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7th Metal Camp -> 05.-11. Juli 2010 -> Tolmin -> Sotočje -> Slovenija
So, tak, let's start where the story has to be started. On Saturday in Munich, Bavaria.
I had to go to Minga (München/Munich), because I need to take some money here and - most important - the ticket for Metal Camp. The Band sent it to München. And my original plan was going with a friend from here to MetalCamp and back, but he had a car accident. So I had to search for another way to go there. Lucky enough, I found a ride from Salzburg in the MetalCamp Forum.
It's Saturday the 3rd of July 2010 in the afternoon and I will have a nap. Getting up shortly after midnight again. Going to the main railway station in Munich. The train leaves at 2 o'clock at night. Going by train to Augsburg. From there I will go to Nuremberg, but there was a train accident with a cargo train and the track is completely closed. So everybody has to take a taxi to a small village nearby Augsburg where the train to Nuremberg is waiting. A total chaos, coz the taxi drivers are not informed yet, and here are only a few taxis for hundreds of people. I get into a taxi, in which 2 other backpackers are going inside and we drive to that small village. Fortunately, just 5 mins before we arrive, the taxi companies were informed and telling that to all their drivers. So we don't have to pay - as promised by the train conductors before.
Of course, due to this disaster, the train is late a lot now. But I have about an hour in Nuremberg (Nürnberg), so I can catch my train easily. This is an Alex train to Prague - not Deutsche Bahn (German Railway) and therefore on time :) I leave the train in Pilsen (Plzeň) change to another train in the direction to Budweis (České Budějovice). I exit the train in a small town where I parked my car and drive this approx. 50km to Tábor. Arriving around 13.00 h. Put all my unnecessary stuff from München somewhere there, take a shower, change clothes and take my already packed festival rucksack and hurry to the train station in Tábor.
Just catched the train in the last minute with running fast. Not easy with backpack and a tent in your hand. Was 3 mins before the train leaves (ca. 15.30h) at the station - in Czech Republic just enough time to buy the train ticket at the counter before train leaves :) I need a ticket to Budweis (České Budějovice) coz the Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket I already own is not valid on this route. In Budweis I take a train to Plzeň. Here I have enough time to go to Tesco and buy a few beers. From here I take a direct (Alex-)train to Munich (again!) and there a train to Rosenheim and another to Freilassing. Arriving there at 3 o'clock in the Night. Freilassing is the village on the other side of the border nearby Salzburg. Because there is no train going at this time, I have to walk this 5 km to Salzburg main station. It's oké, I have enough time, coz my friends will pick me up at 6 in the morning. Unfortunately it is starting to rain, after I did half the way, but I had enough time, so I sit somewhere under a roof and have a sleep.
After it stops raining I continued my walk to the station, and be there at 5 in the morning. They pick me up and we have to meet some friends of them (we are going with 2 cars) and they must say goodbye to their girlfriends… Roughly around 7 we are starting from Salzburg. I am a bit tired, so I slept a bit and missed the traffic jam completely. We are going directly to the last petrol station in Austria, having a half-hour-break there and continuing to Tolmin. Arriving there at 12.00 h noon. First to Mercator and then to the camping area.
My austrian friends put up their tents directly beside their cars, but I am not sure…. I made a few phone calls, searched a bit around and found a cosy place in the forest next to some slovenian friends (Tjaš & Co.)
Putting up the tent and then immediately down to Soča. One čiska I was able to mix also. But I have all my stuff still in the car, so I can not change my clothes. Doesn't matter, but I give all my stuff that should not become wet to Tjaš (Mobile, Fotocamera). Having lot of fun this evening and problems to go into my tent after, so I crashed the awning tent a bit - but this is anyway very instable.
Next morning. 06-07-2010. I wake up early. Go to the austrian friends space, take lots of my things, change clothes, cleaning myself, and that stuff. But I have only one Mobile back. The other one, including some euros, my running order and my camera are still in Tjaš's bag - I hope! Otherwise I lost them yesterday, and that would be very annoying.
Going to the ambulance now and asking them for a plaster. On the march from Freilassing to Salzburg I ran myself a water blister (bubble), which is naturally split open now and can not heal properly coz the belt from the flip-flops always turn rubs again. The only helping thing would be a plaster. Ideally a few for reserve, they will surely go away when bathing.
Oké, I get it all :) Very friendly stuff at the ambulance tent!
Going back to the Salzburg-people (Ben, Max, Fab, …), coz in the forest still everybody is sleeping. 1 or 2 hrs later back to the forest and everybody (Tjaš, Marš, Urš, Govc, …) is awake in the meanwhile. First thing: I am asking for my stuff and get the mobile, money and running order back immediately. But she could not find the camera :(
Doesn't matter for now, if I lost it, what can I do now? Going together to Tolmin having Pizza for breakfast. After finishing our meal now, Tjaš just is looking into her bag, searching for smth - and found my camera! It just was hidden in the darkest corner ;) So, evth's back. Nothing lost. But now we must stay a little bit longer as planned, coz it starts to rain. So, I have one more beer :)
As it slows down with raining, we decided to go back. But this is not as expected. Shortly before Mercator we split up, coz some want to buy smth and me and two more hurrying back into the direction of the tent. It is starting to rain again. And this time much more heavily than before. Thunder & Lightning & Storm. I just run to the Austrians Place - it was closer. One neighbour with a camper/caravan was there and another friend. So we could stay dry inside there, but not before we fixed the pavilion very well.
The rest of the Salzburg-Troop comes back 10 mins later from Soča - dripping wet! No Metal Camp without rain ;)
After half an hour the spook was over and we have real nice weather again - and it will getting much hotter, sunny and warm from now on for the whole festival. No more rain.
Now it is time to watch the first band. Brezno from Slovenia. Nice, good Folk/Gothic Metal. Especially towards the end of their gig, when they starting to play the faster and "heavier" songs. Next band: Illuminata from Austria. They have 2 female singer and the drummer is doing the growls. But their spirit comes not over to me. And I absolutely have no idea, why they need 2 singer, who sounds identical. I've heard better things in my life. After 3 or 4 songs I go back to tent, to Soča and to the car. Sitting here and there. Nothing to do. The next band I want to see is Korpiklaani and they are playing at midnight.
The Salzburgians have so-called "Knicklichter" with them (Oké, I searched for translation: "snap light sticks"). And I got the only one in orange :) Thanks!! Some french neighbourscame and joined us and we have lot of fun with the lights. I walk with them all to Soulfly, watch them and after their set I go back to the tent for another beer. Then at Korpiklaani I "freak out like a sod". Haha, freely translated :) And after, the same again at Metsatöll at the small stage.
After the show I meet this lithuanian guy, who is parking just behind our car, and talking with him for an hour about … I don't know, about everything under the sun. And now it's time to go to bed.
07-07-2010, 10.30: Got up again. and waiting what will happen. For Soča or Shower it is definitively too cold. And it should not become so hot today…. We will see…
An hour later: more and more people crawl out of their tents and a bit later now we go to Mercator. Buying some stuff for breakfast. There is a garden-bar built up in front of Mercator - extra for the festival time. So we sit here and eat the stuff we bought in the supermarket. Not without having a Laško with the breakfast. Then, on the way back, stopping at the Črv-Bar for a coffee. Back to the tent, it is already time to watch Vulvathrone and directly after Raven Death.
Vulvathrone are good as always and I have learned now, that "toilet slut" means in slovenian "WC kurba" - their own translation of their own song :)
At Raven Death the Guitar player got sick, so the singer has to play the guitar, too. My first thought, before he told us that: The singer should not play guitar, but concentrate on singing…. But with the statement this critics is obsolete. A young newcomer band from Kranj, playing proper black metal. Definitely worth watching.
Back to the car, bringing few more beer cans to the tent. On the way met some people from the MetalFest in Mining. Talking a while with them, but now time to watch Trail of Tears. Good, but after a while, the voice can become annoying.
Shortly back to tent for a radler and then to main stage: Аркона (Arkona) is playing! I see them for the 3rd time this year, and every time I watch them, I like them more. Really great band. Also, when I absolutely don't like the ugly, disgusting, yukky outfit of the singer. She always wears this animal coat and I absolutely don't like corpse-parts-capes.
Next interesting band for me: Smargoth from Ljubljana. Unfortunately I talked a bit too long with the friends at the tent, so I watch only the last few songs. Good Black Metal. A pity, that I was not here on time. Now back to tent, and continuing with that what we did before Smargoth: talking ;) No, not only. Having also some "Cocktails". Smth like Corumla (Cuba Libre), Peach-Vodka, Čiska, home-made slovenian Šnaps or perhaps just a beer inbetween…. Nothing better to do, coz nobody here is interested in Leaves Eyes, Devildriver or Football :(
The good thing was, that I drank not so much, so I am able now to go with them all to Overkill. No critique. Super show and the great hits at the end of the gig, Elimination, Fuck You…
Now another small beer at the tent and then Equilibrium and - last band for today - Ashes You Leave. During Equilibrium I got a little bit tired, although they played a very good show, but while watching Ashes… now it was really hard for me to stay awake. So I will not watch them completely, but go back to tent. Arriving there, everybody was still sitting here and drinking. No, sorry, without me. I just fall into the tent and sleep immediately.
At the next day, 08-07-2010, at roughly 9 o'clock I crawl out of my tent. And of course everybody is still sleeping, and, I guess, they will not wake up soon….
Testing the dixis and using the open showers to wash my hair. Than going to the car, where the Austrians are already awake, but just take my computer, mobile and stuff and go to Tolmin. In the bar directly at the crossing with the traffic lights, beside Alpi bar, where also a hostel is connected, they have wifi for free. So for the next hours I did nothing else then working, chatting and consuming some drinks.
It is afternoon already when I go back to the festival. The most interesting band for me now is Exploited. Long time no see.
But here and now stops my agenda I wrote during the festival, so the story becomes a bit shorter from now on, because 3 weeks after, I don't remember every situation that much precisely.
Oké, I was back early enough to watch even Epica before. And now Exploited! Nice to see them on such a big stage. After the show back to tent. And some News for me. Sar and Nej are already arrived at the MetalCamp. Originally they thought, that they will come to here tomorrow. So going to watch Eluveitie now and call them on mobile. After a few messages we found out, that they put their tent just 50m away from mine opposite of the path. That's cool! So I go back to my tent, not without looking to their place. And stay there…. I go to watch Behemoth and then back to them and sitting there, and sitting and sitting… Long, long time, till late in the night.
It's Friday, 09-07-2010 and already afternoon 14 h. Slept long today, but now I am washed & prepared for the first Band: Abstinenz. Good Black Metal stuff. Next Band I'm watching also here at the Main stage: Varg. Checking out the second stage after, but nothing interesting there. So I go shortly for a beer to the tent and then back to main stage to take a look at Ensiferum. I like them. In the meanwhile I checked my mobile and got the information that Prož has arrived at Metal Camp as well and that we will meet at the entrance when Obituary is playing - that's the next band.
Yes, I find him. We are watching Obituary now from outside and having a lot of fun together for the rest of the day. There are no more very interesting bands today for me, so the rest of the day means hanging round with all my friends at Metal Camp and a lot of čiska :)
Prož put his things into my tent, but all night no see... It was already morning time, when he comes for a sleep. I decide to continue sleeping as well, and wake up again somewhat at noon time on Saturday, 10-07-2010.
I am not feeling very well today, but after some beers it gets better. 6 days of festival is not always that easy to survive….
But now I got some news again: My friends from Salzburg decide to go back today at night after Immortal has played. I said oké, I will be ready, and at the place where the car is standing right after the show. But I don't realised, that I have to pack my things and strike my tent. Firstly now I have the idea, to search for another ride directly to Czech Republic - or at least Linz. Anything closer to my home than Salzburg - it is really not the best option to go there, and from there - how will I come to home?? Train from Salzburg is still around 40 euros - too expensive!
Prož agrees with my idea. We could stay at my home the few days until Obscene starts. Would be perfect. So we made a sign each, write on smth like: "Need a ride to Czech Republic" or "Hledam místo v autě do CZ" and walking around over the whole festival area and asking everybody. But no success. We make it all day long. We found some people from CZ or nearby - but all are full. Nobody has a space in the car for one or two people. No chance.
I also come along by the Austrianʼs place, but nobody was there. A short break I made for watching Exodus. And it is the only band I can remember that I watched today. Surely, Immortal…. but later to that fact ;)
Because we were not only searching for a ride, but also talking with the people, and drinking smth, and meeting friends again, and talking and drinking with them we were not getting more and more sober during that time. Also sitting some time at Soča…. So, I can not remember if I watched Finntroll or not :(
It is already late in the evening, and I am very, very tired. And I should strike down my tent to leave this night - but I couldn't. So I decided to take a nap in the tent. Putting the alarm clock, to wake up for Immortal. The Alarm Clock rings, but I was absolutely not able to get up. Totally wasted. But I managed it to set the clock 1½ hrs later! And now I forced myself to get up and walked to the friends from Salzburg. They are already there, ready to go. I tell them, that it would be great to go with them, but I couldn't manage to break down my tent today. And on the other side the problem that Salzburg is not that close to my home. So I just take out of the car my valuable things, pay them what was agreed upon for the ride and have to say goodbye. It was really a nice time with them. And very sorry for that!!
Still tired I go back to my tent and sleep again, but somewhat at 2 o'clock at night I could not sleep anymore. So I get up and wanted to do a short walk around. But in that moment, when I walk on the path, Sar and Nej come across, so instead of walking around, I sit at their tent again for a few hours :)
It is morning time now and I fall asleep again.