The Island Of Freedom

Chapter One

Woodstock in Europe? Despite the legal battles and the name change of the biggest rock music festival in Europe, the Pol' and Rock' festival was still referred to as Woodstock by the majority of Europeans. The biggest summer event was free in all possible ways and freedom was something Evi craved.

"It wasn't that bad," Oswald said, turning off the engine of his car.

"Not that bad?" Evi asked, opening the door of the vehicle. "You almost flipped the car." She pointed to the bumpy dirt road behind Oswald's van.

The group finally arrived at Czaplinek city, settling near the forestry road. Evi climbed from the backseat of the car and moved her legs. The stiff feeling went away, and she finally could walk. The drive to Poland seemed not as smooth as she hoped. The friend group drove for sixteen hours and not all the company in the car felt pleasant for Evi.

"Hey Evi, stop daydreaming and help me with all this stuff," Selma shouted, glancing from behind the open trunk of the car.

Evi stood still on a slight hill, soaking the view in front of her and trying to erase the sense the drive left on her. The main stage looked minimalistic, a giant Ferris wheel slightly spun, and around it held a massive amount of people but they looked like a swarm of bees from this angle and a huge distance.

She turned her back on the view, walking to help her friends. The field in front of her was massive and surrounded by trees, a few cars stood nearby and other people formed their camps nearby. Oswald leaned against the side of the vehicle door, dragging deep breaths of tobacco as Evi walked by him.

"It's not too late to change your mind," he said, singingly, lifting his messy eyebrow in quick motion.

"I have my own tent, Oswald," she replied with a grin, walking past him.

"I can provide protection and warmth," he said, smirking and exhaling the smoke.

Evi ignored his remark, and reached the back of the car, Selma took out all the tents with the help of her boyfriend Avid and dropped some of the luggage on the grass.

Avid and Oswald were best friends, and that was the reason how the group gathered for this trip. The guys have been to the Pol and Rock festival before. That was how they could park the vehicle at the campsite and not on the other side of the field in a parking lot. They knew a shortcut through the woods, and that led everyone to this place. Selma and Evi have never been to a festival this massive size, so for them, it felt like a new adventure and a chance to improve their English language.

Neither of them knew Polish or German languages and the festival was located in Poland near the German border. To get by the majority of visitors from other countries spoke in English. Therefore, the group brushed on their knowledge as soon as they left Estonia. Evi felt confident enough in her skills and tried to help her friends as well.

The concerts, and all other activities such as workshops and meetings with influential figures from the Polish culture, arts, politics, and journalism, and main campsites are all free. Each year the attendee numbers grew, and they traveled from all over Europe to the festival to see new promising local bands and some worldwide known artists.

The foursome had their preferences for bands and artists, and they eagerly waited for August just to see various rock and heavy metal artists. The festival lasted almost four days and considering this was the twenty-fifth edition of this event, the lineup was packed with worldwide known bands.

Evi took the sleeping bag and her duffle bag from the grass, glancing around for a suitable spot. Settling her luggage down on a flat grassy patch of land, she went back to the car and grabbed her tent. She felt eager to settle everything quickly since her reason for coming to the Pol'and'Rock festival was not just because of rock music, she planned on meeting him.