Tegan and Sara's European Tour Diary: Part IV
By Tegan Quin
Photographs by Lindsey Byrnes
Frankfurt is the financial centre of Central Europe. Translation: there were really nice restaurants, incredible shopping and tons of very cute German families wearing matching angora sweaters everywhere. I was in heaven. Having never had a day off in Frankfurt before I took to Twitter to gather suggestions from T+S fans as to what we should do. The most popular suggestion by a long shot was "Drink beer". However, I don't drink beer so I skipped ahead to the next most popular suggestion, "Eat frankfurters." Done! Four blocks from our hotel was a beautiful outdoor cafe blasting the World Cup and conveniently enough, serving frankfurters (frankfurters are hot dogs by the way). We wandered the city centre and checked out a few parks near the hotel. The parks were filled with brown bunnies, strangely enough. After chasing down a few bunnies I headed back to the hotel for a rest (that's what she said).
After a cat nap at the hotel (I fell off the nap-wagon) a few of us hit up a traditional German bistro ("the nicest in Frankfurt" we were told later) for some traditional fare. It seems another tradition here in Frankfurt is to have Jagermeister shots after dinner (That's a tradition at my local watering hole in Vancouver too -- FYI). The show the following night at Mouson was awesome. We were joined by Hesta Prynn, formally of Northern State. She slayed and Frankfurt proved to be the most enthusiastic crowd of the tour. Which is saying a lot since Ireland practically blew our eardrums. Sara is still talking too loudly if you ask me.
Next up was Antwerp, Belgium. I've spent countless days in Brussels on days off and playing over the years but this was our first time hitting up Antwerp. My jet lag is still sort of running its course so I was up early (7:04 am) and witnessed the very attractive people of Antwerp running away in horror as our double-decker bus inched its way into what our crew dubbed "The Enchanted Forest" where our venue for the night was located. I giggled a bit from my perch but felt some shame watching people run, point and veer off the paths as our bus drove by. The one family I saw were also wearing Angora strangely enough. Must be popular this time of year in Europe).
As I climbed the tree-lined paths to the backstage area I walked by members of the band swinging in hammocks, reading in the sun. The venue was Rivierenhof, an amphitheatre in a giant park just outside the city centre of Antwerp. There was an incredible staff (mainly made up of beautiful Belgium women) on hand all day to do our laundry and make our meals. We desperately tried to marry Sara off to one of them but they were too polite to take our lead. Before hitting the stage we doused ourselves in mosquito spray. I watched in horror as Sara sprayed herself all over her face and hair. She basically poisoned herself (again) and tripped out the rest of the night. I managed to get away with no mosquito bites and slept in a real bed for the second time in three nights.
Today we were up early to check out Antwerp. Like Brussels the city is very multicultural and has some of the best food you'll find in Europe. The main part of the city is a giant square with clock towers and cathedrals like nothing you'd ever see in North America. The train station is breathtaking and a must-see if you ever come here. Our day started at the Antwerp zoo which opened in 1843 (over 20 years before Canada officially became a country). It's nestled right in the city centre and has some of the most beautiful and strange architecture found in a zoo you'll ever see. The animals actually seemed happy and, like Antwerp's citizens, were all wearing angora sweaters. Kidding. After stuffing our faces with incredible Belgium food, (waffles to die for and steak and frittes) I am now beached at the hotel. Pretty perfect few days I must say. Next up London and Glastonbury.
-Tegan
After a cat nap at the hotel (I fell off the nap-wagon) a few of us hit up a traditional German bistro ("the nicest in Frankfurt" we were told later) for some traditional fare. It seems another tradition here in Frankfurt is to have Jagermeister shots after dinner (That's a tradition at my local watering hole in Vancouver too -- FYI). The show the following night at Mouson was awesome. We were joined by Hesta Prynn, formally of Northern State. She slayed and Frankfurt proved to be the most enthusiastic crowd of the tour. Which is saying a lot since Ireland practically blew our eardrums. Sara is still talking too loudly if you ask me.
Next up was Antwerp, Belgium. I've spent countless days in Brussels on days off and playing over the years but this was our first time hitting up Antwerp. My jet lag is still sort of running its course so I was up early (7:04 am) and witnessed the very attractive people of Antwerp running away in horror as our double-decker bus inched its way into what our crew dubbed "The Enchanted Forest" where our venue for the night was located. I giggled a bit from my perch but felt some shame watching people run, point and veer off the paths as our bus drove by. The one family I saw were also wearing Angora strangely enough. Must be popular this time of year in Europe).
As I climbed the tree-lined paths to the backstage area I walked by members of the band swinging in hammocks, reading in the sun. The venue was Rivierenhof, an amphitheatre in a giant park just outside the city centre of Antwerp. There was an incredible staff (mainly made up of beautiful Belgium women) on hand all day to do our laundry and make our meals. We desperately tried to marry Sara off to one of them but they were too polite to take our lead. Before hitting the stage we doused ourselves in mosquito spray. I watched in horror as Sara sprayed herself all over her face and hair. She basically poisoned herself (again) and tripped out the rest of the night. I managed to get away with no mosquito bites and slept in a real bed for the second time in three nights.
Today we were up early to check out Antwerp. Like Brussels the city is very multicultural and has some of the best food you'll find in Europe. The main part of the city is a giant square with clock towers and cathedrals like nothing you'd ever see in North America. The train station is breathtaking and a must-see if you ever come here. Our day started at the Antwerp zoo which opened in 1843 (over 20 years before Canada officially became a country). It's nestled right in the city centre and has some of the most beautiful and strange architecture found in a zoo you'll ever see. The animals actually seemed happy and, like Antwerp's citizens, were all wearing angora sweaters. Kidding. After stuffing our faces with incredible Belgium food, (waffles to die for and steak and frittes) I am now beached at the hotel. Pretty perfect few days I must say. Next up London and Glastonbury.
-Tegan
Your Comment
Posted at 3:59 on Jun 23, 2010
bummed that they beat ireland :O but at least we got a mention ha
Posted at 4:02 on Jun 23, 2010
Tegan, you should become a writer after your retirement as a musician. Lovely! And poor Sara for spending the tour being half poisoned all the time. Have fun in the UK
Posted at 4:02 on Jun 23, 2010
This is probally the best of the blog. Very fun to read.
Posted at 4:02 on Jun 23, 2010
Hehe, cool :) but jaeger shots after dinner as a tradition over here... Didn't hear of that before ;)
btw your southside show was immense! two years ago was rad too, even with the broken foot back then, but last weekend topped it!!
Posted at 4:03 on Jun 23, 2010
This is probally the best of the blog.Very fun to read.
Posted at 4:38 on Jun 23, 2010
Amazing! I like the Sara's poison part it is kinda funny :P
Come to Mexico please!
Posted at 4:41 on Jun 23, 2010
tegan your blogs are awesome
post a picture of you and lindsey will ya
Posted at 5:05 on Jun 23, 2010
I laughed so hard :D
you should should write a book!it's really nice to read!
(of course not till your 10.or 11.record)
i'm from germany too and i think angora is one of the most horrible things to wear.don't worry,there exist people with good taste here.
and yeah i drink jagermeister after EVERY dinner.but thats the only tradition i follow.
Posted at 5:11 on Jun 23, 2010
that was so funny!
you should write a book or something,it's really nice to read!
i'm from germany too and i think angora is one of the most horrible
things to wear.don't worry,there exist people with good taste here.
and yeah,drinking jagermeister after dinner is a great tradition and the only one you should follow.
Posted at 5:26 on Jun 23, 2010
I love reading about your adventures in Europe. This time I was really excited though. In the giraffe picture you are wearing the shirt that my girlfriend (Shell) designed for Hesta. That made my week!
Posted at 5:34 on Jun 23, 2010
I love zoo
Posted at 6:06 on Jun 23, 2010
love it! i agree with half of the other people that when you retire from music you should write. i giggled quite a few times reading this.
alfeiterzane!
Posted at 6:15 on Jun 23, 2010
looks like an awesome play to play live, and I like the hat
Posted at 6:45 on Jun 23, 2010
Really enjoyed your gig at Rivierenhof in Antwerp (Deurne). Magic, and a perfect beautiful setting for it...happy to read you had fun in the Twerp!
Posted at 7:11 on Jun 23, 2010
Rivierenhof looks like a spectacular venue. Even with mosquitos. Looking forward to seeing you guys in Anaheim with my partner and toddler son. He LOVES your music, as do his moms. Thanks for keeping us abreast (that's what she said!) of your adventures across the pond!
Posted at 7:41 on Jun 23, 2010
yeah, I thought we were an amazing crowd (ireland), but its nice to get a mention, hopefully T&S will come back to us again! ...and its strange, me and my girlfriend went to dublin zoo the day after the concert...It would have been crazy if Tegan and Sara had gone there instead!
Posted at 7:57 on Jun 23, 2010
Whats and Angora? I don't think they have those in Florida. Awesome Blog BTW, except for the part where I get jealous of your awesome lives. Peace.
Posted at 8:55 on Jun 23, 2010
do you even know how amazing you are Tegan?
Posted at 8:55 on Jun 23, 2010
do you even know how amazing you are Tegan?
Posted at 9:15 on Jun 23, 2010
He should clone himself and start playin out a lot because he meshes really well with himself. Sweaters
Posted at 11:05 on Jun 23, 2010
Absolutely stunning shot of Tegan with the hat! Fantastic work Lindsey!
Posted at 11:13 on Jun 23, 2010
Picturing Tegan chasing bunnies in the park... makes me LOL. \(^o^)/ So cute. Tegan should be a travel magazine writer... or a tour guide. Awesome stuff.
Posted at 5:20 on Jun 24, 2010
Hey!
Thanks for the great show in Antwperp!
It was so amazing!! :-)
If you had a great time too, that's perfect!
Hope that the next dates of the tour will great too!
Hope to see you again in Belgium!
Have a nice day and a nice concert tonight!
Posted at 6:23 on Jun 24, 2010
The show in Antwerp was great! :D
But what are angora sweaters?
Posted at 7:30 on Jun 24, 2010
I'm kind of gutted that they beat Ireland. But I was at the front in Belfast and I had an awesome time.
I hope Sara stops poisoning herself! But she's a trooper for getting on stage even when she's ill. I was hoping you guys would come to Oxegen this year as well as Glastonbury but you aren't :(
Anyways, I hope you come back to Belfast, it really made my year seeing you!
Oh and you're an awesome writer Tegan!
Posted at 9:00 on Jun 24, 2010
Saraloveeeeeeeeeeeeeee(L)
Posted at 9:06 on Jun 24, 2010
I'm so happy that you guys enjoyed the concert in Frankfurt. I was screaming like hell. it was amazing. Sometimes you guys looked up to me and my heart was beating so fast :D
Posted at 12:04 on Jun 24, 2010
Sara!!! stop poissining yourself!! hahaha
Posted at 12:16 on Jun 24, 2010
Sara,
It was a pleasant surprise seeing you strolling in the Twerpcity yesterday evening. Excuse me for not closing my mouth. I wish I had the guts to get off my bike and whisper the craziest Dutch sentence I know in your ear… my one and only chance… arh, so be it.
Posted at 12:58 on Jun 24, 2010
Ms. TRQ,
Thank you for making me look like a dork by laughing out loud at a quiet tea lounge...across from a woman who is expecting and knitting.
Posted at 1:05 on Jun 24, 2010
Dear Tegan and Sara
Do you know what listening to your concerts is like? For me? It’s like being able to fly in a dream. Awake! It’s like having so many feelings at the same time your brain stops working. One of those feelings is probably an overdose of love. Other ones involve eyes watering. So Tegan, if that “yawning” (why-don’t-you-go-home?) person in Antwerp you were talking about, was me, I am truly sorry. I was not bored! I just couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping because I was so blown away and in that other world! Seriously, your voices were captivating and magical and for some reason more impressive than ever. I enjoyed every millisecond of the show.
But now I wish that I could stóp feeling you in my bones and wake up from my dream. I have got to connect with earth again. But before that, I want to thank you for making the music that is most dear to me and for being such warm and funny people on top of that.
Hereby, I would like to donate my overdose of love to you and your crew. I hope to see you soon in one of my future dreams.
Charlotte
PS: I was the Twerper holding a Tegan sketch up in the air. (my friend was holding one of Sara) I hope you liked it. I let your eyelid droop a little, Tegan. I’m not sure whether it still is like that, but it just makes you look so darn cute.
Posted at 2:51 on Jun 24, 2010
Hell yeah Belgium is great!
Sara, what do you say about someone who's fivelingual and doesn't make up in public? ;)
Posted at 3:43 on Jun 24, 2010
I can see why anybody would run from that bus. It's either got very tiny tires, or it's a moving skyscraper.
Posted at 3:54 on Jun 24, 2010
Hey Tegan, articles of mine from Frankfurt you find f. ex. here - your blogging is cooler though: http://www.focus.de/kultur/diverses/musik-tegan-and-sara-begeistern-in-frankfurt_aid_522069.html or http://www.welt.de/die-welt/regionales/article8148636/Ich-wollte-eine-Glatze-wie-Phil-Collins.html Next time you are in Germany go to Hamburg to this fun retro bar in St. Pauli: http://www.kleine-pause.de/team.html ("small break" would be the translation) - they have "Jäger Thursdays" where they serve Jägerschnitzel, Jägermeister and homemade Jägermeister icecream (which really makes you wanna throw up - but if u r with the right people it's fun anyway), and the brave cookin' ladies work like 60 hours nonstop and will still be nice
Posted at 4:23 on Jun 24, 2010
I thought you were veg?!
Posted at 4:33 on Jun 24, 2010
i love tegan and sarah the song 'alligator' is awesome
Posted at 4:46 on Jun 24, 2010
love the synopsis of your time in Germany and Belgium. sounds lovely and hundreds of times better than sitting here at work on a beautiful day. btw, love the pic of Sean.
so looking forward to the T&S return to the states. I'm suffering a terrible T&S withdraw and can't wait to catch a show again. be safe and have fun kids!
Posted at 4:54 on Jun 24, 2010
aw, i'm so glad you two enjoyed the show in frankfurt as much as i did. I wish it would be the 21st again.. I'm so desperate that i apparently won't see you playing until probably a year. love you two and thank you for making me feel so good while listening to your amazing music. xoxoxoxo from germany
Posted at 5:02 on Jun 24, 2010
Even on mosquito spray- you guys were amazing in Antwerp and we can't wait for you to come back!!! We kind of have a hard time to stop talking about that night and I have no idea how anyone could have been sitting and even yawning during such a great show... I really hope that's not the most memorable impression you had from that concert! :)
Posted at 5:40 on Jun 24, 2010
Girls you should come in the Croatia.
Posted at 6:19 on Jun 24, 2010
what about Southside? I screamed my head off and got a cold from all this mud ;-p And: I really missed your banters!...
Posted at 6:25 on Jun 24, 2010
OMG... Jägermeister!!! Sometimes it leaves a memory gap.
Posted at 6:33 on Jun 25, 2010
What is sara eating that she keeps getting food poisoning? Sara, go veggie when your on tour...its very difficult to get food poisoning when your a veggie :)
Posted at 9:30 on Jun 25, 2010
Did you see Kai-Mook, the little elephant in the zoo? He's a star in Belgium! Loved your show. You can come back to Belgium/Antwerp any time!
Posted at 3:51 on Jun 25, 2010
Went to your london concert and was blown away! you ladies are past amazing! thanks for an awesome concert.. wish i knew u were at glasto or i would hav gone down to see you again :D enjoy the rest of your tour! :D
Posted at 4:21 on Jun 25, 2010
Nice..but how can you not drink beer??
Posted at 1:11 on Jun 26, 2010
I am so entertained by reading this! Thank you so much!
Posted at 8:19 on Jun 26, 2010
By the way I can honestly say no1 in britain wears angora! Especially not whole families lol. Not since the early 90s anyway. I hope u enjoy london and glastonbury and if u get chance try and get urself to newquay, the lake district and blackpool 4 some of the best attractions other than london which is full of foreiners anyway, britain has to offer. And let us know if u think the northerners r nicer then the southerns. See how many accents u can spot lol!! Happy jamming.
Sammy xx
Posted at 1:53 on Jun 26, 2010
On the 2nd photo Tegan is with a flower from my bunch of flowers I gave them in Antwerp ))) So nice, I hope it means she and Sara liked my presents !
Posted at 3:58 on Jun 26, 2010
what an eloquent writer... in a angora sweater perhaps?
Posted at 4:27 on Jun 30, 2010
Tegan and Sara, I'm so glad you liked "my city", it is indeed pretty awesome! :)
I've been to your show at Rivierenhof, and I must say, it was a GREAT show, nice vibe, funny in between texts, perfect performance... You guys were very charming and I had a lot of fun listening to your live show, it was even better than listening to your cd's and I already love the cd's so I was very impressed!
Posted at 10:21 on Jul 10, 2010
I love you tegan & sara
Posted at 1:32 on Jul 11, 2010
That sounds all really nice but hei... you go to our neighbours, the germans and belgians, but what about Switzerland?! :) We have nice food too and great beds if i can convince you with that!! ♥
Posted at 10:17 on Jul 28, 2010
i like that very much ang that hat i dont want to say anything about that