I like Bob Dylan's music, and when I saw he was appearing in Alicante, I decided to get a ticket and go to see him in concert. I may not ever get the chance again to see this poet, musician and songwriter.
Whether you love him or hate him, Bob Dylan is a musical legend. I went to see him in his worldwide Rough and Rowdy Ways tour at Alicante Bullring in 2023.
My journey to Alicante.
I left my apartment to walk to the bus stop at about 12:15 pm. It was very hot out as I walked along the promenade carrying some clothes and my tablets in a rucksack over my back. When I got to La Playa bar, I stopped for coffee and chatted with my friend Shellie. The bus did not arrive until 2 pm, but I always like to be early, so I left the bar at about 1:15 pm. When I got to the bus stop, it was only 1:30 pm, and I had a half-hour wait for the bus because, as usual, I was early. Also, as expected, the bus was late and arrived at about 2:15 pm.
The bus ride was comfortable in a nice air-conditioned coach. It stopped at lots of places along the way, but I didn't mind because it only cost €9.41 each way. I think the tolls would cost more than that in a car, the petrol definitely would, and of course, I don't have a car. The coach dropped me at the Alicante bus station, close to the cruise ship port, at about 4:45 pm.
I had a rough idea of where the hostel I was staying in was, but I used Google Maps on my phone to find the shortest route to it and walked along the promenade before turning off to get to it. I hadn't stayed in the La Lonja hostel before, but the reviews on Booking.com were excellent and it was cheap. I was pleased with my room; it was tiny but tidy, clean, quiet, and had a good shower. It overlooked the inner courtyard of the surrounding buildings.
Photos of my room.
I was in room 306 for my stay at La Lonja Hostel in Alicante.
Bed, La Lonja Hostel.
Courtyard, La Lonja Hostel.
Bathroom, La Lonja Hostel.
Bathroom, La Lonja Hostel.
When I had rested for a while in my room, I left to find somewhere to eat. On the way to the hostel, I walked past lots of nice restaurants, but the Alicante Bullring was in the other direction, and I walked that way. Unfortunately, the choice of places to eat was limited, and a lot of places were full. I settled for a small kebab and a can of coke at Euro Pizza Kebab, which was a short walk from the Bullring. It was very lovely, and I sat outside in the street, watching people head towards the Bullring to see Bob Dylan.
Bob Dylan Concert.
When I finished my meal, I went to the Bullring and was shown straight in without having to queue, as I was in the VIP area right in front of the stage. The door staff did, however, take the phone of everybody going in and place them in a locked bag before giving it back to you. This stopped people from recording the show or taking photos, and in this case, I think it was the right thing to do.
My seat was in the front row, right in front of the stage, and I was very pleased with my seat. I was shocked when, at 9:30 pm, the show started right on time, and Bob Dylan started at precisely the time advertised. So many shows I have been to advertise a start time, and the artists keep you waiting before they come on. I have to say it was my first time seeing Bob Dylan live, and I was disappointed when I heard that the show would be all his new songs and that he would not do any of his old songs. I can also say that I did enjoy the show and lots of his new songs, as did everyone else there, apart from the drunk English idiot behind me.
If you were there in row 2, seat 34, then yes, I am talking about you. He was with a girl and continually talked to her throughout the show, telling her that Bob Dylan was brilliant, rubbish, had a great voice, had a terrible voice, was too old to be singing, and that he was incredible. He couldn't believe he was 82, that his real name was Robert Zimmerman, and that he was Jewish. Next time you go to a concert, my friend, don't drink so much before the show and you won't have to get up to use the toilet every half hour, at least this gave your girlfriend a chance to listen to the show instead of your incessant talking.
Bob Dylan's voice was never great, but that is not why you go to see him. His lyrics, poetry and the storytelling in his music are as good today as they ever were. I would have preferred to see him solo without the backing group, though. Don't get me wrong, the group was excellent, and I couldn't stop my feet from tapping throughout the entire show. Much of it was very bluesy, and I could imagine sitting in a tiny smoke-filled bar in New Orleans or Key West listening to them, but they overpowered Dylan's lyrics.
Many of the new songs were great, and they transported me to times when I was travelling and meeting different people around the world. I particularly liked the three songs below. These are all from Bob Dylan's YouTube channel for his soon-to-be-released Rough and Rowdy Ways album, the two-year-long tour is named after.
Bob Dylan's video, Key West (Philospher Pirate).
Bob Dylan's video, My Own Version of You.
Bob Dylan's video, I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You.
Alan Morris stood outside Alicante bullring
The show lasted until around 11:15 pm with no breaks. Bob Dylan had minimal conversation with the audience and performed continuously all the time. There was, however, no encore and almost immediately after Bob left the stage, his crew started to dismantle the stage and sound system. After the show, on my way out, I handed the bag containing my phone back to the security at the door, and they unlocked it and returned my phone to me. Outside the Bullring, there was a very good busker singing all of Bob Dylan's early songs. He had drawn a large crowd. I listened to him for a short while before I walked the short distance back to the Hostel and was soon fast asleep.
My Journey Home.
I woke up around 8:30 am and took a shower straight away. I slept pretty well, but the bed was tiny compared to the enormous bed I had at home. I left the Hotel at around 10 am and walked towards the promenade along Alicante beach.
As I walked along the road, I saw an old lady asleep in a doorway covered in cardboard boxes. It reminded me how lucky I am, and as I have started to do on each of my trips recently, I stopped and gave her €10 to get something to eat and a drink. I hope she does spend it on food and not alcohol or drugs.
When I got to the promenade, I started to read the menu at the cafe Depinchos, and then a beautiful girl started talking to me in Spanish. Luckily, I understood her and was able to reply to her in Spanish. Alas, she then continued to talk very quickly in Spanish, but I didn't understand her. I explained, in Spanish, that I only spoke a little Spanish, and she then spoke English to me and showed me to a seat at an outside table before she moved back inside.
Unfortunately, the girl who was waiting at the tables outside was not so lovely; she didn't speak one word to me in English or Spanish the whole time I was there. She took my order and said nothing. She brought my order and put it on the table, but she said nothing. She didn't ask me if I wanted anything else at any stage and just dropped my bill on the table when I asked for it.
Alan Morris at Alicante bus station.I left the cafe at about 11:30 am and was at the bus station by 11:40 am onboard the bus and on my way home at about 12. It was very hot outside, and I was glad to be on an air-conditioned bus. It made me think back to the lady I had given the money to. I wondered where she would shelter from the sun during the day. The bus ride home was uneventful, and I was dropped off at a bus stop close to my home. This was great as it cut down my walk from 20 minutes to 5 minutes.
As soon as I got into my apartment, I poured a cold drink of water and sat down in front of the television, where I fell asleep.
Summary.
I really enjoyed the short trip away and Bob Dylan's concert. I am happy that I got to see him live. I probably won't get to see him again. I am getting older and less fit, and he may not be able to keep touring much longer. If you get the chance to see a musician you like, a place you have always wanted to see, or indeed an old friend, then take it; it could be your last chance.