New-ca-stle, New-ca-stle : Saturday 28/3/26

Finally it has arrived, the reason for our trip and why we are missing weeks of Lewie's life. Like one third of his life.... 

But first breakfast with Phil , Paul's cousin and his wife in Tom's bar where they do good gluten free.  Note, Phil and Leanne are not massive fans but just got tickets today. However they got to the fan fest thing in Fremont St early, got a great spot and great photos with the players etc.  Were we jealous? One of us was......

Anyway, then a taxi to the game which unfortunately had to drop us off a couple of #$%^& kilometres  from the stadium. We needed to go up and down the Haciendas bridge.  In the hot sun. Not fun. 

We eventually fond the special area we had paid for which had free food and drink. This was arranged through a friend of Paul's from Hello world who were very helpful and lovely to us, saving us a seat at a table and everything. 

Just for the blog

Unfortunately the venue had not got the $$^& gluten free memo.  The Flight centre people were helpful and reminded them of the email about the $%^&* gluten free . I did manage to eat the salmon with fingers crossed and lettuce.  

The food bar

Desserts for non-coeliacs

and more for non coeliacs. I got a brownie and rice bar with marshmallow, only after the Hello world people made a big fuss. thankyou.

Our seats were up 16 rows or down 20 rows and we were downstairs except that they closed the downstairs between games and at half time.  Actually that is when you want to use the #$%^& stairs down.  So i had to make the trip up only once. Then i decided i could just sit there.

The atmosphere was amazing with so many Newcastle fans. Also lots of Hull and Leeds supporters for their game. They sang and really added to the atmosphere.  Unfortunately their game was not very close nor exciting.  

However the game featuring Newcastle and Cowboys was close and very exciting. I was always confident of a win as I am generally and Paul was always confident of a loss as he is generally.

And then we won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Almost euphoric.

Excellent. We walked back to the hotel, only 2 km and celebrated.

the stadium

a nice shot of a lit up excalibur casino/hotel

Cheers to the Knights.  

Where Eagles Dare: Friday 27/2/26

 Friday 27th

Yesterday was another big day with the Knights cocktail party and then the Eagles concert.

But first breakfast with Jen and then a walk outside the hotel in what is known as the park. 

HelloNice fountain

 Kitty is very popular

a map of the streetscape with all the connections to other streets and pedestrian walkways.

And then to the 'cocktail party' at the hard rock Cafe for Knights fans. It was on the third floor and the lift was broken. So many stairs and so many  people. Couldn't get served at the bar and no seating. Finally Sean from Hello World found us and gave us our special wristbands for the VIP area. There was food and drink as expected. However not for the  gluten free as Sean had forgotten to remind the cafe this morning. It was too much trouble to try to organise even though they offered. I could eat the potatoes with one topping. Great.

Very crowded but there was a talk by Mark Hughes and maybe others, but I had lost interest due to hunger.

Everyone was talking about going to the Eagles. Something about the demographic.  As you would expect, some people had organised lifts and cars. We had not. So a walk back to the hotel to try to find uber/taxi. Surprisingly quick.

Once at the sphere, it was so amazing as was traffic. The outside of the sphere is a big screen which constantly changes. Gorgeous but only the beginning.

We couldn't get very close so we just got out of the uber and walked across rows of cars as did many others.

Unfortunately, disaster ........

My shoe lace was undone, which i mentioned to Paul who said don't worry about it now as we were crossing traffic and people and in a hurry. Just as he finished saying that, he stepped on my stray lace and we both fell.  I was holding Paul's hand and took him with me as I fell. Very funny...later.

Lots of people helped us both up and a nice lady even tied my shoelace.  Nothing broken for either of us thank God/Trump.  But a security person had seen it and was keen to take me to an ambulance or medical station. We said no but she wanted to take all my details in case i sued later maybe. 

Finally in the Sphere and it was huge. Takes 20000 people and the concert was sold out. There were escalators to our floor(2) but there must have been 6 floors or more.  Our bay was on the very edge and really close to amenities.  Row 9 meant we had to go down 9 steps which is ok but when we got to the row, we realised that we were not on the aisle end but on the wall end so had to climb over 10 people (I counted).  A little disappointed as this is hard.  But our fellow row occupants were very helpful getting me to our seats, and even later on when I had to use amenities in the middle of the 2 hour/no intermission concert. 

The Sphere is amazing. it is all screens and surrounds you. The stage was tiny and a long way away but there was an amazing show with  different stories for every song.

I took many photos. Here are some of my favourites from my favourite songs. Every single Eagles hit. 

Best thing i have ever seen and/or heard. Is rapturous too strong a word? No.

Leaving with 20000 other people was fun. No way of finding a taxi/uber so we followed everyone else trying to get back onto the main road and back to our hotel on foot. 

It was a 4 km walk back which was a bit of a struggle but the euphoria(yes) carried us along.

We went past the Venetian twice but worth it. Very pretty.

so many people. Also a Chicago concert at the Venetian. 

Finally back to the hotel and news of war!!  I say Take it Easy Donald and do not Take it to the Limit.  (sorry)