『2013︱06︱12 - 2013︱06︱15』Two long bus rides, Paris & DIR EN GREY concert DAY I

Finally my next entry! I was just too lazy to edit the pictures and to start writing. Since I'm on holidays I'm super lazy and not really that much online. I rather spend the time in my bed or at the terrace in the sun. That's way it took me so long to finish editing the pics and to start writing about my trip to Paris. Part I will include the first day from the start in Berlin to the end of the concert and how exciting everything was. 



And finally it was the 12th June, since I decided to stay home instead to go to the next day of the project week, which would have been a boat trip. I decided to stay home to get some more sleep and to get back my strength for the long looooong trip by bus. 

I slept in quite late and just relaxed and finished packing my stuff. I also packed some food (fruits and veggies) and some sweets (chocolate cookies and chips) for the long ride. 

I left around 17:10 to get my bus at 17:19 from Kamener Weg. I had to change busses at Haselhorsterdamm/ Gartenfelderstraße and finally arrived at 17:55 at ZOB/ Messedamm where I met Kao.

all my stuff packed and ready for the leave
looked like I wanted to travel for two weeks instead of two days XD

Since we met an hour before leaving we had more than enough time to find the right gate and to check-in. We sat there at a bench and talked a lot. We were sooo excited and still couldn't believe it that we would see DIR EN GREY in Paris.

Around 18:40 we were allowed to store our luggage and to enter the bus. We finally left in time at 19:00. We had the perfect seats! We sat behind the entrance of the bus and had a lot of space and even a power point. Our place was quite stuffed and I unpacked the food and sweets really fast. Also I put out the chargers, so we were able to charge our phones. 

At first we were all excited and talked a lot, but after a while we went quiet and started to listen to music. 


Our stops for the way to Paris:

• 19:00 Berlin

• 21:30 Brunswick

• 22:30 Hanover

• 22:50 refueling the bus

• 23:35 break

• 04:45 Antwerp

• 05:45 Brussels

• 09:45 Paris

While refueling the bus, we got off to get some air and we also went off at the break to go to the toilet and waited a bit outside to get some fresh air but entered quite fast again to sit and dose off. Later we used two seat rows so both of us could lie down for sleeping. It was possible since the bus was quite empty after most people leaving at different cities. 

Finally we arrived in Paris at Gare Routière Internationale Galliéni ten minutes late on 13th June. While everyone got off the bus I still had to pack my stuff together and put my shoes on. While I got off the bus Kao looked for my luggage and brought it to the door. ^^ 

We started to look for Pika and Alex, our two tour guides for the upcoming two days, and while we looked around they already saw us and came running towards us. Kao was super excited to see them, because she met them on twitter and I was glad that they really came to get us. I was so anxious about it, because I didn't know them before. 

When they saw my luggage they couldn't believe that I needed all this for just two days, but to be honest it looks more as it is. XD""" It's just a carry on luggage and another bag with my blanket in it, which I used in the bus for the night. 

We started our first exciting day in Paris with traveling to the center of Paris. ^^" Our bad was, that it was raining a lot. And when I say a lot I mean A LOOOOOOT LOOOOOT LOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!! So so sooooo horrible. urg, I just can't stand rain. ;^;

But first of all I had to eat something and I got me a pain au chocolate a croissant filled with chocolate. ^^ We sat down and I could eat. After that we had to buy a ticket for the Métro and then we entered it to get to Pariiis~

The first thing we did was to visit a shop called Manga Café to take プリクラ (purikura). It is quite expensive but it's a lot of fun to take them. ^o^ We did like three rounds to get a loooooot of puris.

the puris which I selected to keep myself ♥

Manga Café is a really awesome shop, because they sell a lot of different things and you're also allowed to sit there and read a lot of manga. You have to pay something for it, but it's still a lot cheaper than buying every manga you want to read.

the puri machine/ photo booth

bentos and chop sticks 

a lot of super cute cooking/ baking utensils 

I fell in love with the cooking/baking section immediately and wanted to buy everything, but since I planned on buying a lot of Diru merch I couldn't risk to buy anything. T^T I want such a Manga Café in Berlin too. It's just too awesome. ♥ 

After that we went to get something to eat. I got some potato wedges and a small cake as dessert. ^^ We decided to visit La Tour Eiffel next. Both of us wanted to see it. ^^

first pic of La Tour Eiffel

To get to the Eiffel Tower we had to walk through a park called Champ du Mars which is all around the Eiffel Tower. Some pictures of Champ du Mars:

there was a beaver in the water - so cuuute
and you can see how much it rained ;_;

This would have looked so beautiful if the sun would have been shining.

We arrived at the Eiffel Tower and I was impressed how big it is in real life. Sure everyone knows it's super tall and everything, but seeing it with my own eyes was super amazing. I really wish the weather would have been nicer.

haha, I like this view, it's from right beneath the tower. 

and one last pic of La Tour Eiffel from the far, to get all of it in one picture

After that we tried to meet up with Alex's father so we could give him our luggage and go to the center of Paris. We walked through the rain to finally arrive at the place where we were able to meet him. On the way there all the trees around us became our best friends, so we could stand under them for a bit of protection. Her father stored everything in the trunk of the car and left again and we decided to go see L'Arc de Triomphe and Les Champs-Élysées. 

Arc de Triomphe in the rain

As you can see it was raining a lot. sooo annoying~ and you can also see how scary it is to drive in the roundabout at Arc de Triomphe or in Paris in general.

Champs-Élysèes in the rain

Because it was raining so much and we were already totally soaked we decided to go to a café to sit in the warmth and drink something hot. Pika and Alex ordered our stuff and we went upstairs to take our seats. We talked a lot and taught Pika a bit more German, because she's learning German in school.

Because I went through my hand bag Pika saw my con-hon and wanted to look at it. So cute how amazed she was at all the stuff and concert tickets in it. ♥ 
After a while of talking and joking around we warmed up again and dried and finally it was time to leave for the concert. Everyone of us went to the toilet before we left and then we were on our way back to the Métro. When we exited the café we discovered that the rain stopped and finally it was a lot better outside. Still no beautiful, awesome weather but it was okay and a also bit warm. On our way back to the Métro I had to take another photo of L'Arc de Triomphe without the rain. ^^

Arc de Triomphe without rain but still a grey heaven

On our way there Kao and I discovered a little booth which sold postcards and magnets, so we had to stop there to buy some. ^^

Finally we arrived at La Cigale the venue where the DIR EN GREY concert took place.

standing in line in front of the venue

We arrived there around an hour before the entrance began and started to talk again. ^^ By this time I was suuuper exhausted and kinda cold too. I was just so tired from the bus drive. x_x

Time went by kinda fast. And suddenly it was 19:50 and we were inside the venue!

our view from the first floor of the venue

After we were finally inside the discussion started where we wanted to stay. I always like it in the back, because I still want to live after a concert. And it's kinda stressful for me and most of the time too emotional. After a while we decided to take the place on the first floor and we had a perfect view on the stage. We really could see everything from there.

the crowd downstairs before the concert

such beautiful decoration

La Cigale is such a beautiful venue. It's a theatre which was build in 1887 what explains the beautiful decoration all around the venue. 

After finding a place and taking pics of the venue I decided to go to the merchandise to see what is available. It was so funny when I came down the stairs I couldn't find the merch at first, because no one was there. It was a few minutes before the start and I didn't even realize that. XD I found it and I bought the pullover jacket and a tote bag. I also bought the same for Kao, since I was the one who had enough money. ^^ While I bought the stuff I heard the crowd screaming and suddenly got a bit panicked because I thought the concert began, but when I came back to my place I discovered that nothing happened. XD I was so relieved that I didn't miss the beginning. I handed Kao the merch I brought her and we put everything away. 

A few minutes after that the show began. It was around 20:05 when the intro began, which was Kyokotsu no Nari and that was the time my emotions started crashing. Right from the beginning. It was so intense!

One by one entered the stage with Shinya as first followed by Die, Toshiya and Kaoru. Kyo was the last.

The intro went over into THE BLOSSOMING BEELZEBUB and I could feel how tears build up, I'm not sure if I started crying at this time or if it was at the next song, which was DIFFENRENT SENSE.

the only pic I took (with my phone) at the beginning of the show

I can't even explain how I felt through the whole concert, but I realized as soon as the concert started that I was able to release all the stress, which was building up during the past few weeks before the concert. These weeks were the last before summer holidays and it's always so stressful, because we always need to learn a lot in a short time, because teachers always realize too late that they still need some marks.



How ever, with every following song my emotions released themselves and I was biting my nails to keep at least a bit of control over myself. I also was starring, like the first ten minutes, just at Shinya, because it's always so fascinating how he plays the drums. I started to realize that I was only starring at him and started to look out for the others. It was just to fascinating to watch them playing their instruments. Since we were at the first floor and our view was perfect, I was able to see all of them very well and that could have been the other part which made everything so perfect and fascinating.

I also really liked it how the fans went quiet at Kyo's solo parts and how they applauded for every member individually. You could see how much the band enjoyed the concert and that they felt good while playing it. Die and Toshiya posed like always and animated the audience, even Kaoru didn't stand still the whole time and came to the front. Everyone was enjoying it. I can't remember ever seeing them smiling like that. Even Kyo looked satisfied with everything. 

After a few more songs they left the stage and sadly the end was near. I knew there was only the encore left and I was quite surprised that I felt okay again.

The break between the main show and the encore was quite awesome. And again it was the acting of the fans which I really liked. It was the way they begged for an encore. No overreacted screaming, no crying out. At first it was quiet and they waited a bit, then after a while started clapping and than just shouting rhythmically "DIR EN GREY".

This might give you an impression on what I mean about the begging for an encore. the sound quality isn't the best but you can see that it went on like this for several minutes.

The first song of the encore was the new version of THE FINAL which really made me happy, because it'll be forever my favourite song (which ever version, I just LOVE this song).
The following video shows you just how amazing the song was at this concert and how touching it was when everyone sang along. 

I still can't watching it without tearing up. *^*

While they played THE FINAL I wasn't really myself, I was lost in emotions and I dug my nails so hard into my arm that it got swollen and bruised plus I was biting my lips the whole time. I couldn't believe it myself when I discovered it at the end of the song. I don't know, but this song always makes me super emotional...

Resetsukoku followed by Hageshisa to, kono mune no naka de karamitsuita shakunetsu no yami where the last two songs of the evening.

I decided for this video, because she filmed the whole ending and you can see all the small details which made me so happy this evening, plus you can hear that they played the instrumental version of THE FINAL while exiting the stage.
Just ignore the screaming people in the front, they are always crazy XD"""

At the end of the video you can see how satisfied they were and that even Kyo was smiling. *^* To see that made me so endlessly happy. At this moment I felt like the happiest princess in the whole universe. I know this sounds so exaggerated, but I just fell in love with DIR EN GREY again.
And there was this funny "typical" Die-Shinya-Moment. XD You can see it in the video as well. haha, poor Shinya and evil Die. ♥ But revenge is sweet like always, right Die? XP

Die was the last one who left the stage and after he left the light went on again and the audience started leaving the place.

Setlist:

• 狂骨の鳴り(Kyokotsu no Nari)
• THE BLOSSOMING BEELZEBUB
• DIFFERENT SENSE
• LOTUS
• OBSCURE (new version)
• 輪郭 (RINKAKU)
• CONCEIVED SORROW
• INWARD SCREAM
• DIABOLOS
• 罪と規制 (Tsumi to Bastu 2011)
• 業 (Karma)
• INWARD SCREAM
• 霧と繭 (Kiri to Mayu 2013)
• かすみ (Kasumi - new version)
• Unraveling 
• Saku
• reiketsu nariseba

Encore:

• THE FINAL (new version)
• 羅刹国 (Resetsukoku)
• 激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇 (Hageshisa to, kono mune no naka de karamitsuita shakunetsu no yami)

I started to collect our things and hand everyone their stuff. Pika and Alex had to get their emotions together again, which was so cute. ♥ After everyone was okay again we went dwonstairs and decided to go to the merch. Pika and Alex wanted to look if they find something and I decided that I also wanted a t-shirt.

Remember how everyone was screaming that the girly shirt is pink? Ha, it's not pink at all, it's red! It's the one Shinya wore at the encore and the pullover is the one Toshiya wore at the encore. You might see it in the last video.

So yeah I decided to buy a girly shirt, because it's red and because I wanted one anyway. ^^"

everything I bought at the concert

After we were finished with the merch we went outside and decided to buy something to drink. Luckily there is a super market on the other side of the street. We went there and bought water and I also bought a pack of Mars since I wanted something to "eat".

after the concert in front of La Cigale

Since we had to wait for Alex's father, because we were allowed to stay at Alex's house for the night, we decided to go back to La Cigale. We didn't want to wait somewhere scary in Paris, that's why we went back plus it was still crowded in front of it.

Back at the venue we sat down in front of the doors and I started unpacking my Mars and drinking the water.

our stuff while waiting

While waiting suddenly securities came by and told us to make space so that they can open the doors. First I didn't understand at all what the problem was, but then I realized that they were making space for a path to the bus, which was parked in front of the venue. And then I finally realized that they did it, because DIR EN GREY would exit this way to get to the bus. 

Gosh... sometimes I wonder how slow my brain works. XD"

Now everyone was standing again and there was a path in the middle of both sides. The securities stood just at the doors and everyone was quiet and no one was screaming or pushing. You could feel the excitement of the crowd but everything else was relaxed. ^^ The only thing that really annoyed me were these two German girls next to us. Gosh, they were so embarrassing with their "Heineke beer" and their stupid VIPpass. -.-" These were these typical "Visual Kei-fangirls" who know everything about every member. urg, I really wanted to hit them. >_> Just so embarrassing!

Finally there was some action at the stairs and slowly Shinya appeared on them. He had to wait a bit inside before leaving the venue. He finally came out and walked through the cheering fans. He kinda looked so unhappy, just too cute. >.< (All my love for cutie pie Shinya ♥) He finally arrived in front of the door of the bus and couldn't enter. The stupid doors just didn't open. Waaaaaa, poor Shinya... I had to smile, because it was so fitting in this situation. Poor Thingy, because he really looked uncomfortable.
Because the doors didn't open he had to go back into the venue and he just arrived there when the doors of the bus finally opened. So he had to walk "the path of hell" again. 

After he finally entered the bus no one came down for a while. But then suddenly Kaoru, Thoshiya and Die came down. They also waited a bit inside before leaving. They came out in the above mentioned order and entered the bus quite fast. Die was smiling all the time. ^^

And again nothing happened for a while. And than last but not least Kyo also came out and escaped into the bus.

After that everyone started leaving slowly and the one security guy wished us a good night. hihi, so nice of him.

We also started leaving and went to the place we were supposed to wait for Alex's dad. He finally came and he drove us to their home. Finally there we just went to bed and I was so endlessly happy to finally go to sleep.

I still can't find the words to express all my feelings for that awesome concert. It was the most gorgeous and fantastic concert I ever went to. I'm not only talking about the band's performance, also the audience. There was like no unreasonable screaming and no stupid pushing around. Sure there were people meshing and whatever, but it was like they were really listening to the band. And I really loved that about the concert.

Also when DIR EN GREY exited the venue, there was no pushing around and no hysterical screaming. Just relaxed and happy fans (excluding the stupid German girls -.-"). It was just so nice how they treated everyone. Even the securities were really nice and didn't shout at us.

It was a whole new experience for a DIR EN GREY concert.
I think that all these parts playing together made it the best concert I ever went to! ♥♥♥♥♥

THANK YOU SO SO SOOOO MUCH for such an amazing concert and atmosphere!