Cat Stevens: 22-23/09/04 Mexico City

Now I said that my flight was without problems.. I can’t say the same for the band. On their way to Washington the pilot announced that they might have to come in on a different runway due to bad weather. And in fact they were diverted to a military base. Where the FBI came on and escorted the famous folk singer, Islam convert and author off the plane. But not after taking everyone else’s luggage off and checking it and them at least 3 times. Several hours later they were allowed to continue to Washington Airport only to find there were no more connecting flights and because of some Smithsonian event also no Hotels available. So the band had to sleep on the floor, in the airport. Our tour manger said that in his 20 years of doing this job, he has never once had to sleep on the floor of an airport. So the next morning their only choice was to fly to Chicago and then catch a connecting flight to Mexico City. I later discovered that they arrived later than both me and the other part of the Crew including Mark who arrived several hours after me. Although apparently it made News in the UK and Internationally as h had spoken to some reporters.
Needless to say they are all pretty wrecked today, and it did not help that our hotel is smack in the middle of a major construction site, and it seemed that everyone but me was awoken by drills and hammers. So many room changes ensued.
This morning, we checked out the venue. A really wonderful old theater, with gold guild, wonderful ornate balcony and sculptures. I’ll post some photos of it later.
The crew boys and I went to the pyramids of the Sun and Moon, Teotihuacan. The place where according to the Aztecs, Gods were made. Amazingly beautiful, and having seen the Pyramids in Cairo not to long ago I am nicely impressed. Rod and I bought hats and then joined the others on the very high climb to the top of the Sun Pyramid, over 200 steps; duly winded we arrived at the top and got to watch some crazy ladies with their crystals getting “the power of the Sun”. It is a beautiful place, and very well preserved.

Later today we were driven to a restaurant and left there by the promoter, but after some very needed beers and food, ordered a bottle of Tequila. And then somehow another arrived and few more beers, John Wesley showed up. And yet some more shots. We dispersed in different groups. And Wes took me and Jason to a Skid Row gig where his best friend was playing drums for the “band” and by this I mean Sebastian Bach. We stayed for a few songs and then decided to head back to the hotel. Seeing that it is our first gig tomorrow and all… so I am off to bed it is 1:30 and I am jetlagged and feeling a little Tequila in my head and wondering when the merch stuff will arrive today.Buenos nachos (sorry if I spelled that wrong to tired to check).
24/09/04
P.S. I just found out that I cannot post photos to Blogger because I don`t have the right software and since I am using the internet serivces at the hotel I won`t be able to do it till I am hooked with my laptop to the internet. sorry kids, more will follow I promise. Now off to run some errands before I have to set up the merch.