The first official day of the PPM Fest. Its days like these that have the heaviest anticipation of whats to come, and especially if it's a Metal festival one has never been to before. So far, everything has gone perfect as having my tent right next to the venue was a very unexpected but pleasant surprise.
Remember the circus-style tent that Musca brought yesterday? The Wind Gods has cast down its judgement on Musca's tent (among many others, more on this later) and cast it down to the layer of the bowels of earth (aka floor). After several attempts to save the tent, the circus left the town (sort of).
Another unexpected but an even more kick ass surprise was being able to get a tour of the venue before the bands hit the stage. Now, I won't reveal who made this happen as I wish to respect the HUGE favor from the person who made it happen, but know this, and you know who you are, many \m/ HEAVY \m/ MERCI's!6!6!6! for allowing the opportunity, I owe you BIG!
This is the artist area where the band members are able to relax, settle down, and enjoy themselves before their performance.
This is the area where the festival staff are able to rest and grab some chow and refreshments. This is called fueling the festival machine.
This is why Europe has always been the center of the Metal Universe, because you got trucks dedicated for the job. On a side note, and call me crazy, but doesn't this truck look like Motormaster? Another credit for its Metalocity \m/
Behind the Omega Stage, with some of the crew for Max Pie.
The view from the area right before the battlefield.
Feeling like as Rock Star, minus the glitz, the glam and the reputation. Still a good feeling though.
The Artists Dining Hall.
Gotta give credit to the interior decorator, this person was definitely nailing the bullseye \m/
Look, I'll come clean, I swiped the PPM Fest 2013 poster from the media room and made it into a cape. Super Prog Power Metal Dude \m/
My tent, already looking like a hurricane hit it. Maybe those storms (aka, the Angry Wind Gods that knocked down Musca's tent) followed me all the way from Miami to Mons, Belgium.
Actually, a hurricane did hit my tent.
Metalheads, they'll take advantage of a hurricane and make the most of it.
The campsite is growing in numbers, soon, we will have an Army to take out Starks Kingdom.
Time to line up and earn our jump wings.
Jump wings procured.
Vital Breath, looking like they set the stage on fire.
The PPM Fest stock exchange is now open for business.
Wanna grab a bite to eat? Here you got 2 lunch trucks serving meals fit for Kings and Queens.
Once again, the creativity of Metal fans has risen to the occasion. Normally, the messy, allover patches on vests and jackets would be the norm, but what happens when you go against the grain and put it on your pants? Here's the result:
The halls of the Expo are coming to life.
The obligatory angled shot of the camp entrance.
Quintine Beer, another Metal Beer discovered during the invasion. A Belgian Strong Pale Ale standing at 8%. Its taste can best be described as a dirty fruit, and very good. Its credentials? For those of us fortunate enough to mate with best half of the sexes, don't you think for one minute they are witches? Think about it, your girlfriend/wife has the capacity to get you to do things you normally wouldn't do, and have managed to cast a spell over you. Than there was the whole Salem Witch Trials debacle which has become a point of interest for Metalheads when visiting Massachusetts, a double whammy for this beers Metalocity (thanks ladies) \m/
This will definitely make a great Facebook wallpaper.
While I was tempted to grab something to eat from the food trucks, something in the distance caught my attention. While I pride myself on desiring to eat the foods that would exist only in the places I visit, this was one of those "curious" moments that had to be satisfied. Introducing Belgium's version of Pizza Hut.
You must be wondering how the pizza tasted? It was familiar, but the sauce was too clean/thin. Usually with Pizza Hut sauce, it tends to be on the thick side with a spiced aftertaste. The cheese they managed get perfectly and the crust was just like the one back home.
With the pizzas consumed, it was time to head back to the camp grounds and prepare Avantasia.
The Lotto Mons Expo looking very artsy.
The camp site looking more sinister with the evening dawning.
Sometimes the neighbors have a better place of residence, but at least they are willing to add to the atmosphere.
This was my first time seeing Avantasia, and like with their albums, it was a huge production, with the effort being shown as the band performed with some special guests.
With Avantasia rapping up, it was time to get to the camp grounds and finish the evening off to end this chapter of the trip.
My tent at night. Notice the air mattress was moved to the center with all my gear on one side of the tent. This was the most effective way to keep my tent from becoming a hurricane victim.
During the early part of the evening, the Lotto Mons Expo leave the outer perimeter lights on, but all of a sudden, the lights go off, bringing an eerie setting to a peaceful makeshift village.
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