also get some cupuacu juice. Then once we're done, we wander outside and take the subway back to the hotel.

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Go out for a walk in the neighborhood and have a coffee with my friend G.

 :love:I love your diaries!  :love:

Terrific. Very interesting.

Thanks Jarmo. : ok:

Dumb question,
how was your stomach after this sandwich and mostly after those juices ?  ;D

Axl Rose is one of the most intriguing and mysterious rock stars of all time. He's like Jim Morrison, a little older and heavier. And you get to hang with him, sort of or whatever. And the tour diary is about your coffee breaks. No criticism really. You do a lot for Guns and for the fans. But man! The frustration you know. I mean there must be so much more to tell! Not gossip shit like witch toilettpaper Axl uses, but like real insight.  Maybe an interview Del James-style like the b-side of the Patience 12" from 89?? :beer:

I think we all wonder about this.  I get it, I get why he doesn't want to or feel comfortable talking about Axl.  But given the forum Jarmo has, it would be cool to get a little insight once in a while. Instead we get the same line that he basically knows nothing more than we do. 

I, of course, really enjoy and appreciate all the updates n' pics Jarmo shares with us from the shows but I also really enjoy reading his tour diary too. I don't get to travel so it's nice to get this kind of perspective.  :yes:

To be fair, even the other band members give us the same line that they basically know nothing more than we do, too.  :hihi:

Are we going to get a LV tour diary also? Lol. I'd love to see what could be said about the month. :P

The purpose of this isn't to give insight to Axl's, or the band's life on tour. If you're looking for that, I'm sorry, you won't find it here.

I traveled with the crew. The first people to arrive at the venue, and the last to leave. Also the first ones to move on to the next city after the show is done.





/jarmo

March 28 - Show day in Sao Paulo, Brazil

The usual morning routine. Breakfast at this nice hotel.

Then off to the venue, which is outside. And it's a hot day.
There's a stream of people walking through the backstage area. One of the entrances is behind the stage. To get from our offices to the local production offices, you gotta cross this river of people.
Lots of people are taking part in the backstage tour today. But it goes smoothly.

After the show, what was our catering tent is now the "party tent". A bunch of guests are there and outside waiting for somebody. Possibly a band member to make an appearance.

Hang out with my friends and girlfriend. Before it's time to go back to the hotel.


March 29 - Travel day to Curitiba

Back to Congonhas to fly to Curitiba. A city I've never been to. Always nice to see new places.
Unfortunately I'm not on the same flight as my girlfriend. She's flying about an hour later than us.

Once we arrive in Curitiba, we take vans to our hotel in the city. It takes a while. Along the road I see a bunch of barbecue (churrasco) places. You know you're in the south.

We arrive at the hotel, and apparently Roberto Carlos (famous Brazilian singer) is also staying there. The hotel itself isn't anything special.
There's pretty much no hot water in the shower. I guess having a bunch of GN'R crew check in does that to certain hotels. The location is nice though.

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Walk around a bit before taking a cab to the market.
Since it's Saturday, and we're in Brazil, I have to get some Feijoada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feijoada). We manage to find a place and get some lunch.

After the food coma, we head out for a walk. End up in a German restaurant. Or possibly a Brazilian version of a German restaurant. The beer is good though.





/jarmo

I realize its your forum and you can certainly do whatever you like, but wouldn't it make more sense to put this blog into the jungle or something else since its not really GN'R related? I get that the pretext is traveling with the Gn'R crew from place to place, but other than that its your personal blog and excludes any insight into GN'R, whether it be the band or the crew. 

You're free to ignore it.
No one's making you read it.  : ok:




/jarmo

Jarmo, next time you guys take a walk on Avenida Paulista here in S?o Paulo (famous street here). I live there (in fact, almost in front of Maskoud Plaza hotel, where our boy did this: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABlfOXVqtus/TkO_lV5ftMI/AAAAAAAAB68/LYNwkIRcxhQ/s1600/789.jpg )  and you, the band and the crew are all invited to come to my apartament. I could make some hamburguers for all of you. Tell Axl this  ;D

I think I know this German restaurant... Bier Hoff, maybe?

Bar do Alemao. :)





/jarmo

That's cool ! Hope to read more soon!! :)

I'm enjoying the diary. I read a lot of travel blogs and diaries.

I especially like to see photos of local food and that. Brazilian food looks interesting

Jarmo, how many countries have you been to with the band? Bet you never thought you'd be on these journeys when you put together the message board.

No, I didn't think of anything like that when I started the site almost 18 years ago...

40+ countries. :)

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Moving on......

March 30 - show day in Curitiba

Rainy day in Curitiba. And an outdoor show. At least there's no hurricanes....
The venue is an old football stadium. Not the one they're building in the city for the World Cup. The floors inside the offices are wet and slippery. Especially with my sneakers. Until they put down some carpet.

As the show starts, everybody can see the conditions. The stage is slippery as well. Welcome To The Jungle has an extended intro to deal with the conditions. Estranged is stopped and played later on in the set.

Hang out with some of my girlfriend's relatives after the show and then back to the hotel for a nap.


March 31 - travel day to Florianopolis

Wake up early to check out from the hotel and leave for the next city. The next two travel days we won't be flying. We're taking buses. Curitiba to Florianopolis to Porto Alegre are all within driving distance from each other. I guess it also makes sense to sleep on a bus rather than get up early to fly via Sao Paulo to Florinopolis, since there are no direct flights.

Outside the hotel, there are two coaches. Put my luggage in the bay and get on board. Fall asleep and wake up somewhere in Santa Catarina state. Another new state for me. Never been here before.
We arrive in Florianopolis, or floria nipples like auto correct suggests.

The crew is staying at a resort outside the actual city. It's walking distance to the beach.
Head out for a walk on the beach and find a restaurant to get some lunch. A Caipirinha before the food arrives. Why not?

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Back to the hotel and then go for a run along the beach. It's quite warm outside but it's nice to get out and run.

Try to figure out where to exchange some money. I end up at a beauty salon behind the hotel. Who knew!

In the evening I walk around the neighborhood and see some of the crew doing the same.


April 1 - show day in Florianopolis

Today's show is in an outdoor venue but there's a roof over the floor. Not too far from our hotel.
The venue is beyond packed. Dj does a little climb up on some scaffolding above the crowd. I manage to get some shots of that.

There's a light drizzle after the show. Back to the hotel in the early morning for a little nap.

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnrtour/sets/72157643365266775/


/jarmo

April 2 - travel day to Porto Alegre

Wake up and get some breakfast. We are leaving early, before breakfast is usually served at our hotel, but the hotel is nice enough to open the buffet earlier for the GN'R crew.
Climb on board the bus, adjust my seat and fall asleep. As I wake up, we're in Rio Grande Do Sul. Just outside the airport in Porto Alegre, which is where our hotel is located. Same one we stayed at in 2010. I remember this place....

There's a bunch of fans hanging out there, just like four years earlier.

Since we only have this afternoon off, we head out to the nearby train station and get the train into Porto Alegre. Arrive at the public market and walk around.
I've been here before, more than once, so I show my friends around. Even though I'm not a local.

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You know you're in the south of Brazil when they sell chimarr?o (also known as yerba mate, or cimarr?n) at the market.

Go and get a Xis for lunch. A giant sandwich that's a cross between a hamburger and sandwich.
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Walk around more at the market and bump into other crew guys there. Visit the cachaca specialist shop at the market as well as the coffee place (of course).
We keep walking and then catch the train back to the hotel.

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Before arriving there, we stop by a guy selling fresh sugar cane juice. He's got his van parked close to our hotel and sells the juice freshly pressed.

Before dinner, I walk back to the train station and take it up north to go pick up my girlfriend. Buy a return ticket only to realize that the new station doesn't require people to have tickets. A single would've been enough. Who knew! The further we get away from Porto Alegre, the less commuters are on the train.

Ride the train back to the hotel and then a cab ride to my favorite local restaurant. We're in the south of Brazil so it's time for meat. Beef to be specific.


April 3 - show day in Porto Alegre

Today's venue is the same place where we had a show in 2010. Except that time the actual stage was out in the parking lot. Now we're all indoors. I notice that there's already a bunch of traffic as we get to the venue. Later on in the day, it doesn't exactly get better. For some reason, there's only one gate to enter the area for everybody. Including people picking up tickets. So apparently people picking up tickets have to stand in line with people who already have their tickets.....

Show time and the place is packed and quite hot. It's the last show in Brazil for a little while, and the last with Tommy on this leg.

Show photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnrtour/sets/72157643706974714/

After the show I hang out with my girlfriend's family and some friends before going back to the hotel.

April 4 - travel day to Buenos Aires

Wake up and head to the airport. It takes no time. The hotel is close by the airport.
Have some breakfast there while waiting for the flight. Been at this airport a "few" times by now.

Fortunately my girlfriend is on the same flight. I recognize some fans on the flight as well.

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Flying to Argentina. Porto Alegre from above.

As we get closer to our destination, the city of Buenos Aires appears in the landscape. We land at the airport that's actually in the city.
Hop on the ride to our hotel and notice that we have a police escort. That's something we don't see every day....

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Arrive at the hotel, same one we stayed at in 2010, which was my first visit to Argentina.

Walk outside to get dinner. It's not raining. Yet....

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Cold beer and empanadas. Nice....


April 5 - day off Buenos Aires

It's a rainy day off in Buenos Aires. But we decide to head out to the Recoleta cemetery. The rain comes and goes.

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Walk around the neighborhood and go get lunch in a place that has, you guessed it, empanadas.

Walk back to the hotel. A woman comes up to us as we are walking across the square in front of the hotel and tells us it's a dangerous area....

End the night with great food (steak) and great wine.





/jarmo

That cemetery shot is awesome!

Thanks! :)



/jarmo

Yeah, that cemetery shot is pretty cool looking.

great shot...

Thanks.  :)


April 6 - show day Buenos Aires

Head to the lobby to go to the venue in the morning. No van arrives.... Wait more. Get in touch with someone and I'm told that the van is on its way. Wait more.

Get to the venue, it's a pretty old looking football stadium. Backstage is pretty much a bunch of rooms just behind the stage. There's a weird staircase to the stage. The steps don't "align" properly so you have to be careful when coming down.

There's a rehearsal with Duff during the day, which fans who are lining up outside the venue can hear.

The catering here is possibly the worst on the tour. Eat sandwiches. Later on for dinner I wander out and get a hot dog.

Show photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnrtour/sets/72157643758915283/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnrtour/sets/72157643758915283/)


April 7 - travel day

Today we travel to Paraguay. Arrive at the airport and go check in. "No no, you need to go and check in at the machines, all of you. And then come back here to drop off your luggage"... Everybody heads over to the check in machines and types in their info to print the boarding passes. Then over to the counters to drop the bags before heading through security.

End up having a coffee before departure.

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Arrive in Asuncion and just like that we're at our hotel. It's right next to the airport.
It's very modern and nice, but the location isn't exactly what I call central. Unless by central you mean "next to the airport". Whoever made the floor in the shower didn't think it was smart to make sure the water would drain into the drain. Instead all the water flows the opposite way. Oh well.  :hihi:

Walk outside to visit the only store around. A supermarket across the street. See kids fighting or playing. Not sure which, maybe play fighting.

Do some laundry and head out to get some dinner. End up having some pasta and then a cold beer when we bump into some crew guys who had ended up at the same place.




/jarmo

Always love too see your pics!!

Thanks!

April 8  - day off Asunci?n, Paraguay

Head on over to the football museum next to our hotel. It's for the South American football federation. Our guide is a local, so everything is in Spanish.
It's a hot day, so walking indoors in the air conditioned museum for a bit is kinda refreshing.

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Later on we go downtown to see the old town.
Walk around and decide not to walk into a sketchy looking neighborhood.

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After lunch we end up at some kind of little market at a square. Walk around more and see the weirdest looking record store I've seen in a long time. It's amazing that record stores exist, but this one looks... A bit chaotic.

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Head back to the hotel and have drinks at the pool bar a the top floor. See Bumblefoot and fans gather at the main entrance downstairs.

April 9 - show day in Asunci?n, Paraguay

Same venue as in 2011. I think it's a (horse) race track. As we get closer to the show, dark clouds start to gather. Then a thunderstorm hits the concert site just when GN'R are supposed to start. Winds, rain and lightning all making sure the show has to wait. The storm passes and it's hard to believe the fans would still be there. But they are. Quite amazing.

Show photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gnrtour/sets/72157643770691294/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gnrtour/sets/72157643770691294/)




/jarmo

April 10 - travel day to La Paz, Bolivia

Get ready to leave for airport. News flash, we're staying here for the day. Leaving in the evening instead.
Watch a Gremio game while we are waiting to depart.

The airport is quiet and deserted. I guess not many flights depart at around 11pm.
Buy a water, and then have to drink it before security. Oh well. Gotta make sure to be hydrated before getting to the high altitude.
Walk through and look in Duty Free. Not much there. Can't find anything worth spending my local currency on. So time for a coffee.

Walk on the tarmac to our chartered plane. It's quite small.

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As I head towards the stairs to the plane, I notice the thunder and lightning in the sky in the distance. That can't be good....
Sit down at the back.

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The plane is full of GN'R crew and the flight crew.

We take off, and fly into a thunderstorm. Worst turbulence I've ever experienced. We're going up and down, sideways and who knows what other directions.
Not my idea of a calm flight. There goes my chance of getting some sleep.

Eventually it calms down and we are served a sandwich. But that sure woke me up, I definitely can forget any thoughts about taking a nap during the flight.

April 11 - day off La Paz, Bolivia

We land in La Paz, Bolivia. Most of us have never been here before. It's now the 11th since our flight was so late.
As soon as the plane's door opens, I notice the altitude.The air is dry and it's more difficult to breathe. And I'm still on the plane!

The walk to the terminal building seems like it's uphill. Even though it's flat. It's chilly as well. We're the only ones at immigration, and it takes a while for all of us to pass. Then a walk to the vans that wlil take us towards downtown La Paz.

Get to the vans and there's oxygen there for those who might need it. As we start the journey, it's clear the central La Paz is downhill. Downtown is down the hill!

Breakfast is served once we make it to the hotel. Have something to eat. Their tea selection is a bit different from what we got at home. "Té de Coca" is on their tea menu. Coca leaf tea for those who don't know.

After my coffee (no tea for me), I go to my room to take a nap.

Wake up, exchange some money and wander outside. Buy water (remember to stay hydrated in this dry air) and making sure that I'm not being overly active today. Taking it easy. Still feeling ok despite the altitude. But as soon as you walk a little, you do notice the altitude.

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/jarmo

April 12 - show day in La Paz, Bolivia

First ever GN'R show in Bolivia. It'll definitely be memorable.
Get to the venue and this is probably the only place I've been there where there's oxygen bottles for us at venue.

You don't see that at every venue.

It gets chilly here as the sun set, and it gets even chillier later at night. The show starts with You Could Be Mine and it's kinda hard to imagine that we are pretty high up in the mountains. The band plays for a long time consider the conditions.

Show photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnrtour/sets/72157643877995744/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnrtour/sets/72157643877995744/)

After the show, in the early morning I get back to our hotel, shower, upload some photos from the show, close my suitcase and then go down to the lobby.




/jarmo

April 13 - Travel day to Brazil

In the lobby, we get into vans and drive up the mountain to the airport.

The lines at check in are amazing. Organized chaos. More paper work to fill out. Once you get to the counter, they want to make copies of your passport and the paperwork. Then those papers are stapled together and you get your boarding card.

Then off to the line for the security. One person checks your boarding card and another puts a sticker on it. Then the line continues for a bit before you come to three people who check your passport, your carry on (manually) before you're allowed to put the carry on through the x ray. Considering the exports out of Bolivia, it makes sense to have this kind of security.

I eventually make it to the gate and watch others fall asleep. I stay awake and wait. Once I get on the plane, I fall asleep.

Wake up and we are landing in Santa Cruz. Everyone is getting off the place. Into the terminal for more security checks and then back to the gate area.

Get a coffee and burn my tongue. Hottest coffee I've had in ages!

Back to the place. Sit and watch as a security person pats down the baggage handlers as they come out of the plane's cargo hold.

Arrive at Guarulhos airport outside of Sao Paulo, Brazil and go staright to the check in counter for the next flight to Recife.

This airport is pretty familiar to me by now. I go eat a coxinha, a Brazilian chicken pastry snack.

Then through security, and downstairs to get on a bus. Arrive at the gate, and wait.

Land in Recife in the evening. Off to find food.

April 14 - day off Recife

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Day off in Recife. Take a walk around the neighborhood. Have some coconut water at the beach.

There's a bunch of fans outside the hotel.

Go to a mall and see a crowd outside a store. Turns out it's the Bumblefoot Meet & Greet. Go and have Acai flavored frozen yoghurt....



/jarmo

Thanks for sharing these moments with us : ok:

No worries. :)
It's just for fun.


April 15 - Show day in Recife

We are in a suburb (?) outside Recife itself. The band's first show in Brazil's northeast and a nice change to the high altitude of La Paz. 

There's no coffee until dinner time. How's that possible? But there's cake since there's a birthday to be celebrated!


April 16 - Travel day to Fortaleza

Take a short flight to Fortaleza. Our hotel is right on the beach. There's a fish market to the right, and restaurants to the left of the entrance.

Head out for some food. Eat some local food and for some reason they can't seem to get the Caipirinha right. It's not just me being difficult. My local friends think it's not good either. It's not supposed to be that sour...

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I guess they focused too much on the presentation.


Walk along the beach in the evening.



April 17 - Show day in Fortaleza

Last show of the tour. It's in a convention center, and it's pretty modern. Catering is huge and they have coffee.

There's a flash mob during Sweet Child. A nice surprise.

After the show people are hurrying packing up. Go back to hotel and wake up in the morning to go say bye to some friends. I'll be staying here for a few days with my girlfriend and some friends.

Holidays in the sun!

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It was one hell of a tour again. Looking back, it's always amazing how insanely passionate the crowds are there. Very cool to go visit Bolivia for the first time too.

Thanks to everybody who made it possible and who made it the great experience it was.


Thanks for reading this little "diary".



/jarmo

Fun Fun Fun!!!
Never been in South America

I definitely recommend going if you get a chance.




/jarmo