Up bright and early for a day of celebration, we bused and trained from the alps to the flatlands. As our train neared Munchen (munich) it filled with folks dressed as morgan and I in dirdel and lederhosen, some already (by 10am) in preparatory stages of inebriation.
Our anticipation built as we pulled into the main station. Worries of being lost in the big foreign city were quickly assuaged as torrents of eager citizens showed us the way.
Oktoberfest is just like our american town fairs in many ways. Rides, games, food, family, teen antics. However the overarching theme is beer and its effects. Giant magnificent tents put up for three short weeks by Munchen's many fine breweries serve equally giant (only size available: 1 litre) beers of equally magnificent taste and headiness. Traditional live music, dancing on tables, roast beasts of air land and sea (we did not witness it but apparently at times entire oxen roasting on spits). My only regret is I couldn't speak german to make friends, or didn't drink enough to try.
We had a fine time, 3 beers each (nearly a gallon!) and only a big pretzel between us put Morgan and I ready to catch the last bus home, after getting reprimanded for urinating on the monument of Bavaria. We missed the night time festivities (which get even raudier, by reputation) due to our travel home, so next time we will have to stay in the city for greater cultural fulfillment.
You two sure picked the perfect time to travel to Austria! I now understand that Ben's selective taste in beer is actually in this DNA.
ReplyDeleteIf there is an outdoor monument to pee on, you will pee on it! Josef will be pissed that you peed on the one for Bavaria though.
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