Awreye

July 24, 2007

Glasto Wrap-Up

I haven't posted in ages mostly because I've been busybusybusy offline. After spending your work day working and writing, you're tired and sometimes any energy you have to write at home is drained away. Lame excuse, I know. I'm trying to get back in the rhythm of posting since returning from vacation.

Anyways I was ankle deep in mud on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean a month ago. Yes, I was rocking out at the Glastonbury Festival. Oh, Glastonbury, you provided such a moist and muddy welcome for this American. You rained on us for 5 days. You threatened to flood our tent. You gave me the softest, moisturized knees as my wellies got stuck and I fell into your gooeyness time and time again. On top of that, you introduced me to some interesting folks and some kick-ass music.

We wandered between stages and saw so many bands that they all start to blur together....The Fratellis Amy Winehouse Bloc Party Bjork Dirty Pretty Things Lily Allen Babyshambles The Marley Brothers The Who and manymany more. Highlights:

Most joyous moment -

dancing around during Mika's set in the dance tent (no mud! no rain! happy music!).

Food which I ate too much of - bacon rolls. Consuming a sandwich stuffed with home-cured bacon is a great way to start the day, no?

What haunts my dreams still - the stench of the toilets.

Most unexpected sight -

Naked elderly gentleman casually strolling across the Sacred Space one morning.

Unexpected bonus -

Escaping the rain by ducking into Left Fields and hearing the legendary Tony Benn speak.

Regrets - Not drinking more cider (sold out at most of the bars by Sunday), having more energy to explore more (I'm old, jetlagged and need my sleep).

Giggleworthy Moment -

Seeing the looks of horror on burly men's faces as a muddy moshpit opened up behind them and "the mudpeople" sloshed closer and closer.

I definitely didn't have time and energy to see everyone I wanted to see, but there's always next year! Glasto-virgin readers: here are some tips which I learned the hard way for a great 2008 festival experience:

Get to the festival as early as humanly possible to stake a prime tent space.
Forget about wearing jeans; Shorts and skirts are great muddy festival wear--cleaning mud off your knees and legs is easier than picking it off your pants.
Don't stand near the fence surrounding the performance space perimeters --it's a favorite pee spot for the gents too lazy to wait in the portapotty line.
Sleep early for a week prior to build up energy for 5 days of late nights.
Consider wearing a dorky fanny pack for convenience.

Despite the crap weather, I'm definitely hooked on the camp-out at a festival experience.

Labels: Glastonbury, music, travel, weather