Paris is not the best place for big name music. After New York and the endless gigs Paris has been a gig disappointment. The venues aren't great, artists charge upwards of 80,00 euros (yes I mean you Tori Amos), and it's difficult to get tickets if you don't act quick.
So I missed my chance to score Patti Smith tickets. I tried to pretend like I wasn't upset. Then I couldn't get Dylan tickets for his night at Bercy. I even contemplated going the scalper/eBay route until I saw what they were asking (about 150 euros a ticket).
Then my friend Danielle proposed we go to Lille and see Dylan. There were tickets for 63,00 a pop with some minimal costs for booking fees and a 1 euro donation to a good cause. She booked the tickets. Then we had to figure out how we were going to get to Lille...
There was the idea of renting a car, taking the train, or doing what is really the truc (thing) now in France covoiturage (rideshare). After some emailing and lots of Facebook, texting, and calls we've now decided on the train.
I'm in my 30's. I can take a certain amount of discomfort for the sake of saving money, but the less money you spend the more you have to deal with hassles. Since Danielle has to be back in Paris for a shoot Monday morning, we can't afford the hassles.
France is really bad when it comes to long distance trains. Either you can cross the country for 19,00 euros (if booked six months+ in advance) or you book a few days before and the ticket that could be 20,00 euros is now 80,00. Though discussions about the British Rail have made me a bit more sympathetic towards the SNCF.
Tickets departing Paris to Lille on Sunday in the afternoon and returning Monday early morning are now 122,00 euros for both of us. I got a special last minute fare, yay! That's 30,00 euros saved and we're not having to leave Lille at 7 am.
Now we just need to book a not-too-cheap hotel near the train station and the details for our "adult" roadtrip are settled. Now to the good part...
We're not just going to see Bob Dylan (whom I haven't seen since I saw him play a few sets with The Grateful Dead when I was 12 years old!), but Mark Knopfler, who is also on the tour.
Now for those who don't know Mark Knopfler is the lead guitarist from Dire Straits so yes, if you want your MTV you might want to catch him on this tour. Knopfler worked with Dylan on a few projects, including Infidels.
But what makes this sort of significant really is that if you've read my blog you know what a massive fan of I am of the film "The Princess Bride". Maybe in a surreal moment, Knopfler might play a bit of the score, though I highly doubt it.
I think I'm in for a real treat and since my co-pilot on this adventure is a photographer, be prepared for some beautiful photographs when I return.
Dylan's famous for not playing old music at his shows, but if I had one wish it'd be to hear him play either "It Ain't Me Babe" or "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue".
So I missed my chance to score Patti Smith tickets. I tried to pretend like I wasn't upset. Then I couldn't get Dylan tickets for his night at Bercy. I even contemplated going the scalper/eBay route until I saw what they were asking (about 150 euros a ticket).
Then my friend Danielle proposed we go to Lille and see Dylan. There were tickets for 63,00 a pop with some minimal costs for booking fees and a 1 euro donation to a good cause. She booked the tickets. Then we had to figure out how we were going to get to Lille...
There was the idea of renting a car, taking the train, or doing what is really the truc (thing) now in France covoiturage (rideshare). After some emailing and lots of Facebook, texting, and calls we've now decided on the train.
I'm in my 30's. I can take a certain amount of discomfort for the sake of saving money, but the less money you spend the more you have to deal with hassles. Since Danielle has to be back in Paris for a shoot Monday morning, we can't afford the hassles.
France is really bad when it comes to long distance trains. Either you can cross the country for 19,00 euros (if booked six months+ in advance) or you book a few days before and the ticket that could be 20,00 euros is now 80,00. Though discussions about the British Rail have made me a bit more sympathetic towards the SNCF.
Tickets departing Paris to Lille on Sunday in the afternoon and returning Monday early morning are now 122,00 euros for both of us. I got a special last minute fare, yay! That's 30,00 euros saved and we're not having to leave Lille at 7 am.
Now we just need to book a not-too-cheap hotel near the train station and the details for our "adult" roadtrip are settled. Now to the good part...
We're not just going to see Bob Dylan (whom I haven't seen since I saw him play a few sets with The Grateful Dead when I was 12 years old!), but Mark Knopfler, who is also on the tour.
Now for those who don't know Mark Knopfler is the lead guitarist from Dire Straits so yes, if you want your MTV you might want to catch him on this tour. Knopfler worked with Dylan on a few projects, including Infidels.
But what makes this sort of significant really is that if you've read my blog you know what a massive fan of I am of the film "The Princess Bride". Maybe in a surreal moment, Knopfler might play a bit of the score, though I highly doubt it.
I think I'm in for a real treat and since my co-pilot on this adventure is a photographer, be prepared for some beautiful photographs when I return.
Dylan's famous for not playing old music at his shows, but if I had one wish it'd be to hear him play either "It Ain't Me Babe" or "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue".
