Malmo

Made it in. On the floor but back in row 22. The road is a tough
place. Cold and even with some friends seems like a lot of trouble.

But I am here so will carry on. If I seem a bit like I'm dragging it
was just a day that seemed like a bit of a struggle.

Malmo is a very nice city. Had a great walk around with my new
buddies, both from Norway. Had a listen to 45 seconds of a song from
Dylan's new album. Dag had downloaded it from amazon and we all
thought it sounded very nice.

Malmo is about thirty minutes from Copenhagen. There is another show
there tomorrow.

The malmo arena is brand new. The cabbie said it was the third best in
the world. Not sure how they determine the rankings. It is very nice
but the halls are so big, it makes it seem a bit the same as the
previous shows.

Show will be starting in a few minutes. More later. Cheers.

Malmo

At the hotel in Malmo.

7th row!!

Got really lucky with a ticket. Lookalike it might bra good one. Crowd
is excited and so am I.

Just had a nice time with three Swedish guys at the bar. Big music
fans. Dan from Sweden hooked me up with Roberto from Italy for the
ticket. Closest I've been since Mannhein.

Jonkoping

The arena. Busses have arrived and the starts in a couple of hours.

Springtime in Sweden

Woke up to a nice snowfall this morning. Heading to Jonkoping for a
show tonight and then on to Malmo tomorrow.

Found a nice little cheap hotel after the ferry ride from Norway
yesterday. Most of the people looked like day trippers who did lots of
shopping on board. I guess it us tax free and most got off with bags
of purchases. Mostly liquor and cigs from what I could see.

Oslo

Made it in and a bargin. Life is good. Met some new friends and
enjoyed a cocktail.

Very odd setup here. Trying to see how it is used for basketball or
hockey.

Looks like the music is starting.

Oslo

The tour busses outside the Oslo Spectrum. Really nice day her. Warmer
than I thought it would be. Found a cheap hotel 550 Norwegian Kroner.
Shower and toilet across the hall but it is not so bad. Clean and
close to the station and the Spectrum.

Going to spend the rest of the day touring Oslo. Then try to find a
ticket. Should not be to hard. I think it holds 12 or 15 thousand.

More later!

Oslo bound

Leaving Stockholm after a brief but pleasant visit. Saw Dylan and made
a couple of new friends. Plus saw a few from previous trips.

Stockhom is a beautiful city. It has not suffered the destruction of
so many other European cities during wars.

We found several small cafes that were inviting and warm.

Now on the train heading to Oslo. One problem, no hotel in Oslo.
Hopefully will find something.

LARS

Like A Rolling Stone

Guitar

Bob plays guitar on lay lady lay

Made it in - Stockholm Globen

We are waiting for the show to begin. First Dylan concert in a while.
Ready to have some fun. Hockey/basketball arena.

Not sold out but only nose bleed seats for sale. Able to get a ticket
and not over pay too much outside.

Selling lots merchandise. Saw 3 or 4 stands and hawkers standing out
in the crowd with glossy programs.

At least tonight we avoided snow.

Berne

A shot of the room at Bern's where the Never Ending Tour started 2009.
Beautiful room. Stance encore. Cry A While, LARS, Forever Young.

Snow was falling and Stockholm was beautiful.

Berns

The restaurant in the hotel attached to the club where Dylan will play
his first show of 2009.

It is a very cool place. Doesn't look good for a ticket but you never
know.

Had a glass of champagne, very elegant.

Stockholm

Sunday morning in Sweden. Nice to think that Bob and the boys are in
town and getting ready to play.

Beautiful Katie

Having breakfast with my best girl beforethe trip.

Foundation

Getting ready to pour walls

Four Days then off to Stockholm

via Chicago. Getting ready for the trip every day now. Pile builds of things to bring and stuff to cut out, i.e. pages of a travel book on Scandinavia of places I won't visit this trip. Every page counts. Have a really good one done by The Discovery Channel.

Trying to figure out tickets for trains and ferries. Most routes are pretty well defined but always a few change ups. Different this time in that I am buying point-to-point tickets rather than a pass. Takes a lot more planning and thought this way (which is fun). Also saves some money and makes me think about each leg.

New album announced from Dylan for April 28th. The guy just keeps doing it. Really excited that I get to make a few more stops with him.

John the web guy

Nana

Here is the lovely Marianne.

Thinking Sweden

As I sit in my office my thoughts turn to Sweden and watching a Bob
Dylan documentary with multiple time points in his career.
Trying to decide on a hotel. Stockholm. The name conjures thoughts of
water and spys, Nazis and beautiful blonds.
Ready to get in the plane but still one week to wait till the airport
run begins.

Villa foundation

This is the current form.

Fwd: Dylan in Paris poster

Begin forwarded message:

From: Bill Lakin <blakin1@gmail.com>
Date: March 12, 2009 10:56:13 AM CDT
To: Blogger <rovinggambler.dylaneurope@blogger.com>
Subject: Dylan in Paris poster

<photo.jpg>

This poster was bought in Paris after a show in 2000. It has hung proudly on my wall ever since. There are several more on the walls. I am booked for my biannual European tour of cities and basketball arenas. Friends, old and new. Music, sublime and merely great. Many new sites and scenes. Going to report with my trusty iPhone my thoughts and impressions as I go from town to town, heading to another joint. Hope you come along for the ride. Leave a comment every Now and then so I know you are there. Cheers!

Dylan in Paris poster

Villa

Darwin @ breakfast

Butch before FL

IPhone blog post

Blog w/ Photo test

Blog with photo test