SNOWBOMBING !

For over 4 months now, I've been meaning to tell the tale of Snowbombing, and then Peru happened, then an overload of work happened to pay for all the play!.. And theeeen... we moved out of London.


We'll talk Snowbombing first, then Peru!

Snowbombing is a festival in Austria, but not just any festival. This amazing place a delightfully severe absence of muddy fields, scaffolded stages and food stands with cold yet greasy, mayo sogged fries. (no offence Belgium) This place is different!
Scenic snow-topped Mayrhofen mountains, Hans's schnitzels, neon lighted venues, Dj's, dancing, schnapps, happy people from around the globe, the freshest air you ever did breathe, a comfy bed and an epic roadtrip to boot.
It was easily one of the best experiences I've been fortunate enough to have thus far in my life abroad.

I've put off this post for so long 'cause so much happened, I don't know where to start!
Here goes, not so short & sweet.

DAY ONE

Snowbombing, and I quote, "remains to be the only festival in the world to offer a road trip through 5 different countries (consisting of 150 cars) all headed to the same destination"
Such efforts need a dress-up theme! Hundreds of Superheroes gathered on the English shore of Devon, stickered up their rigs, got some breaky in their bellies, then boarded a ferry which hosted a silent disco, paper plane flying competitions and arm wrestles.

Back on solid ground we made our way through France, and finally to Luxembourg for our stopover.

Long day, Knackered from the drive, I piked early whilst Wez bonded with some Scotsmen over a few late beers.

DAY TWO

Breakfast in the company of all creatures great and hairy..

..and away we go! 

Lots of Tunnels, lots of freeways.. speed limitless ones at that!

Driving the opposite side of the road took the brain of training but I got the hang of it.

Long roads = a stopover or 2 to stretch the legs (and check for sanity)

The scenery kicked up a knotch on the last leg through Austria. 

Photos will never do it justice. It was calm, fresh and stunning.


 This song was playing as we cruised through the mountains.. and then again on stage by Rudimental in a dark sweaty nightclub a day later. Polar opposite experiences, both euphoric!
I'm addicted to that song! 

 Arriving to our destination is a tale I'd like to tell despite our severe lack of photographic evidence.

 

The town of Mayrhofen embraces Snowbombing. There's quite the hype around the road trip to the point where there's a precession in town when the road trippers reach their destination.
 Hundreds of locals and festival goers get their cameras ready, and line the streets with anticipation to see the convoy of heroes arrive. 

 

Wez and I had tickets to a gig called the Arctic disco the night we arrived.
It was on top of one of the mountains. With DJ's. In an igloo!

Time was tight. We had to rush ahead and skip the precession to make it to the ski lift. Bummer.

We didn't know exactly how to get to the ski lift, I was slightly paniced trying to rush without any sense of direction.. with Wez beside me giving directions. 

He had a good idea where we were going, but we'd been on a long drive, we were keen to get to the gondola, we got a bit flustered trying to do so.

 

Next thing I know, we turned the corner up toward the ski lift.

It was also happened to be the main street of town.

 

Flustered rushing Mel was stopped in her superhero boots ... w t f ?!

 

Hundreds of  people, staring at us with anticipation, cheering our lonely, measly, sticker and flag covered hire car up the main street.

 

I didn't know where to look,

I couldn't find the camera,

I was still in a hurry,

 Hundreds of people.

One tiny car.

Crickey.

I felt tiny 
 

We made it to the gondola.. and what awaited us at the top. Holy moly.

We were SO glad we rushed ahead...

What an amazing way to start the week!

Met a few Aussies up there.. our night progressed down the hill and flowed on to Hilltop hoods tunes, vanilla Galliano and me accidentally stealing a toothbrush and loosing my jacket.

Day two, a manic success!

DAY THREE

 We woke up to a beautiful sunny morning.

We filled our day with breakfast Bloody Marys, town views, a mountain visit, and an evening Rudimental set to remember.

ALL the Schnapps!

 

DAY FOUR

Wez's one off (meant to be 4) boarding session, a Street Party, DJ's, dancing,

Lederhosen, rain, Groove Armada.

 

 

DAY FIVE

EPIC feed, 80's flex back country party, Chase and Status, Subfocus and our favourite Scotsman.

  Before + After

DAY SIX

Much to no one's surprise, we were struggling a little in the morning.

Wez was in pain, me not so much.

Regardless, we heaved ourselves out of bed and up the mountain for some fresh air and a little motivation, both agreeing to have an easy, lazy day of leisure and survival.

After an active session of dancing with Mr Motivator
(Don't know who he is? Watch this link from time 1.35)
Wez started to regain colour and was definitely headed for the mend!

Back down the mountain, he started to fade again..

 so we did this..

And found the Scotts.

Somehow... things managed to escalate into a bigger session than the night before!?

Glowsticks, dancing, celery, absinthe, Chemical brothers, wigs, and giggles. 

 

 

Great night!

 

DAY SEVEN

Epic hangovers. A forest party. The Proidgy. Fireworks.

Exhausted!

   

 

DAY EIGHT

Last day of the festival.

We finished it off with a repeat of the Artic disco we started our week with.

DJs, an igloo, beautiful mountain views, fire barrels, Jager, and the Scots.

It was a perfect bookend to a monstrous week.

  

It was stunning.

 

DAY NINE

The journey home.

We decided a straight billion hour drive across a bunch of countries to the ferry and home was too much after the week of partying, so we went up through Germany and made an overnight stop in Belgium.  

We only explored for a few hours.

Beautiful, interesting city. Dinner, a stroll, then sleep.

 

DAY TEN

Goodbye Belgium. Hello ferry.

Driving back through London was surprisingly the most stressful bit of the whole journey! Right side, wrong side, doesn't matter, these people are addicted to impatience!

We survived. Home safe and straight into work to make up for our absence.

No rest for the wicked.