To save money, we decide that we will camp out in the town. In our spontaneity, we didn't reserve a camping spot in advance, and quickly find that every campsite in town is booked! Luckily, the accommodating Visitors Center in Butte suggests a city park where we can set up our tents for the night. (How very hippie-fitting for a folk festival weekend!) They are so generous that they even agree to keep the sprinklers off AND keep the restroom building open all night. Props to the Butte Visitors Center. So, among the goal posts, we set up our tents. I set up the tent I rented from our Recreation Center all by myself.
Here I am, beaming with pride...
We decide to set up our tents in a circle... a little commune of tents...
(Notice the goal post in the far right corner.)
We head into the heart of Butte, which is an old mining town. There are some gorgeous, historic houses here...
Can I just live on this porch?
I pass by a house with a yellow rose bush...
Okay, let's not romanticize everything...Butte is still an American city like any other...
:)
On to the festival. The main stage was actually at the bottom of this...
A sign nearby, which serves as a reminder of how dangerous mining is...
I had a preconceived notion of what "folk music" is before I came to this festival. And this is coming from someone with a Masters degree in Music! There are bands of all different cultures here.
Aditya Prakash Ensemble - Carnatic music of South India. I am hypnotized by them...
What a crowd!...
Hassan Hakmoun, Morroccan Gnawa band...
A little park in the middle of the mine site, with some old mining equipment surrounded by flowers...
It's a little hard to see, but notice the white blob on top of the mountain? It's actually a huge statue of Mary. My Grandma Lange would've loved it!...
In addition to music, there are also artisians selling their goods...
I think he has the most beautiful hands...
And of course, a festival is not a festival without food! Guy (yes, his name is Guy) from Wisconsin discovers a Philly Cheesesteak...in Montana...
Good save!
Apparently, there is a meth problem in Butte. We see many dramatic billboards regarding meth - similar to those "This is your brain on drugs" egg-in-the-frying-pan commercials from the 80's. Here is Sean posing pretty in front of a meth mural...
Luisa, Guy, Alex and the 2nd Sean...
Good times. :)
Beautiful pictures again, Holly. This could be your next calling, along with blogging! You are quite talented. It looks like you have some very nice friends.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are having so much fun. And to think this is the same little girl who never wanted to play outside! :0
Love, Mom
I am super impressed that you put that tent together by yourself. Kudos to you!! Maybe you can teach me when you get home. :)
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