We were off to Munich last weekend and got to relax and enjoy time at Oktoberfest. We had so much fun and met up with wonderful friends from the States. Oktoberfest takes place for three weeks every September (wonder why they don't call it Septemberfest?) in Munich. It is a great cultural tradition and the Germans take a lot of pride in their Bavarian history and beer drinking.
We were fortuante to attend the event with some Germans and it was fun learning the "inside scoop" about the festival. We were there the last weekend, which according to our German friends is the best because most of the tourists are gone by this point. Tom was dead set on going in proper German dress and getting himself a pair of lederhosen. He is convinced that he will be wearing them all the time and has big plans to wear them to the Chicago Bears game in Decmeber. I, on the other hand, wasn't so convinced about the dirndl dress that has a tendency to emphasize one's hips and decolletage...but Tom and our German friends insisted that we must dress the part as well. So, shortly after our arrival we were off to shop! We had fun trying on a bunch of different outfits and picking our favorites.
Then it was off to Oktoberfest for the afternoon and evening. There are 14 major beer tents at Oktoberfest that each feature a different brewery. Each tent holds about 10,000 people and in order to get space at a table in the tent you have to make reservations over a year in advance. Thankfully our German friends saved us again and had table reservations. Beers at all tents are served by the liter which cost 10 Euro a piece this year. There is always a live band in each tent playing German folk songs and classic American 80's songs to which everyone sings along. We had an awesome time enjoying beers and hanging out with friends - new and old. We also got to enjoy Munich as well. Another post to come highlighting that part of our trip later this week!
Other fun Oktoberfest observations:
- It is almost impossible to get a waitress job at the beer tents. The jobs are passed down in families from mother to daughter. And, rightfully so, as the waitresses earn 15,000 - 20,000 Euro over the three week period.
- The festival is incredibly well run. There is security everywhere in the beer tents and they don't mess around.
- There is a big grassy hill behind the tents where a lot of people wind up peeing during the day and then others pass out there at night....yuck!
- I think we saw about 10 different kinds of brats/sausages and Tom tried at least four of them.
- The Germans dislike the English and Italian visitors as they tend to be the"loud and obnoxious ones". Finally a situation where the Americans aren't considered to be the "loud" ones. : )
- A lot of celebrities attend the festival the final weekend. Apparently, Paris Hilton was there while we were but we never saw her.
- If you aren't up and dancing on the tables at Oktoberfest you aren't fully enjoying yourself!
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| On the plane to Munich |
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| Best Friends loving life |
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| Yeah! Kelly and Janice made it from Chicago. |
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| Thanks for the pretzel necklaces Kel! They came in handy. |
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| How many liter beers can these two drink? Let's not answer that one! |
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| My handsome hubby! |
