 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Travel
the World... |
Independent advice for |
|
|
|
|
|
traveling the world |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our Three Cents: European Summer Scene
Article by Richard Steel
Photos (top to bottom) by OMVF, 9mmfreethetalent.com, Bill McKelvie
|
|
|
Are You Air–xperienced?
The Oulo Music Video Festival in Finland (www.omvf.net) is the ultimate in Bill and Ted–inspired partying: uber–hip Finnish music videos, live bands, art house short films, and the air guitar competition. Not any run–of–the–mill air guitar competition, mind you, but the World Championships. Four days of music and visuals you've probably never experienced anything like before, all culminating in the air guitar finals where, according to the official website, "all war and disease would cease to exist and all bad things would disappear if everyone in the world only played air guitar." There's even a two–day training camp held at an abandoned mansion on an island without electricity before the festival starts (August 21–25). If that's not totally rad, dude, we don't know what is. |
|
|
Summer of Love
Over 1 1/2 million people gather in Berlin, Germany each year for an all–day, all–night party that is second to none for modern music and dance (techno, trance, hip–hop, all your favorite beats).
This year, the week–long Love Parade (www.loveparade.de) kicks off on the afternoon of July 13th and rages into the early hours of the morning. Bring food and water in a backpack to the official parade on Saturday (where floats blaring music and pulsing with dancers crawl through the streets), or face glacially slow queues and high prices for Turkish kebabs and potato pancakes from street vendors. Make hostel or hotel reservations now, as most of the rooms in the city sell out several weeks prior to the festivities. A lot of revelers camp in the park (in the Tiergarten area), which has a few restrooms but is certainly not meant for the masses of partiers the area sees during the week. Tons of pre–parties begin on Wednesday the 10th and are held at venues throughout the city until Sunday. Buy tickets for the parties about a block and a half from the main train station. The ticket booths are on the main street across from the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
|
|
Kilts are Optional
The Edinburgh International Festival (www.eif.co.uk) is a more refined celebration of the classical arts. Over 26 days in August (considered by some the only sane month to visit Scotland, because of the decent weather) an amazing selection of actors, dancers, musicians and artists will present more than 180 performances Because the Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held at the same time, it is suggested that you book a hostel well in advance of your arrival. Camping is allowed on all public land unless otherwise marked, and commercial camping grounds usually run only five pounds. Since its inception in 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival has earned its reputation as one of the world's greatest celebrations of the arts by bringing cutting edge art and first–class performances to the public. This festival is a definite must–see for the backpacking art lover. This year the Edinburgh Festival runs August 5th through 31st.
|
|
|
|
