Location: Plaza de Toros, Murcia, Spain
Summary: After living in Los Alcázares for a while, I have become accustomed to English bands appearing at the Murcia Bullring every July. I was deleted this year to see The Jacksons were appearing there supported by Boney M. I got a ticket to see them and booked an overnight stay in a Murcia apartment.
Boney M and The Jacksons were giant bands when I was at school and having the chance to see them both was exciting. I bought a VIP seat for the show at the Plaza de Toros in Murcia. I booked an apartment for an overnight stay and booked tickets for the bus to Murcia.
I caught the bus at 14:40, at a stop near my house and set off for Murcia. Waiting for the bus in heat over 40 °C was difficult, and I was glad to get on the air-conditioned bus when it arrived. The bus trip was easy, and I got off the bus around 50 minutes after getting on it and left Murcia bus station to try to find the apartment I was booked into. The heat in Murcia was even stronger than it was next to the beach in Los Alcázares. As I followed Google Maps directions through the backstreets of Murcia the sun was unbearable, and although I only had to walk 1.6 km, I had to stop three or four times to get my breath. I passed a pharmacy with a digital display of the temperature, and it showed 49°c, it was no wonder I was struggling.
I didn't have too much difficulty finding the apartment, apart from the heat, and had soon let myself in using the codes I had been sent. I had been going to use the pool for a while, but I was so exhausted and shattered when I arrived, I lay on the bed to relax. I had a message from my friend Nic to say she was at the airport and was flying home from South Africa today. After speaking with her, I finished the Kindle book I had been reading before falling asleep. I woke up about an hour later but stayed where I was, in the cool apartment, deciding not to go out until about 20:30 when it would have called down a bit.
At 20:30 I left the apartment and walked towards the bullring looking for somewhere to get a drink. As I was walking around the bars by the bullring, I heard my name being called and turned to see my friends Lynda and Dave. I joined them and sat down and had a beer. At around 21:30 we left our seats and walked into the bull ring. We were all in the VIP area but at different sides of the stage. I found my seat and then got myself a beer and sat and waited for the first act. As I waited, I saw my friends Debbie and Yvonne enter the VIP area and said hello to them as they walked past me.
Boney M
When I was eleven years old Boney M had a hit record, Rasputin, and I bought the album. It was my first-ever record and I became a big fan. I was excited to see them even if it wasn't the original band.
The band tonight was the Boney M Xperience. The Boney M Xperience is a global tribute act that brings the legendary sound and spirit of Boney M to life. The act is led by Edna, who toured worldwide with the legendary Bobby Farrell for more than 10 years. The line-up includes a talented group of artists who deliver the iconic sound and energy of Boney M with a true passion for the music. The Boney M Xperience perform timeless hits like “Daddy Cool,” “Rasputin,” “Ma Baker,” “Rivers of Babylon,” and “Sunny,” all delivered with the energy, style, and magic that made Boney M a worldwide phenomenon.
They were brilliant, and I enjoyed the performance tapping my toes and singing along. At one point a woman from the back of the bullring came down and stood right in front of me to dance. All the surrounding Spanish were complaining to each other because they couldn't see the stage any more. I had paid a lot of money for my ticket and wasn't so polite. I poked her in the back with my walking stick and told her to move. She moved so I could see but still stood in front of others. At this point security appeared, and I thought they were going to tell me off for poking her with my stick, but they instead moved her back to the seat she had paid for.
When at a concert if there are dance areas its fair enough for people to stand up and dance, but I don't feel people should stand up in seated areas. Next week when I got to ZZ Top the VIP area is a standing area but tonight it was seated.
I was pleased and surprised when Money M sang the Bob Marley song, No Woman No Crime. It was then I realised that I was wearing my “Every little thing, Is going to be all right” t-shirt, so I fit in perfectly and sat singing the song very loudly.
The Jacksons
The Jacksons came on after a short break and were instantly forgettable. The singing wasn't good at all. They spent a long time introducing all members of the group. Then after a couple of songs the videos started, old videos of past hits with Michael Jackson while they all stood to the side and watched. These were followed by more videos of the family growing up while the group stood to the side watching them.
After each video segment, they would sing a song or two, but the singing was either not audible or not perfect. It was a relief when I couldn't hear them. Two ladies in front of me were truly enjoying it and were singing and dancing along to every song, but the people who looked like they were enjoying it, seemed to be in the minority. After about the third long family video came on, I decided I had had enough and left early.
Security seemed a bit confused and didn't want to let me out at first but then moved to one side to let me go. It was still very hot out, but it didn't take me long to get back to the apartment, and I was soon cooling back down, and it didn't take me long to fall asleep.
The Morning After
When I woke up at about 8:30 I went to the bathroom to use the toilet. The toilet was fitted so close to the wall and sink that I couldn't sit on it properly and had to sort of hover over it to use it. Wiping your backside was impossible because there was no chance to get your arm behind you, I had to do a shuffle forward to wipe my bum.
After showering, I went to the roof to use the pool. It was only small but looked inviting. Unfortunately, there were two cleaners there, sitting having a break, and they pointed out that the pool couldn't be used to 10:00. I went back to my room and read my Kindle until 10:00 and went back up. The two cleaners were still there, but I sat on a chair then took my shirt off and got in the pool to cool down. Sitting in the pool I could touch both sides of it without stretching, and it was only about 15 feet long, but it felt great in the cool water. I stayed there for a while looking out over the neighbouring rooftops and the Cathedral.
Just before 11:00 I went back to my room, showered again and then packed up my belongings and set off to get breakfast somewhere. I stopped at my favourite restaurant at the side of the cathedral, Trapería Uno. I sat down and got coffee with tuna and tomato tostada. I sat there and watched people walking past until it was time to go to the bus station. It was getting hot again, and I had to stop and rest a couple of times and was pleased when I got to the bus station.
I had to wait around 15 minutes for the bus and finding a seat to sit on was difficult but at least it was in the shade. The bus journey home was around and hour and the driver dropped me at the bus stop near my apartment on the main road. I was soon back at home and sitting in my air conditioning. I posted a review on Booking.com about the place I had stayed, I was fair and gave it quite a good rating but did mention how small the bathroom was. As I sat cooling off my phone beeped and the apartment had cancelled my booking for next week, I guess they didn't like the fair comment I made about the size of the toilet. I quickly rebooked to stay at another hotel that I have stayed at before, The Hesperia. The rooms are much bigger, much cooler and nicer but there is no pool. It will not be a big loss and I can't wait to return to Murcia next week to see ZZ Top.
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