updated on March 5:
San Francisco - February 25, 2009
After hardly four hours of sleep my cell phone alarm clock rang at about four in the morning. I was still really tired and stayed in bed for another half an hour and kept reminiscing about the wonderful moments the night before after the show until I decided to have a quick shower. I had packed most of my stuff a day earlier as I knew I would have to struggle with my suitcase which was slightly overpacked. Some brute force eventually did the trick. Because of my great talent to get lost in casinos I left the room quite early and dragged my suitcase through the halls where some people had the nerve to gamble at such an early hour. Since I had no room in my suitcase I had to wear my winter clothes. "You look like you're going somewhere cold", a guy on my left remarked. "No, I'm coming from somewhere cold", I replied. I dropped my key at the reception and took a taxi to the airport. The taxi driver was very impressed to hear that I had seen Blondie the night before in Primm. He told me he had seen them before, too and how great they were. I asked him if he lived in Las Vegas and he responded he lived a few miles outside the center in a nice and casino-free area.
I saw a sign that directed travelers to Death Valley which made me wonder how far that might've been. I was glad to be leaving Las Vegas as I didn't feel comfortable in the city. The huge buildings were kind of suffocating. I checked in for my flight to San Francisco and went through the security check. It didn't take long and I soon had to realize that I was way too early as I still had two hours. I bought something to drink and sat down near the gate where I went online. I read a few articles about the plane crash in Amsterdam. The flight was on time and it was quite short. I was the only non-Japanese person on the flight as everyone else was connecting. Announcements were made in English and Japanese. There were no clouds in the sky and the view was really beautiful. I tried to have a nap on the plane but it didn't work very well. The airport in San Francisco was right at the water's edge next to a really long dam which I later had to cross. I found my luggage quickly and took a taxi to the hotel. The weather there was a lot different. It was kind of cold and cloudy but for some reason I was glad to be back in a cold climate. The taxi was stuck in traffic on a bridge for a little while. I noticed how green everything looked. The tiny houses on the hill were a real contrast to the huge casino buildings in Las Vegas. The Russian taxi driver was very chatty and told me all kinds of stories about himself and the city. As I had told him that it was my first time in San Francisco he pointed out a few buildings like the city hall to me. The ride was fairly long and I was glad when I finally arrived at the hotel. I didn't recognize it right away as it had a basement entrance and it looked so colorful that I was instantly reminded of a kindergarten. The hotel was run by Japanese people in Japantown and it looked kind of interesting. I checked in and took the lift upstairs. My room was very colorful, as well, and had a huge painting on the wall. I didn't have time for a nap and got ready for the show right away. I really liked the wooden buildings I passed on the way to the venue. The architecture was quite interesting. The sun was shining now. The streets were busy and I felt quite relaxed. It's funny how the atmosphere can change from one moment to another while being in a foreign place. I went down the road and turned left where I saw the green Fillmore street sign. The crew bus was parked in front of the venue. I met Rene again and after a while the two guys from the Portland show arrived, as well. The later it got, the colder it became and I was glad that I had decided not to wear a skirt. I went to Starbucks around the corner to get a White Chocolate Mocca. Allen arrived a little later. He sat down next to me and gave me two prints of that truly gorgeous picture with Debbie. My eyes instinctively got all teary. I was quite speechless. I've had a really hard time since the end of the tour and I take this picture everywhere I go now. Only a short glimpse makes me smile again. Words really cannot explain how happy it makes me and I'm eternally grateful that Allen took it. The concert was sold out and everyone in the crowd loved and enjoyed the show. Debbie looked breathtaking and her voice sounded really, really beautiful (as it always does). This time I particularly enjoyed the extended part in "Heart Of Glass." A silent voice within me wanted to whisper to her to keep on singing. Every added note was a special treasure and the idea of her leaving the stage would've broken my heart. I wondered what kind of tea she was drinking during the show. I could smell a slight whiff of cinnamon which was very pleasant. Then the inevitable moment came and after "Please Please Me" she had to say goodbye. It was really sad and quite unbearable. It was a very special tour. My dearest songs were "Two Times Blue", "Whiteout" and "Liar, Liar" and the fact that they were added into the setlist made me very happy. They were like an island I wanted to settle down on. I loved each and every one of the songs. "The Hardest Part" really sounded amazing, too. Debbie makes it a very special song live and the way she sings it gives it a whole new significance. Then, I was also delighted to hear "(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear", another live favorite of mine. After the show we were waiting by the bus. Chris came out first. He was really nice. I really appreciated his kindness on the whole tour. It broke my heart that I couldn't say goodbye to Debbie after the show as I was being pushed away the moment that she came out. I hope she enjoyed the remaining shows in sunny California and that she had a safe trip back to snowy New York. Unfortunately the tour is over now. I didn't go straight back to Germany. I'm in New York right now and I will stay here for a bit. I went shopping on Bleecker Street on Sunday where I found a few old records.
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ontheboundary's journal
and to exchange some impressions with fellow attendees. 
