Warsaw: A Pleasant Street

Really enjoyed walking down this street in Warsaw.  All the houses were white and almost intertwined with old trees.

Warsaw: Snowy Gdanski Train Station

Just passing above the snowy platforms and tracks at Gdanski train station in Warsaw:

Warsaw: Guns N' Roses Gdansk Concert Posters

Couldn't help but notice these advertisements for the upcoming Guns N' Roses gig in Gdansk, as they seemed to illuminate the darkness:

Saw Guns N' Roses at Castle Donington in 1988 when the band were dynamite on stage.  Can remember just sitting on the grass with a mate, and seeing people, from all directions, running madly down towards the front of the stage.  A smiling, bearded stranger even stopped and asked:  "Why the f&ck are you not going down to the front?  It's Guns N' f&ckin Roses!".  Little did anybody know that two people would tragically  lose their lives in the madness.

Then saw Guns N' Roses at Maine Road, Manchester in 1992.  Faith No More and Soundgarden were both fantastic.  Then we waited literally hour after hour for Guns N' Roses to take the stage.  Within half an hour or so of this, me and my mates were on the bus making our way back to Bury to get a last couple of pints at the Royal pub.

Warsaw: Looking at the Dunkel

Outside Biernalle at Arkadia, it's about -10, and I'm looking through the window at a vat of dunkel (dark beer).

A Gem of a Song

Like many people, I was saddened to hear of the recent passing away of John Wetton (King Crimson; UK; Asia etc.).

In response, I started exploring the John Wetton material I wasn't familiar with and found this gem:  'In the End' by Icon (John Wetton and Asia bandmate, Geoff Downes).

1976: A Monumental Year

Like most British people, when I think of 1976, the first thing that springs to mind is the famous heatwave from that year.  I was only 10 at the time, but can clearly remember it.

When I think a little deeper, I can also recall some interesting sporting events: Southampton upsetting Man. Utd 1-0 in the FA Cup Final; Borg beating Nastase in straight sets in the Wimbledon Final; and Sugar Ray Leonard dazzling everybody with his boxing skills at the Montreal Olympics.

However, I mainly think that 1976 is a monumental year in human history because it's the year that Rush's '2112' (breakthrough) album was released:

Dedicated to the great libertarian philosopher (freethinker), Ayn Rand, this album ensured the survival of, for me, what would go on to be the greatest (Rock or otherwise) band to ever grace the planet.  Truth be known, I was only introduced to '2112' and Rush in about 1978 by a friend, Andy Hawkins.  Still feel indebted to Andy about this.

Warsaw: Cinnamon Coffee

A very nice cinnamon coffee I had somewhere in Warsaw last week.  Enjoyed it a lot more than I'd expected.