Europe 2022

The sea ice melting between Canada and Greenland.

The mountains of Greenland.

Greenland's glaciers glaciering.

I'm at Keflavik Airport in Iceland now, waiting to catch my flight to Stockholm.  It's a quarter to seven in the morning here, grey and cloudy with a temp of 48 degrees.  Instead of frozen tundra, the landscape looked surprisingly green on the flight in.

Here's a few pictures I took during the flight in:

The floating sea ice between Greenland and Iceland looks trippy from 35,000 feet.

1). On the ground at Keflavik Airport before flying on to Stockholm.  I was on Icelandair to Stockholm.  My connecting flight to Gothenburg was cancelled because of the SAS strike.  
 

2). Outside Stockholm's Central Station.  Fortunately, my two oldest brothers were still in Stockholm.  They picked me up here, we all paid a fun visit to my 91 year old Aunt Katherine at her nursing home, and then I caught a 4 1/2 hour ride across the country to the Swedish west coast, north of Gothenburg with my brother Eric.

3). The old navigational marker at Islandsberg, where we had hiked out to.

4). Looking back from Islandsberg over the fjord past Ellos Island towards the island of Skafto and Ragardsvik, the little coastal village my father's family has been coming to since 1932.

5) The evening in Ragardsvik.  The sun sets around 10:30 now.

6). The view from the porch of the vacation house my grandfather built in the early 1950s.

7)  One of my brothers and brother-in-laws as we returned my father's ashes to the sea here in his birthplace.  Notice the heart shaped pattern.

So far, a wonderful and relaxing visit here.  Time to reconnect with family and soak in the midsummer weather.  Days of sun and swimming, followed by large family dinners with lots of fantastic food and drinks, including some nice single malt whiskeys to salute my pops.

A few more days here, then it's off to Lyon on Friday!

Hope you got approval for your proposal, Llollo, we will miss your company, but those sound like very worthwhile projects.

The airplane strikes in Europe have caused some flight cancellations for me.  Instead of flying into Lyon last night, I am now scheduled to arrive tonight.  Thomas, I have sent you an email with the pertinent info.

I have gotten an extra day to spend in Sweden, and have had a chance to catch up with old friends in Gothenburg.  My friend Nils works with the Water Rescue organization here, and took me for a ride around the archipelago on one of their boats yesterday evening while he was training one of their new crew.  With the sun not setting until 10:30 p.m. it was quite beautiful, and thrilling. More magic for a memorable trip.  I will post some photos later.

Hopefully no more flight cancellations, and I can catch up with the rest of the Zoner crew tonight or tomorrow morning.  Looking forward to France!

Off to Amsterdam, and then on to Lyon tonight.

See you kind folks soon!

This is the sea rescue vessel my friend took me out for a ride around Gothenburg's harbor last Friday.  I just got back to Gothenburg today after a memorable visit with Chef Tom and China Rider in France.  

Gothenburg sunsets were spectacularly late and drawn out.  Took these photos after the boat ride around 10:30 p.m.

On Saturday night, I flew into Leon, France.  Tom's wife and her friend trekked out to the airport to get me, as the Chef was booked at an all day wedding.  Gold stars all around for the deluxe chauffeur service, and for waiting around while I filed paperwork for my missing luggage.

They brought me out into the amazing French countryside, in the Rhône region, with it's incredible foods and wines.  This is St. Martin En Haut.  The 13th Century Roman Catholic Cathedral is it's most prominent building.  Tom & Co. are having a high time living the good life in this magical place.  Thanks for the example of joie de vivre!

China Rider showed up on Monday, and the Euro Zoner Gathering was on!  Here's China Rider and Tom G on the way into Groupama Stadium for the Stones show last night.  Great hanging with you guys!  Without your translating abilities, I would have been in the deep end, as my French is very rusty.  
 

Heard all about the Chocolate Incident.  Friggin' high-larious!   Andy's spirit was felt, and Fishcane was missed.

Chaud-Time!

The Stones rocked Leon.  Rock 'n Effing Roll!

Mama, mama, many worlds I've travelled since I first left home. 

Merci beaucoup, Tom.  Literally, the hottest show of the tour.  I should have stayed in Sweden a little longer.  The Stones are on stage tonight in Stockholm.  What was I thinking?  The heat followed me back to Seattle.  Today will be the sixth straight day of a high temperature in the 90's here, which has never happened since they have been recording the temps.  Sacre bleu!

I like how they have ditched the fan vote.  It played to our favor in Lyon when we got Dead Flowers.  Maybe something special tonight for Stockholm?  She's So Cold would be nice, or another Can't You Hear Me Knocking.
 

My cousin Eva is going to tonight's show in Stockholm.  Hope she gets a smokin' show.  The boys should be energized with the cooler Swedish weather.

Viva la Stones!

Nice shot of Keith from last night in Stockholm.  He has seemed especially strong this tour.  Ronnie has also looked to be recovering well from his dual bouts with cancer.  Mick is the one who has seemed to be losing a step this tour.  Fighting COVID while turning 79 in the midst of a 2+ month tour has been rough on him.  He's no longer the perpetually youthful Adonis.  
 

One more show to go on Wednesday night at Waldbuhne in Berlin, by far the smallest venue of the tour at 22,000 seats.  This is the make-up show for the cancelled Bern, Switzerland gig.  There are already rumors of an Australia/New Zealand/Asia tour for 2023.  With these guy's ages, you never know if this will be the last time.

This is Waldbuhne in Berlin.  Europe doesn't have as many outdoor sheds as the U.S.  Will be interesting to see how they set up their stage for this show, and if there are any surprises in the setlist.  There were high expectations when they closed last year's North American tour at the 5000 seat Hard Rock Casino in Miami, but it wound up being somewhat of a dud.

Tour Finale starts about 10:45 a.m. Pacific time this morning.

Looks like a cool outdoor venue. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldbühne
 

Place has some interesting history.  Built by the Nazis as part of the Olympics.  The fans rioted the first time the Stones played there.

It's hot there today. Some people claiming two tour-debuts soundchecked..  Brown Sugar?  Mother's Little Helper?