Steemfest 3 Krakow - A Foggy Bundle of Sun
Steemfest 3 Krakow was also a bundle of fun. There is no better way to describe it than a steemians dream trip. The nights were full of boozy wanders around Krakow's old town, coddled by the city night and a blanket of freezing fog. It was truly atmospheric and supremely Polish 😆
I may, or may not, have completely destroyed myself 'drinking-wise' on the night I arrived. Stories abound of strip clubs and stumbling walks home in the mist. There was a decent amount of Polenka that first night thanks to @guyfawkes4-20... that is one thing I do remember. Much of the rest of that night is still a blur. But as my gran used to say 'you live and learn' and I learned that night that my aging liver is not up to the job of serious binge drinking anymore. But in all seriousness, steemfest is all about three things for me:
Meeting people you've long known online for the first time like @evecab, @soyrosa, @anomadsoul, who I met that first night and had some good conversations with before the shots obliterated my senses 😉
Meeting new people and connecting over mutual beliefs or projects, like the conversation I had in the first bar we visited with @vladivostok about bots and the issues around automation on steem.
Last but not least is how much knowledge you gain of how steem blockchain really functions. I spoke to various developers and witnesses, and although I didn't agree with some of what I heard, I gained greater understanding of the issue of balance that play out between the needs for steem to support and encourage content creators vs those who just want to earn from passive investment.
All in all steemfest is a real eyeopener and a must-do for any serious steemian. The over-riding thing that everyone has in common, is a passion for the steem blockchain. Whether they be content creators, business devs or project managers; everyone is full of ideas for the future of steem.
For some added artistic inspiration, check out the poem I wrote for a competition all about Krakow and steemfest 3.
Despite the freezing fog during those 3 am walks home, the days were rather warm for the time of year. Most mornings the mist was burnt off pretty quickly by blazing sun and the city was painted in a riot of pastel shades. Being somewhat of an introvert, I enjoyed sitting in the morning sun by the river just contemplating life and gearing myself up for the hectic networking of the conference.
Conference Days - Coffee, Conversation and Presentations
The three days when there were conference presentations and activities were some of the most memorable moments for me. As I was suffering a flare-up of my chronic condition I couldn't really take part in the evening activities (drinking) as much. Similarly, due to pretty bad nausea and having a personality that errs strongly toward the introverted, I found it quite difficult to fully engage with many people. I'm sure many might have noticed me milling around on my own a lot of the time... this was why. But despite these challenges, I managed to have some meaningful conversations.
Quality over quantity has been my mantra for many years now, maybe not the best attitude when networking lol. I remember some excellent conversations about writing with both @honeydue and @brian-rhodes. I also had an excellent conversation with @nathanmars about his upcoming project and his dtube journey to steemfest. A heartfelt chat with a very weepy @misslasvegas on the final night, and more than a few drunken chats with @blewitt, @celestal @abh12345 and @luzcypher who had some epic rock'n'roll stories. I also remember chatting with @revisesociology in the salt mines and having a long deep-and-meaningful with @r00sj3 during the final meal. Last but not least, it was great to catch up with my oldest friends on steem @buttcoins and get to chat to one or two of the @ddaily crew like @artakush & @camuel.
The breadth of presentations and speakers was awesome. When I found myself feeling a little uncomfortable and overwhelmed by the crowds, it was a great educational escape to simply sit back and learn all about a steem project.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the curie presentation - that I was meant to take part in - delivered by @justineh...
and the presentation by @sndbox founders @voronoi & @hansikhouse.
Tripping Out at Steemfest 3
Steemfest isn't all about serious presentations and blockchain-shaking deal making. The planned excursions were truly awesome. I'm not going to include all of my photos of the very sobering trip to Auschwitz. If you would like to read more about this day-trip, and one of the best poems I think I've ever published to steem, check out this post I wrote shortly after returning home from Krakow:
A big thanks to both @jayna and @nomadicsoul for distracting me from my shell-shocked introverted musings after that excursion. It was a bit of trial psychologically, but as with all things steemfest, support is not far away if your open with people 🙂
Talking of excursions; check out these photos from the final night's visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. @roelandp (& team) really gave everyone a send off that needs to be seen to be believed, with a three course banquette 200 meters below the earth. If this doesn't make you want to see what they've got in store for Steemfest 4 in Bangkok, I don't know what will (apologies for the rubbish quality images, my old phone was pants).
Steemfest 4 Bangkok - Come for the Cult-ure... Stay for the Community!
When I talk to my friends (IRL) about steem, a lot of them ask me if I've joined a cult? 😆 For real! Especially when I tell them about steemfest 3.
A trip of a life time with excursions to some of Poland and Krakow's most amazing sites. Free booze and food, along with the chance to be indoctrinated into steem club....
and gain black belt dapp-knowledge! All for the price of around £300? They just don't believe it, and think it's too good to be true. Lol, well if steem is a cult it is the friendliest most open minded cult I've ever seen.
All joking aside, I couldn't recommend making this year's steemfest enough. If last year was anything to go by, the sky is the limit as to what will happen in Bangkok this year. I am already scrabbling around to see if I can find the pennies to afford the flight and hotel.
If you have the funds, you don't want to miss out on that dapp black belt!
I'd like to say a big thanks to @anomadsoul and @blocktrades for running this initiative. If you went to steemfest 3 in Krakow you should check out Eric's post here and join in this round of #roadtosteemfest.
PS. Massive big-ups and shout outs to @anomadsoul, @abh12345, @luzcypher, @celestal, @guyfawkes4-20, @tarazkp, and @zlatan-spielberg the "Frat House" gang that I stayed with in Krakow.
Check out previous posts in this series:
#1 An Image a Day - Thailand - Chiang Mai Twilight Temples (Build Up for Steemfest 4)
#2 An Image a Day - Thailand - Chiang Mai: The Jungle by the Side of the Road
#3 Thailand - Chiang Mai: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Mountain Temple
All pictures are my own property, the gif was created by me on giphy.com. If you have enjoyed this Steemfest 4 promotional post, you can check out my homepage @raj808 for similar content. Thanks again.
