Attending Johnny Depp’s Concert in Poland
Johnny Depp isn’t just a famous actor; he’s also a guitarist and band singer! I traveled all the way to a remote village in Poland to see his concert. How did that happen?
In July 2023, I visited Poland for the second time and spent a delightful summer week there. It was a far cry from my previous visit eleven years ago when I was freezing and miserable—remember my story.
Before diving into the Johnny Depp story, let me share some highlights from my trip:
Warsawa
International flights to Poland usually land in the capital city, Warsaw, specifically at Chopin Airport. The airport is named in honor of Frédéric Chopin, the Polish composer and virtuoso pianist (not from France!). Warsaw has monuments, museums, churches, his former home, and even a zebra crossing dedicated to Chopin.
Warsaw’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was 85% destroyed during World War II but has been meticulously reconstructed, so it feels relatively new. Some remnants like the city walls, St. John’s Cathedral, and the Royal Castle still stand. The Verte Hotel where I stayed was rebuilt from an 18th-century palace.
For stunning photos, visit Wilanów Palace, built in the 17th century as the residence of King John III Sobieski. After changing hands many times, it is now a museum with original collections. This grand yellow palace and its expansive gardens are known as the “Versailles of Poland.” In the afternoon, it’s lovely to hang out at Bulwary nad Wisla, walking along the Vistula River or taking a boat cruise.
Gdansk
Gdansk, located on the Baltic Sea, became famous in Indonesia because footballers Egy Maulana Vikri and Witan Sulaeman played for Lechia Gdansk. They were lucky to live there because the city is stunning! Gdansk attracts the most foreign tourists to Poland due to its beauty.
From the Radisson Blu Hotel where I stayed, you step right into Old Town, with its pastel-colored buildings and the Motlawa River running through it. Gdansk is also a center for amber (not Amber Heard, by the way!), so many stores sell amber jewelry. Historically, Gdansk is significant for the Solidarity movement led by Lech Walesa in the 1980s, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.
From Gdansk, I took day trips to:
- Malbork Castle – The largest castle in the world and the largest brick building in Europe, built in the 13th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Sopot– Known for its white sandy beach and the longest wooden pier in Europe. You can drive or sail from Gdansk.
- Sierra Golf Resort – A world-class 18-hole golf course with a fantastic driving range. The food here was amazing!
- Slowinski National Park – Home to beautiful 30-meter sand dunes surrounded by pine forests.
Dolina Charlotty
For the last two nights, I relaxed in Dolina Charlotty, a 120-hectare resort located in a remote village near Slupsk. Surrounded by beautiful forests and lakes, the resort features 91 rooms with full amenities, including a swimming pool, sauna, and a zoo. My favorite activity was a massage at Bali Hai Spa. Yes, Bali! The spa’s interior was Bali-themed, and six therapists were flown in from Bali. We happily chatted in Indonesian!
The resort’s owner, Mr. Miroslaw Wawrowski, is a big fan of Indonesia. He is even building a Mini Indonesia Park on the resort grounds, complete with a Balinese gateway and a miniature Borobudur created by sculptors from Indonesia.
Mr. Miroslaw is also a rock music enthusiast. The resort has a 10,000-seat amphitheater that hosts periodic rock concerts, such as the Rock Legends Festival. Carlos Santana, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, Whitesnake, Korn, and others have performed there! This year’s festival featured Hollywood Vampires, one of whose members is Johnny Depp!
The Hollywood Vampires were formed by Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and Joe Perry (Aerosmith guitarist) in 2012. For the 2023 Euro Tour, Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper’s bassist) joined, making it a quartet of rock veterans! I hadn’t heard their music before, but since the concert coincided with my stay in Dolina Charlotty, I had to go.
The concert started at 7 PM with opening bands from England and Poland. During the summer, the sun sets around 9:30 PM, so it was still bright. However, it got quite chilly as the evening progressed, reaching 16°C, so I moved closer to the festival area to warm up and get nearer to Johnny Depp. The audience, mostly over 40, was well-behaved, and only the younger festival-goers, who were very tall, blocked my view a bit.
The Hollywood Vampires performed well. They covered songs by David Bowie, The Doors, and Pink Floyd, which was familiar to me! Alice Cooper, at 75, still has a great voice. Joe Perry’s vocals were a bit off, but that’s forgivable since he’s not the lead singer. As for Johnny Depp, his guitar playing was good, but he played it safe with low-pitched songs! Throughout the concert, I was focused on Depp. It was hard to believe I was just 5 meters away from his charming smile! Wow!
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