Goodbye Europe

It comes with deep anguish that the European limb of our tour reaches its conclusion. No longer, as sure as the sun will rise in the morning, will our days be filled with croissants, baguettes and fine cheeses. No longer will our band room be filled to excess with every kind of delight imaginable, every night igniting a ferocious battle between our dwindling self control and the evil spirit of gluttony in the air, constantly seducing us with his gummi bears so delicious. No longer will the governing rules and regulations, the laws and legislations, yet to be completely infested with bureaucracy, be reasonable and coherent. No longer will the most beautiful of women carry their beauty, not as a burden cursed with arrogance and petty mindedness, as is so often the way of the world, but instead with grace, elegance and dignity. No longer will we walk the streets of Germany drinking an exquisite beer, legally no less!, purchased for an utter pittance from a simple corner store. No longer any of these things I hold so dear of this land..

And yet each ending leaves behind a parting gift, eagerly awaiting to be unwrapped. A mere 8 hours from the airport so vile, so horrendous, so bitter, that surely there can be no explanation other than it being a requisite for employment that each and every member of staff must devour an entire bag of lemons prior to commencing their daily shift. Washington DC. The capital. The controlling entity of the worlds most powerful and wealthy nation. The birthplace of many of the decisions, and indeed, the sex scandals which have shaped the course of history over the past few hundred years. How will this epicenter of the world political climate cope when our touring circus, so ridiculous that surely there can be none alike, rolls into town? Impossible to predict. Bring on America.