I’m settling into my new home and resuming a life that was interrupted by the move to a different state. One of the interruptions I had to deal with was the loss of a trip to Windsor Canada to see the Psychedelic Furs.
It was tough to cancel that trip and even tougher to sell those tickets. I tried to get over the disappointment but found myself checking the band’s concert schedule hoping for another chance to see them.
I noticed they were playing in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the thought of spending time in a free country run by competent people was very appealing. Canada sounded great. As news of yet more gun violence dominated the headlines it began to sound even better. I decided to resurrect my concert dreams and head to Vancouver.
The tickets weren’t too expensive, and I discovered I could take a train there instead of paying for airfare. The only obstacle left was the cost of lodging. Because of the moving expenses and a variety of other factors like the worsening economy, I couldn’t afford the kind of property I used to stay in. Heck, I couldn’t even afford the lower priced motels in the area.
While perusing Google Maps, I found a place that was highly rated, close to the concert venue, and incredibly affordable. When I clicked on it, I realized it was a hostel.
Encouraged by the reviews, I browsed around the site. Regrettably there were no private rooms available on the day of the concert. I gulped, took a leap of faith, and booked a bed in a 4-bed dorm style room with bathrooms down the hall.
Anxiety set in as the trip drew closer. My nervous system has really taken a beating this year and the thought of going to a new place by train and staying in a hostel made me anxious, but nothing was going to come between me and the Psychedelic Furs.
The Psychedelic Furs were formed in the late 70s by Richard Butler and his brother Tim Butler. One of their best-known songs is Pretty in Pink used in the movie of the same name.
I have been an ardent fan for most of my life. Butler’s voice, a gloriously textured mixture of velvet and gravel makes me swoon as few things do. My daughter told me that if I didn’t go, I would regret it for the rest of my life, and I knew she was right.
The only upside to being a born worrier, is that things generally go better than expected. The train ride was pleasant, and within minutes of arriving in Vancouver, I headed to the Vancouver Art Gallery.
I will pause to brag about the fact that for the first time in my life, I didn’t have to worry about luggage. I’m a lifelong over packer so this was a monumental achievement for me.
I managed to fit a change of clothes and a tiny bag of toiletries into one of my Elsie tote bags and it was so light I barely noticed I was carrying it. The bag matched my Elsie T-shirt which made me happy.
Before perusing the art, I had a leisurely lunch at the gallery restaurant. The food was good, and the service was excellent.
The gallery itself was a real treat. At the advice of the nice woman at the ticket counter, I started at the top and worked my way down.
I had almost forgotten the way that looking at art can awaken your brain, stir your emotions, and touch your heart. It is an experience unlike any other, both relaxing and energizing.
There was a video exhibit that mesmerized me and left me thinking about the natural world and environmentalism, and a wonderfully whimsical exhibit called Otani Workshop: Monsters in My Head that made me smile in a way I hadn’t in weeks. I spent a wonderful afternoon entertained, enlightened, and inspired and left feeling happy and at peace.
The weather was pleasant, and the hostel was a short walk away. Fortunately, I had prepared myself for things to be rather spartan, and they were. The room looked a bit like summer camp or the close quarters one would find on an aircraft carrier. I had to remind the front desk that I had paid a bit more for a lower bunk. My sense of adventure didn’t stretch to climbing the ladder to an upper bunk.
I rested in my bunk for a bit and then had a very good light dinner at Hungry Guys Kitchen before walking a few steps to the Vogue Theater.
What a nice venue, not too big with an easy layout and friendly staff. I was able to get settled quickly and comfortably and at 8:00 on the dot the Psychedelic Furs took the stage.
Wow and wow again. Individually the band consists of seasoned professionals who effortlessly ooze cool. Collectively they come together and produce something that people who are lucky enough to experience will remember all their lives. The band interacted well with the audience and with one another and the layout of the Vogue made for plenty of good seats.
I swear, when they played Heaven, I thought I’d died and gone there myself. And when they played My Time… If I had a dollar for every time that song brought me to tears while simultaneously making me feel uplifted, I could afford first class travel for the rest of my life.
The show was everything I hoped for and then some. Decades after they began, the band was as vibrant, captivating, and talented as ever. Fun fact, Richard Butler is also an accomplished artist, in addition to being a musician who gives new meaning to the word “charisma.”
After the show, I headed back to the hostel. I surprised myself by not feeling disappointed or resentful at going from four-star hotels to a bunk in a shared room. Instead, I felt a bit amused at the twists life can take and I felt grateful. That inexpensive room made it possible for me to have an amazing experience at a time when I desperately needed something good to focus on.
Unfortunately, the room wasn’t conducive to sleep. I was very aware that someone was sleeping just a few feet above me and I worried about making noise and disturbing the other occupants. There was a group of noisy young men stomping around and talking at the top of their lungs and they kept it up all night. I fell in and out of sleep until 4:00 a.m. and got up to dress and head for the train station. I would stay in a hostel again but in a private room.
I made it home exhausted but elated. The micro break was a good reminder of some of the things that make life worth living; art, music, culture, new places and interesting people.
I had my phone on Airplane mode for most of the trip and relearned the joys of stillness and daydreaming. I took a break from the news, and I connected again with the world and with myself. And I did it all on a budget that left me free to enjoy the experience without worrying about the cost.
The combination of train travel and affordable accommodation makes all kinds of adventures possible. I’m researching hostels in other cities and eagerly looking forward to more new experiences.
I hope this piece encourages you to follow your own bliss and to not let fear of the unfamiliar, or issues like financial restrictions keep you from getting out and exploring.
Thanks for reading.
Eileen Blake
