Valand Woland

I was on my way there. Really I got almost to the Ferry from Germany and realized that I didn’t have my passport with me in the car and so I spent the night in Rostock. Which was ok. But not Denmark. And years ago there was a Danish architecture student that I met and went to an art show with one afternoon….
I dunno. It’s all I’ve got to go on but I think it’s probably as good a reason for visiting a place as any other. OK. It’s not. But Hans Christian Andersson was a Dane. That’s good isn’t it?

For a weekend last summer. Incredible place. Great people.

And it is everytime I go. This is my third time there. I am fortunate to know some truly excellent human beings and a weekend camping with them in the midst of great musical acts and a non-stop party is exhausting but a hell of a lot of fun.

Hanging out with my sister at her travel trailer there. It’s a bit desolate. The people are nice there, fierce, come from mining families. Not much going on there in terms of work now. The mines aren’t currently open. But people seem to make the best of what they’ve got. Certainly worth going to if you know someone there.

This’ll be my third trip. Always a good time, good people, good food, good location. Great time.
Provided the weather is good.

There’s always some music to suit your tastes. It can be a bit relentless. 24 hours a day is a long time to stay awake. The country around the Festival is spectacular. Beaches with temperate water, a water fall or two. Fantastic views. Fun.

Got a ride with a local tour guide in a jeep out to the Volcano. We were about a kilometer away from the peak. It was incredible sitting there, listening to the eruptions, watching lava flow down the sides (the intensity varies greatly), watching the world make itself. I could taste ash on the mouth of the beer can I was drinking out of.
We went after to the hot springs, which was pleasant. I met a guy from out West, Alberta or Saskatchewan, who was one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. He had me in stitches for hours. Then I spent an hour or two hanging out with some German tourists at the hostel I was staying at. (Which happened to have a bees nest in the wall of my room.) It was a great day. There is a beautiful waterfall fairly nearby the town.
I’ve been to Arenal twice. It was about 10 years ago now. I don’t know how much the town is built up. It was a bit of a cowboy town when I was there.