I’m sitting under the Christmas tree and I’m thinking about this fabulous year. My Leonard Cohen-year! For him I went in many places in Europe, and for him I accrossed even the ocean!!! I never wanted to fly so far away, and I NEVER wanted to go to Las Vegas. Well, I did not go to Las Vegas, I went to see Leonard’s last 2010 concerts!
I was quite nervous before the big trip, but I felt that everything would be fine this time as well: being with my people is something very comforting.
When I arrived at Las Vegas airport Thursday night and saw the playing machines and the plastic palm trees, I asked by myself: oh, my God, where am I? On the moon or in a madhous?
But then I saw Leonard’s billboard photo and I said: ah, yes, I AM AT HOME.
Then suddenly I heard somebody calling me by name: HOLA SZILVIA! It was Meritxell from Andorra. With she and another girl from Holland we went to the hotel, where the first group of people I saw was my dear BANDA DI FIRENZE: Jeanne, Andrea, Marco and Ciarrán. I will never forget the moment when Jeanne flown in my arms! Yes, everything is OK, I am with my family
In that same night I met many of my old friends, and I could finally know personally many news from the forum whose names I knew very well before. I want to thank you my friends for your kindness and support. You are all fantastic!
Friday morning we went to sign the UHTC Appreciation letter in Avi and Sam’s hotel. I am SO GLAD AND PROUD to have partecipated in this wonderful project. (In the afternoon I met Mickey Sullivan and his first word was: „thank you for your gifts, you are fantastic„. He seemed very moved and happy. Of course I answered: „YOU are fantastic, THANK YOU for your hard work”)
When I realized that in the Photo book there is one of my favorite Leonard pictures, I was the happiest person in the world! Thank you guys.
At about midday we took the car (thanks Bob and Jeanne) and had a lovely half-day trip to the Hoover Dam and Mead Lake. It was a perfect day as we could admire the Nevada countryside too, that it is very nice. The climat was perfect and we finally saw some real palm tree - Jeanne, Bob, Victorine, Ciarrán and me – our little adventurer company.
What about Ceasars Palace? Big, noisy, smoky, shiny. A big casino. A very strange place – I think Leonard expressed very well our feelings during the first concert. No one chair to sit down, no one silent place to speak. Everything is projected to sit people in front of the machines and tables. Well, we turned the seats from the machines and we tried to be together and speak even it was nearly impossible.
But the best place was the entrance of Colosseum. It was clear and elegant, with Leonard’s enormous photo, it seemed a church
Believe me, everybody looked at that photo if it woud be the statue of the Crying Madonna
(In fact was the Smiling Pic of Leonard) All of us wanted a picture with that big photo.
I have no words to describe that atmosphere. We did not mind where we were, Las Vegas has trasformed in Leo Vegas, we just enjoyed our company and waited for the miracle.
And the miracle has come many many times in that two nights. Love and happiness filled the hall, and I am sure Leonard was so happy as we were. And so the band, who was really really fantastic.
The first concert was strong, but the second was something incredible.
Being there, placing red roses on the stage and singing „Passin’ through” with the other fans, was something special, I’ll never forget that moments!!!
I resisted until the first encore. Than………
( I SO hope in a new tour, he MUST do it!!!)
I have already listened to the registration several times, it is VERY CLEAR, I feel to be there again and again. (Thanks so much Allan to discover it.)
I have seen Leonard once in 2009 and seven times in 2010. Each concert was different and each concert was „the best”. The very first in Budapest….the first of 2010 in Zagreb, the longest in Gothenburg, the shortest but strongest in Florence, the coldest but hottest in St. Margarethen in Burgenland, the last Europeen in Bratislava and the two last in L(eo) Vegas.
And I have not only enjoyed the miracle that Leonard gave to me with his music, his poetry, his humanity and his unrivaled band, but I have found friends, friends for life and a new, cohesive family. Thank you Jarkko and collaborators for this unique site, thank you my forum friends for every moments we spent together. Stay in touch, let’s beg to Leonard for coming back soon to us!!!
, but he sounds definetly interesting. Maybe one concert next year could be a good reason for meetup with you Ken, but actually to meet up with you ( and other cohenites )any occasion is worth it, we do not need any concerts for this 