Break on through to the other side

28 January 2009

WSF 2009

After a bit of exploring we took the free shuttle bus to the other university campus where we first registered. We had little idea just how much more walking was in store for us. All the tents and buildings holding events were located on the other side of the campus and we had to walk through the youth camp to get there. As we walked past we had to remind ourselves that on the "other side" there would be exciting and provocative seminars and meetings we had long been looking forward to.

We walked through a sea of colourful camping tents baking in the scorching sun, and then through a maze of street vendors selling drinks, snacks and jewellery. We could hear music from The Doors and Jefferson Airplane and began wondering just how many of these teenagers had registered at the WSF out of interest in global politics. If it wasn't for the occasional banner and huge Palestinian flags we could have sworn we had been transported to Woodstock.