England/Download 2016 part 4
We spent some time waiting in the restaurant/bar area and I watched some football. We started talking to a group of people who was also waiting to go. After about 2 ½ hours of sitting around we finally got to go!
We ended up missing two of the bands that we really wanted to see: Halestorm and Tremonti. I fixed it the best way I could – On the bus on our way to DL I booked my tickets to the Tremonti show in Stockholm.
When we got to the drop off point we were really lucky to be able to see the Ed Force One – Iron Maiden’s own Boeing. It was “parked” at the airport next to the festival. I’m amazed that someone can become a pilot and a rock star at the same time. For those of you who don’t know – Bruce Dickinson, the singer in Iron Maiden, is the one flying their plane around the world! AWESOME!
When we got to Download Disturbed was just about to go on stage. Malin really wanted to see them, but I went to try and fix what we missed even more. Tremonti was actually in the signing tent, so that’s where I went. I saw Disturbed from the queue and things got even more fixed when the band invited Lizzy Hale (the singer from Halestorm) to the stage, so in a way I kinda got to see Halestorm too.
I finally got in the signing tent and that’s when I got nervous. Eric Friedman commented on my t-shirt: “Fuck you you fucking fuck….? Okay!”, then he signed the card. I even forgot to take a guitar pick! When I finally got to Mark Tremonti I got really nervous and excited at the same time. I asked him if I could hug him and I could! I decided to be a rebel and asked for a selfie with him, even though it wasn’t allowed. I even took two!! I was so excited afterwards, that I almost skipped getting an autograph from the bassist in the band. I turned around, and said “Oh, sorry..!” and gave him the thing to sign on. I couldn’t stop smiling! I GOT TO MEET MARK FUCKING TREMONTI!!!!!!
We had some Thai food and watched Nightwish/guys jumping around in the mud and then we went for the “after care” of the tattoos, where they cleaned it, put tattoo cream on and re-wrapped it.
We met the guys for a few drinks and when we were on our way to the main stage see Iron Maiden we decided to go on the Ferris Wheel, all four of us. Just as we got on it Iron Maiden got on stage. We got to see them from the top of the Ferris wheel and it was really awesome to see both the band and the crowd from up there. We said that maybe we should rent that for the whole weekend next year.
Iron Maiden was really awesome as usual. They seem really humble even though they’re kind of the biggest rock legends in history. Seeing them in England was really something special! <3
When we got back to the hotel we started packing. Malin was done like 2 hours before me so she went to bed. When I was done I went down to the reception to book a taxi to the airport. Since Hilton is a bit fancy they helped me book a really expensive taxi - £80 to Birmingham airport. When I got back to the room I googled other companies and I could find a taxi for £55, but since it was like 3AM and I was lazy we decided to keep the expensive taxi booking.
When the driver picked us up I understood why. He was driving a Mercedes Benz that was so comfortable and nice! He was a good driver so it was worth it!
We checked in our luggage and the check-in-lady asked me: “You’re in Business Class?”. I knew we had premium economy tickets so I said “yes we are”. I can understand why she sounded so skeptical because of how I looked – pink/violet hair, Harem pants, hoodie, leather jacket and Wellies (rubber boots). It seemed like we had actually been upgraded to Business Class (not that it would be any different to premium economy). I asked the check-in-lady where the business lounge was… I wonder what she was thinking.
When we got to the Business lounge the lady there had the same look like the lady who checked us in earlier. “Can I help you?” she asked. “Uhm, do you want to see our boarding passes?” “Yes please”, she said sounding like she actually wanted to say “I certainly do” or “You’re in the wrong place, darling”. She looked surprised when she saw them. “Oh, business class? You ladies must have been very good…” she said. (If only she knew…)
The business lounge was really nice and they offered food and drinks for free, so we had an amazing breakfast. Next time we will definitely go back to the lounge and hopefully we’ll have more time to spend there. Way better than hanging around at the gate.
On our first flight to Copenhagen they served food and it was really good. When we arrived we went to the business lounge straight away. The one in Copenhagen was not as nice, since it was a bit crowded and way bigger. Maybe there were more people in there because of the on-going SAS pilot strike. I was too full to eat more food so I just had some snacks and coke. On our last flight to Stockholm I even turned down the food that was served. I managed to get some sleep instead. We were never affected by the strike. (Thank god)
It is a weird feeling coming home from a journey like this, because it makes me feel so filled up with energy and happiness and feeling empty at the same time. Like, you’ve waited for something for so long (8 months) and all of a sudden it is all over… BUT! On our first day at Download we decided to go back again next year. Only ~11 months to go…
I want to say thanks to everyone who made this trip to one of the best in my life! (you know who you are) Especially to my SisterInsane/PartnerInCrime/B2/Dawg Malin! Thank you, I love you all! <3
XXX
England/Download 2016 Part 3
Avatar (from Sweden) were playing the main stage on the second day (Saturday), but they were on at 11:00 or 12:00, so we decided to skip seeing them and have a sleep in instead. There were no other bands we wanted to see until Rival Sons and their set weren’t until 15:40, so we went to the wellness center to relax. We got in the hot tub and it was the best way possible to start our day. Because of all the headbanging the day before, I had severe neck pain (okay, maybe it wasn’t that bad but I was really sore) so Malin gave me a neck massage! LOVELY! We tried the steam room but it was way too hot and steamy so we cooled down in the pool…
When we got to the festival Rival Sons got on stage just as we arrived. Malin went to get cash and food and I went to see Rival Sons play. They so much better than I expected (and I have to add my expectations were very high). The sound was just perfect and his voice… If I could, I’d marry it! I’m in love!!!! I got to hear all the songs that I wanted and they played a few ones from their new album that was released the day before. I had goose bumps from start to finish (and I even have some as I’m tying this…).
When the show was over I went to find Malin. She was still in the queue for the cash machine after 40 minutes and she was not happy about it. She introduced me to the man who was standing behind her. Patrik from Sundsvall, Sweden. Apparently they started talking and at first they were speaking English. For like 20 minutes. Then they realized they were both from Sweden.
When it was almost our turn at the ATM, a man who worked with the machines came up to us and said that the other queue was moving faster. “It is really good that you are telling us this just now” I said and laughed. He then turned to Malin and said that he had told her that earlier, but apparently he hadn’t. After some more trouble with the ATM we finally had the cash we needed and went to get some food. Hangry af. Finally we were getting fooooooood!!!! :D I had a hot dog with LOTS of mustard. A guy who saw me put all that mustard on came up to me. “You’ve got the right idea, love” he said and laughed.
We talked to Karlsson and Jonathan for a few minutes, before me and Malin decided to look for the tattoo tent. We ended up at the area where there was a really small stage and a bar. Malin got something to drink and I watched the band. They were really good and I found out later that it was Tesseract, who played the Encore Stage earlier that day.
Finally we found the Tattoo tent. We went in and started looking at the suggested tattoos on the table and found the “Download Dog”. We both liked it and we looked at each other. “Are we doing it?” “Yeah!!” “Are we really doing it?” “Hell yeah!!”. We started counting our money, to make sure we had enough. They only accepted cash and it would be £60 each. We had £60 + £58. SO CLOSE! We ended up asking someone if they wanted to buy half a bottle of wine (what was left in Malin’s bottle that she bought earlier). They didn’t want the wine but gave us the missing £2.
We finally got our “Bromance tattoo” that we’ve been talking about for so long. When we walked back to the main area we looked at each other, shaking our heads like “I can’t believe we just did this”. Finally!!! :D <3 Suddenly Malin said something we say a lot: “Whaddup Dawg!!!”… It’s unbelievable that we didn’t realize this before, but we both got it at the same time. I was so happy I screamed and jumped around. “AAAAAH OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!”. This tattoo now have got even more meaning than before.
Last year we said we’d get married (for fun, not for real) at Download since they had an inflatable church. But since we didn’t stay at campsite we didn’t have access to it. We decided that this tattoo was like “getting married” so we had to go on our honeymoon – the Ferris wheel. The view was just amazing! <3 Best honeymoon ever!
The last band on Saturday was Black Sabbath. I think it’s so funny when they play N.I.B and the lyrics go:
“Look into my eyes, you will see who I am
my name is Lucifer, please take my hand”
When they finish it, Ozzy shouts “GOD BLESS YOU ALL!”.
Another perfect day/night at Download2016, that I will carry with me, on my ankle, for the rest of my life.
To be continued…
