 | | Zhameer, Sindre, Pavielle and Edgar |
It's easy to get complacent when you are a Derbyshire rock fan and the greatest festival in the world is literally on your doorstep.听But for others a trip to Donington can be a long journey and an even longer held dream. This year I've spoken to people who are coming from all over the globe to visit Download. 22-year-old Sindre is travelling from Norway to the Download Festival for the second year in a row.
 | | Sindre |
Whilst they have lots of festivals in his homeland, Sindre points out that there aren't any that are as rock-specific as Download and of course, the chance to travel abroad just makes it all the more an adventure though he first heard of the event via an unexpected route. A couple of Sindre's Norwegian friends (amiably described by him as 'nerdy'!) were playing the internet based role playing game World of Warcraft and got 'speaking' to another player who was based in Nottingham. They found they had a mutual taste in rock music and when the Nottingham player told them of the great festival on his doorstep they were quick to check out the webpage and on seeing the cool bands playing booked their tickets straight away!听 So good was the experience Sindre didn't hesitate in booking again for this year. It must have been good as his journey will start at 5.30am and it will take him around nine hours before arriving at Castle Donington after a flight, a train and a bus!
 | | Pavielle |
Another 22-year-old visiting the festival is Pavielle from Sardinia though this will be her first visit and it is fair to say she is very excited.听 Pavielle read about the festival on a list of European events and couldn't believe the amazing line up in store, in her words she 'fell in love'! With three stages to choose from she won't be short of choice, she is particularly looking forward to Marilyn Manson and Korn, making her 12-hour journey well worth the trip. From across the pond, Edgar is travelling from Virginia in the United States. For the 32-year-old, visiting Donington is a long held dream. "I've been a metal fan forever," Edgar told me, "and I've known the history of the legendary Monsters of Rock festivals at Castle Donington." Surprisingly for a country often famed for doing most things bigger and better, Edgar feels the US can't hold a candle to Download: "The closest has been the Ozzfest," he says, "but it has no where near the capacity, features or quality of bands that Download offers." Edgar's flight will take 12 hours alone but it will be worth it for the Iron Maiden fan who says of the Sunday headliners: "Donington is hallow ground to them and us fans."
 | | Zhameer |
And still further afield again, Zhameer is making the mammoth trip from Sri Lanka, including an 18-hour long flight, to visit this year's event for the first time.听 Believed to be the only Sri Lankan member of the official Linkin Park fan club, 22-year-old Zhameer cannot wait to see his favourite band when they headline on Saturday evening.听 With nothing like Download held in Sri Lanka and only a handful of international stars having played concerts there, and then not Edgar's taste, his excitement is tangible at the crammed stage lists of big name acts which should make up for his rock deficit back home! Other travellers are coming from South America, Asia and even a number of Australians make the trip, with Download often being the first in a tour of European summer music events for the Aussies.听 All of a sudden that trip up the road makes you feel very spoilt indeed! Rebecca Hobbs | 
