Awwww, how I LOVED the rain!!! It brought back such fond memories of the Mannheim show in 1997... *sigh* Rain at a U2 show for me makes everything more intense. It's like you're really out there in the elements, you've no control and you have to surrender... and rock!!!

Awe so glad to hear you had a great time Slate and hopefully Matt?.... well I can tell you the first night of Tempe '87 (closing shows) it had been raining quit a while before my mom or I even knew it.....we asked some fellows around us and it evidently had been raining on us for a half hour...hahaha now thats what I call being way deep into a U2 show!!!!! I just popped in and read Tanja's bit about a fiascal ? What happened?.....will wait til you rested up.... ;))

soulie, it was not about the show but about the security. it was very confusing before they allowed the crowd to enter the fos-area. most of the people have to stand very close together over hours and some of them got panic... but I think slate can explain it better...

uh oh ...sounds sort of scray to me too... *hugs*

Ok now, after about four hours sleep I'm still feeling a little dizzy but better! :-) Hmmm, honestly I didn't notice any of what Tanja was saying. Maybe that happened further behind in the queue? Where we were standing, it was fine. They opened the gates an hour later than planned (4 pm instead of 3 pm), but the waiting outside was ok. It got a bit chaotic when the gates opened, though, because they had two entrances to the FOS area. We made it in the first one without no problems (that was the "normal" one we knew from the other shows so far), but then they had to sideway entrances and people were crowding in front of them and were only let through very slowly (I hope this makes sense... just imagine two crowds of people standing at the left and the right outside the catwalks, not really knowing what happens... it was so annoying, because things didn't seem to move at all and all that happened was that we were being told not to push or else nobody would get in... or something like that.) Well, at the end, everything was fine, but I really haven't experienced such a superfluous procedure up to now. I really wonder what was the idea behind it all! I mean it worked fine the way they did it in other cities, didn't it? Grrrr...Btw, I didn't saw Boomie, I hope she's fine!

Oh wow, excuse my typos... I'm not quite awake or so it seems... I hope you get the message! *lol*

slate, no boomie?? did she want to go to munich??? boomiehun, are you ok?hmm... I heard of a lot of people that it wasnt just boring and confusing, but also dangerous and painful... so, I dont know exactely and maybe you stood at the "right" side where everything was under control...

Matt met Simona from Italy (the girl who was on stage in Rome during With Or Without You), she was at the other entrance (not where we were). She said she wanted to write Matt an email about what happened there, but as she's also going to Nice, it might take a while. Maybe she has experienced something else, who knows.I hope Boomie is fine and enjoyed the show! She said she didn't want to go there too early, so I don't know if she made it into the FOS area. Boomiehun, where are you?

So, you enjoyed the rain...cant say I did...No way... still not try really. Soaking wet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We were there at around half3 I think and were (stupid as hell) at the "wrong" entrance. When they finally opened the gates we saw people running up and at our gate nothing moved. So as we finally got in the stadium it was already crowded. So we ran down to the entrance and didnt see anything happening. So we went back and stood behind the 3rd (Id say) barrier. So, not that good for us. The strange thing was that while we were standing there alot of people still were coming inside the barrier. so my friend went and came back to say...cant see where the entrance is...everythings so crowded but nobody moves. so we decided to stand there. wasnt that bad but as it was the last show i wish id been any nearer to the boys....

Boomie, urgh, that's bad... I'm sorry to read that! But I'll tell you something: Next time, bring a mobile phone with you and we'll get you in! Wouldn't have been a problem yesterday, but we didn't know where you are... :-(

Thought that too, wish I had that stupid mobile thing with me. Next time??? No next time for me will be seats unfortunately!!!! Cant stand all the time anymore.....to old *boomie shuffles away*

Aaaaw, Boomie, don't you run away! Come here, hun... *pullsBoomieinatighthugandtriestocomforther* Hun, I know you're frustrated, but don't you think it's even more frustrating to not even have the chance to get close? I mean, I personally never had seats at a U2 show, but I imagine it must be a strange feeling when you know there is no way of getting closer. And I know the waiting is hard and weather can get very bad (heavy rain, or sunshine and 35°C, which I think is worst). And I've so often thought about seats myself when I stood there and thought, I can't take it anymore. But then again...... when the show starts, you don't want to be anywhere except RIGHT THERE, don't you? Well, I know I wouldn't... Maybe you can find a compromise next time, but I bet you have to have GA at least once to really SEE him!

Youre so right Slate...At Schalke where we had seats it was soooooooo great to just hear them and see them playing again that I didnt really care .... but than in Berlin down there I thought: Wow, how could you sit up there and be happy. Heres where it really happens. But everytime when the waiting and standing there starts I think: No way the next time one of these comfort seats is yours. Dr. Jackyl and Mr Hide!!!!

Hihi, I know, I have the same thoughts each time! It's like, no way, this is the very last time I'm doing this to myself! I don't need this anymore! This is murder! And then, when the concert's over, nearly everything is forgotten... until the next time! :-)

..oh yeah...I did a 20h marathon outside the stadium,my cell died,my knee hurted,almost arrested (in the hotel).....but I don't care...I would have run till the FOS even on crutches.......U2-4-EVER!... :-))))

Yeah, that's the right attitude, Lucia! :-))) And that's also why the Italian crowd is so great, they all seem to think that way! ;-) I want to go back to Italy... *sniff*

From all I hear and see, the Italian shows were amazing!!! Such passion and the nice thing is that they showed it, unlike the more reserved audiences here in the States. I think were are all trying to follow the rules and not get in trouble or anything. Our tickets say,"no cameras or recorders" and most all of us followed the rules. Me being one of them. I think I will try this time to bring my camera in. But I have such bad seats that I may need a huge zoom lens to see anything. Yay for the Italian audience to show their true feelings!!!!

Oct I think I figured something out. I was watching Ohly Zsuzi's vids and I noticed that Bono seems to be much more flirtatious, he seems to feel much sexier. *sushi'seyebrowsjumpshegrinsevilly* You can see that in his taking off his jacket *suggestively* and stretching his shirtneck so that his *muahaha* chest shows. Maybe since Bono feels and acts sexier, the audience feels that they can be more outgoing (or whatever you want to call it) and won't embarrass themselves because Bono himself is being more outgoing/sexy. Just thought I'd share.

I think you may be right Sushi, Bono does seems more playful with the audience in Europe. Of course he doesn't have stupid critcs like the ones in Chicago to deal with, but I could be wrong. It just seems like the shows in Europe have been more interactive with him and ours seems too comercial and hands off. Maybe this time when I see them in November,they will have loosened up and will be more playful.

Oct, yeah, I've been thinking the same thing about audiences. In Italy, people really show their passion for U2, sometimes in ways that would be considered "uncool" here in Germany. But there, it doesn't matter if it's cool or not, and that's what really impressed me and what I really loved about it. :-)

you're lucky Slate I think over in the US people are soooooooooo obsessed with image, how they look to other people. It would be really nice to have the boys come back and just go all out, be flirty and playful and passionate so that the audience would not be so obsessed with their image. And if the audience stayed un-obsessed with their image, America wouldn't have an image problem anymore... lol!

oh,good thing I live in Europe then..hehe!even at the concert I was at people sometimes looked strange at me,because I screamed jumped and sang<(spell?) so much=)espiecially at one song,bono started singing some words from Please after he finished another one,so of course I screamed very loud because of that!! I didn't look like they thought that a so young person could scream so loud,hehe=) well good thing I live in Europe!!!=D=Dklems to everyone..!

Fanny you know what I think we should go to a concert together and see how loud we can scream and sing just to prove to them that youngsters can be as loud as they want to!! Bono did say "dream out loud" didn't he? ^^klems all around.. =D

Hihihi, I would have loved to watch that, Fanny!!! Sounds very funny, indeed... :-) Wouldn't it be cool if we could all go to a show together? Just imagine all of us standing there, singing, dancing, screaming... I bet we'd have so much fun!!! :-)))... and by the way, I guess people around me (at the shows) who didn't know me might have been a bit surprised at my metamorphosis as well: This tall woman, looking kinda bored and serious most of the time, also tired and hanging around like a gulp of water in a bend (as we say here) - but as soon as she hears the first notes of Wake Up, she transforms into this jumping, screaming, singing and clapping MONSTER!!! Hihihiiiiiii...

..you know I jumped so much that my left knee hurted for a week!..I would have followed them in some other show here in Europe but I had not enough money!!..sigh...anyway I think people here is just sponteneaus (?) and passionate and B likes it!..I remember his face when looked at people screaming and he smiled...there was a girl behind me saying all the time " B sei proprio bono"..which means "B you are definitely cool!"..this is quite curios for us coz bono in Rome slang means sexy,cool,handsome..etc..I wonder if he Knows this thing....ahhhhh!.. :-)))))))))anyway Slate you have become an official guest here!!!...^_^

Wow, Bono means sexy in Rome... You should have told him that when you met him! I can really imagine him showing off with that in interviews and such...Bono leaning towards the interviewer and telling her in a deep and sexy voice: "Did you know... in Rome, "Bono" means "sexy"? *chucklesandraiseseyebrow*Interviewer: "Ah, come on! That's not true!"Bono: "It is true! *laughs* It is true! See, Italian people have taste!" *raiseshands* Interviewer: *laugs* "Ok ok, so Bono is, uh, means sexy..."*bothlaugh*)I see it in my mind... That would be so him! :-)))

..during Pop show I remeber he asked to the audience :" do you think I'm bono?"......yessssssssssssssssssss!....he probably knows it...when I saw him (oh God!) I just said hi and two more words coz he was really pissed...probably tired...but try to imagine that!......hahaha...it's tipycal here when you see a very nice guy to say " ah bonooooo....." :-)))))

"Do you think I'm bono" - that's so cool! But I can tell you, I would have so NOT gotten the joke if I had been there. But now I know! Thank you! :-)

going on a show together would be THE COOLEST!! I think those who are going to stand by us needs an extra pair of earplugs!! all of maybe the biggest fans together? jepp,that's a lot of noise!and it would be the best show EVER!!we seriously have to do that sometime! but I guess I'm to young to travel alone to a concert with thousands and thousands of people...

Well, I suppose we'll have to wait for the next tour to do so... Then we'll all be at least four years older! Which makes me... *counts*... oh God, I don't want to think about that! ;-)

...4 years!!!!! :-(((((( ...no no,I'm going to visit the Pope Ratzinger and ask him for a miracle...or a phone call to Bono....*sigh*

You know Lucia we got off on the wrong foot as they say here in the U.S.,but I really have enjoyed all your latest comments and the fact that you went to the hotel where he was!!! that is something we would all want to do,but can't. Keep the obsession going girlfriend!!!

..haha we say the same here! :-))..by the way my obsession is getting worst and worst and next spring it is going to take me to ireland...a friend of mine was there three years ago and she really found B's house..she said that it is just beautiful!!!....but I have to find the way to get in...hihihi...well my sicked brain will think about it!..^_^

Fill me in when you get in the place :) If you just wander around town in Dublin and go to the hotel he owns or use to own, you can probably see him. My daughters friend form Ireland said that people in Ireland don't really bother him that much and he is seen quite a bit. He saw him in the hotel just having a drink. SOOOOOOOOO Your chances of seeing him, if he is in town that is, may be good. Just don't break any laws, so we don't have to come and get you out of an Irish prison :)

Oct...sorry if I didn't answer before but I'm on holiday....not Ireland but South Italy...anyway if I'm gonna find him again I'll think of you no worries...it's funny to think that Irish people don't bother them...here it is completely different,people just like to meet you and say hi...and take some picture...I understand that sometimes they can get quite upset too coz we are too "passional"..... :-)))))