Is anyone here going to Ragnarok Festival in Germany?

[Immortal Rites]

Originally Posted by HelveteKrieg

I am reasonably certain that I will be going

I could really use some advice, though - this'll be my first trip to Europe, and my first European metal fest! Are there any tips or tricks you can offer, and anything in particular that a small blonde girl traveling solo should watch out for at the fest?

Kim?? You're heading over for this fest too? (This is Bill, James's friend btw)

[HelveteKrieg]

Hey Bill! Small world

Yeah, I'm trying to get over there, but have a couple pretty big roadblocks in my way - I still need to get my passport, and my family (who'd be funding the trip) are not down with the idea of me traveling to Europe all by myself (I guess they forget that I'm, like...grown up, haha). If I miss the fest, I'll be absolutely heartbroken...and make you bring me back tons of shirts

[Segimer]

Nearly unbelieveable for a person like me that so many come over to germany for just one gig! brilliant !!
I can remember that I met a handfull of american people last year at the Trollzorn stand. hope to meet again some of you !

[Immortal Rites]

Originally Posted by HelveteKrieg

Hey Bill! Small world

Yeah, I'm trying to get over there, but have a couple pretty big roadblocks in my way - I still need to get my passport, and my family (who'd be funding the trip) are not down with the idea of me traveling to Europe all by myself (I guess they forget that I'm, like...grown up, haha). If I miss the fest, I'll be absolutely heartbroken...and make you bring me back tons of shirts

Yeah, the passport thing is a pain in the ass, but you can still get one. You just have to do it the hard way. I got mine at this time last year to go to Ragnarök too. There's about a 99% chance that you won't get it in time if you apply for it normally or expedite it. The passport offices have a deal where if you can prove your itinerary(ie you've already bought your ticket and can prove it) and are within 10 days of your flight, you can schedule an appointment to go into one of the US passport offices to fill out your forms and you can come back in about 2 days to pick it up. That's what I did last year. I went in on a Monday and had the thing on Wednesday. The only chancey thing is buying your plane ticket before you apply for your passport, but that's the only way they'll let you do the super expedited thing.

And about the being alone in Europe thing...I've been to Germany twice. Partially with friends and partially trekking it on my own. I have to say it was one of the safest places I've been to. I never felt unsafe at any time over there. Even in a bigger city like Munich. It's like night and day compared to US cities.

Or if you want someone to travel with, I'm flying from Newark to Munich on 3/26. There may be some seats left on the plane. I don't mean to sound like some creepy dude or anything. Just trying to be helpful. I could get you at least as far as Lichtenfels for the show.

[Immortal Rites]

Originally Posted by Segimer

Nearly unbelieveable for a person like me that so many come over to germany for just one gig! brilliant !!
I can remember that I met a handfull of american people last year at the Trollzorn stand. hope to meet again some of you !

Servus
Ja, Deutschland(besonders Oberfranken) ist ein sehr gute Land. Ragnarök 5 wird meine dritte Zeit in Deutschland seit Ragnarök 4 sein. Gute Musik, Historie und Bier.

Ich hoffe, dass du mein schlechtes Deutsch verstehen kannst. Ich versuche Deutsch lernen. Aber in Amerika, nütze ich mein Deutsch nicht so viel.

[rms]

Originally Posted by HelveteKrieg

Hey Bill! Small world

Yeah, I'm trying to get over there, but have a couple pretty big roadblocks in my way - I still need to get my passport, and my family (who'd be funding the trip) are not down with the idea of me traveling to Europe all by myself (I guess they forget that I'm, like...grown up, haha). If I miss the fest, I'll be absolutely heartbroken...and make you bring me back tons of shirts

If the fest is in March like the LastFM says, doesn't it take like 6 months to get a passport? =/

[Segimer]

Hi Immortal Rites!
YES, your german is good !!! Realy !!
And again you are right: I love our beer!
Say "Hello" to us at our Trollzorn stand! You will see us there, believe me!

[Immortal Rites]

Originally Posted by rms

If the fest is in March like the LastFM says, doesn't it take like 6 months to get a passport? =/

You can get your passport in as little as two days if you have proof of itinerary, time(to sit in line at the passport office) and money.

[swizzlenuts]

I'm 100% confirmed.

Yeah, hurry the fuck up with your passport!

[Dmanx Pit]

Took me like a month to get my passport, and that was the regular service, not expedited. I'm sure if you went to the passport agency they can expedite it greatly, but the newer passports take some time to put together and they have to put those electronic chips in them.

[Immortal Rites]

You also have to take into account what time of year it is. This is spring break time for most people, so the passport agencies are inundated with requests for passports. Last year they told me normal applications can take 9-10 weeks and expedited can take 4-5+ at this time of year.