SJ's European Tour 2007

Vesuvius through the clouds

Sunrise on the way to the airport. I think taht's also Vesuvius.

Well, I can't believe it but I am now writing this as I sit in Hetahrow airport waiting for my get to be announced to come home. I am incredibly excited and can't wait to touch down in good ole New Amsterdam. Since my last post I have had a 5 day holiday in Barcelona with my friend Trani and then went to Porugal to play at a club and a festival. At this point I am absolutely shattered having played 4am-6:30am sets the past 3 nights and travelling each day after so I've not had more then 3 hours sleep in a row in what feels like forever. I'm hoping this Xanex in my pocket and 2 glasses of red wine will send me off to the land of nod for my entire flight home. Barcelona was really fab with beautiful sunny weather. Trani and I spent every day either at the beach or on the roof of our tres gay hotel (Hotel Axel, check out it's website, really genius) that I highly recommend to anyone passing through B-lona. The rooms come with 3 signs you can stick on your door: Do Not Disturb, Please Make Up Room, and Please Disturb. Werk. But it's also quite boutique-y so you don't just feel like you're at some crappy hotel that just happens to hang a dirty rainbow flag outside to be gay. These queens turn it out. Saying goodbye to Tran is hard cause she is that little shred of home that has got me through the last bit of my trip but hey, I've only got 3 more days so I just need to shut the fuck up, right. Portugal is pretty cool. The promoter, Alonso is super sweet and we communicate easily, thanks to his good grasp of English. My second night in Porto (well, near Porto actually) is playing at a University Festival. I guess each year at this time the schools organize a week of parties before final exams. Strange, huh? I am playing in the dance tent which is quite big, maybe 3,000 people or so. They trickle in as the band on the main stage finish and then boom the place is packed with kids totally off their faces. My kinda people. I get cheers, whistles, a few Huh???'s, and even a phone number. My last song plays as the dawn's early light reveals a sea of myd outside the tent where a pretty field once was. Me and Alonso trudge back to his car for an hour nap before leaving for the airport. I'm staring back at the tent in awe that 6 weeks has gone by and while I have whined about being away, it now seems like a flash. I guess that's how it always is looking from the end backwards. I'm glad I had the job of writing this diary so now there is a definite record that all of this really did happen. Thanks Daddy for encouraging me to stick with it. Hope you all enjoyed it, I'll post the last of my pics now....

NEXT UP.....Shanghai!!!

Trani and our new friend Chris on our hotel rooftop. You can just make out the pool and in the far background the jacuzzi that had a slightly funky smell emminating from it...

Miss Purple Pants sans pants.

The famous Gaudi church that looks like a sandy drip castle...

Trani and I took one of those open top bus tours which was actually quite fun.

Trani in the our hotel room window...

Xander on the beach.

"Please Disturb"
I love it.

I wish I was there with you guys on at the pool.
I'd show Xander what a "banana slinger" REALLY is!

I wish you saw Justin tear the roof off at Stevie.
He did "Garbo".

Hurry home and reclaim your throne!
Gary awaits.

OK it's time for Sammy Jo on tour Part 2.