Oktoberfest
Trip Start
Nov 01, 2006
1
159
169
Trip End
Oct 15, 2008
Munich,
Bavaria,
Germany
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
We were very excited about this part of our trip, Oktoberfest, need I say more, we were also meeting up with Craig, one of Dave's old friends from home, so it was looking to be a good time. We hadn't booked anywhere, and were getting worried, but we knew of one place that you couldn't book into, so we thought we would turn up and see how it went. Well luck would have it there was heaps of room, and for anyone out there who hasn't booked accommodation 1 year in advance buy a tent and head over to camping Obermenzing, it will be much cheaper then staying anywhere else even remotely near Munich.
Craig came the next day and we all headed into Munich to check out the venue for the next day's activities. What can I say, it is nothing like I expected. Imagine your home towns annual fair or show, lots of rides and lights, lots of fast fatty food stalls and lots of people, well that is Oktoberfest. The only difference is that there are heaps of massive semi permanent looking tents erected, all slightly different in shape and size, but all for the same purpose, drinking copious amounts of beer! On this first expedition we decided to find a seat and just try one of these delicious steins. The only tables that seemed to be available were outside, so we sat down and ordered a stein each. Well one turned into two which turned into three.......... Never the less it was a great night, we met some real Bavarians from Munich (Suzanne and Richard), and had a great night talking and drinking with them. We eventually made it home (though none of us quiet remember how) and crashed, all ready to test the theory that Bavarian beer does not give you a hang over.
Well I was fine, Dave wasn't to bad, but the way Craig looked when he stumbled out of his tent proved that yes, you can get hung over while drinking steins at Oktoberfest! Ok he wasn't that bad, but give me some poetic license here. I have to say though, while staying at the camping here I saw numerous people stick there heads out of tent doors, vomit and collapse back inside, not to reemerge while I was looking.
Our plan was to head in on day two nice and early and get a table by around 10:30. Well we arrived at 11ish and there was nothing available! We eventually found one that was reserved for 5pm, and thought this could only be a good thing, get kicked out at 5, go home while we may still be able to remember the way, and save a bit of cash, good plan hey. Our bar maid for the day was really nice, we sat down she came over and said in the strongest Kiwi accent "Do you guys want some beers?" We all nodded and as she walked away we looked at each other, eyes wide shaking our heads. You come all the way to Munich and who serves us, a kiwi! Well turns out she was actually born and grew up in Munich, but now lives in Auckland in NZ. She had come all the way over just to work for Oktoberfest, and not surprising really. We found out later that some of the girls can earn up to 40,000 Euros for the two weeks, some of them only work the two weeks a year!
We settled back, and enjoyed the atmosphere, slowly trying to decipher the drinking songs, and eating pork knuckles and sausages. We spoke to numerous people who came to share the table, both young and old, but in the end had a good drinking session with two Sth African girls. The people who had reserved our table promptly turned up at 5pm and kicked us out. So you remember how we said we would then go home nice and early? Well instead we found a table outside and continued drinking, and drinking and........... Well you get the gist. Well I do have to say I did stop drinking, there is only so much beer one girl can drink, but the boys, well they pushed on.
Hang over test number two - no where near as bad as drinking VB, but certainly something there.
Dave and I said good bye to Craig, he was off to Helsinki for a few days, and we spent the day chilling out in the van, again, I think a bit of travel fatigue, nothing to do with two days of drinking. Before we left Munich we thought we better check out the actual town. It is a really nice city, with great old buildings and a good feel about it. We decided to do one of those free walking tours since we hadn't done one tour while away. It was quiet good, even if the guy who ran it was a bit full of himself. In the end you have to give them a tip, we gave 5 Euros, as we did learn a bit, and then followed him off to a place for a 6 euro stew and beer.
We ended up meeting a Canadian guy called Joshua and a Kiwi couple called Allan and Robyn. After a beer or two we all decided to try and get into the original Hofbrauhaus. We did and after another Stein and a half, we all called it quits and went home. Well almost home, before we left we had to check out Oktoberfest one more time, even if it was just for a pork knuckle it was well worth it (they are so tasty!)
Miles so far: 15673
