The post you have all been waiting anxiously for- Oktoberfest. A couple weekends ago a group of friends and I decided to rent cars and drive up to Munchen (Munich, duh) and partake in the cultural, social and all around epic event of beer in large steins, lederhosen, meats, singing on tables, large crowds of smelly people and cheer! I will break the adventure down into sections. Enjoy.
The Car Ride
In my car there were 5 of us- Alex, Brian, Cormac, and Sean. And me. 4 men and a tall lady. We fit nicely into our hatchback Audi. Kind of. We didn't think it would be much of a problem being cramped in the car since it was going to be an easy 5 hour drive. Little did we know that the Autobahn would be closed once we hit Germany. Our 5 hour drive turned into an almost 9 hour drive! But this did not dampen our spirits. Our saving grace was a Italian/Austrian/German radio station called Energy that was playing Today's Hits while we rave danced in the car or, when traffic was stopped, on the side of das Autobahn. Also, once the road was opened again I got to drive (parts of the freeway do not have speed limits- fun). We arrived at Munich's Holiday Inn around 1 AM and went straight to bed.
McMorning Country
We woke up ready for a full day of Germans and drinking! We started our first morning in Germany off right- McDonald's breakfast. We got 5 McMorning Countries (sausage, egg, cheese, tomato, lettuce, horshradishshauch, on a kaiser roll, duh,) some coffees and headed to meet the other car of 5. We drank our questionable Italian energy drinks (could have been a little preemptive) and headed to the metro to make our way to the tents. We arrived around 830 and the area that housed the tents was already teeming with people and the "lines" (crowds of people in front of the tent entrances) were already huge. Somehow we cut a line just as some doors were opening, a couple of our group got into the tent and saved us a table while the rest of us were stuck being pushed and suffocated by a mass of Germans for the next hour. I never wanted a Xanax so badly.
Inside the Tent
Once I finally made my way into the tent I was welcomed with cheers and whistles and a vision of wooden tables and benches and hanging ivy and big breasted women in Dirndls (typical Bavarian dresses). Basically when you imagine what Oktoberfest looks like, that's what it looked like. My friends (about 12-14 of them) were all sitting at a table already enjoy a liter of beer each in giant glass mugs. The next few hours consisted of mug upon mug of beer, full roasted delicious chickens, picture taking, German songs, American songs (they really enjoyed playing Take Me Home, Country Roads), table dancing, and all around good German fun.
No Longer Inside the Tent
We were kicked out around 3 when people with reservations came in. We found out quickly that it was raining outside. From 3 to 5 it was just chaotic. We broke the number 1 rule: Stay together. Eventually, our German friend managed to get the majority of us back in the tent, but we didn't have a table so we couldn't be served. Some people were able to make friends and get a table/get served, but some did not. Those of us who did not decided to leave (after we saw a really brutal/bloody fight! I had to be held back. I was trying to get a front row seat/steal their spots at the table but apparently I was getting too close to the action.).
The Night
We met up with some of Brian's friends and walked through the rain to the center of the city to find food and (for no good reason) more drink. We eventually had kebabs and falafel (classic German meal) and the few of us decided to make our way back to our friends house with every intention of breaking in and going to sleep. Somehow we managed to subway back to house and realized as soon as we got there that it would be too hard (not to mention incredibly rude) to break in to our nice new friend's home. So we went down the street to a bar where 3/5 of us fell asleep at the table. A couple hours later, Cormac somehow finds us (by himself) and a little after that the rest of our crew shows up miraculously together. Finally we were able to get in the house and sleep.
The Journey Home
After some showers and a morning beer, we began our trek back to Bologna. We decided to stop in Innsbruck, Austria for lunch, and it was just so lovely! It was a beautiful town and we had traditional Austrian food- Schnitzel, deer, stew, wine, beer, and strudel! We played on a playground and then drove back to the great city of Bologna. And that was my Oktoberfest adventure. The end.
The Car Ride
In my car there were 5 of us- Alex, Brian, Cormac, and Sean. And me. 4 men and a tall lady. We fit nicely into our hatchback Audi. Kind of. We didn't think it would be much of a problem being cramped in the car since it was going to be an easy 5 hour drive. Little did we know that the Autobahn would be closed once we hit Germany. Our 5 hour drive turned into an almost 9 hour drive! But this did not dampen our spirits. Our saving grace was a Italian/Austrian/German radio station called Energy that was playing Today's Hits while we rave danced in the car or, when traffic was stopped, on the side of das Autobahn. Also, once the road was opened again I got to drive (parts of the freeway do not have speed limits- fun). We arrived at Munich's Holiday Inn around 1 AM and went straight to bed.
McMorning Country
We woke up ready for a full day of Germans and drinking! We started our first morning in Germany off right- McDonald's breakfast. We got 5 McMorning Countries (sausage, egg, cheese, tomato, lettuce, horshradishshauch, on a kaiser roll, duh,) some coffees and headed to meet the other car of 5. We drank our questionable Italian energy drinks (could have been a little preemptive) and headed to the metro to make our way to the tents. We arrived around 830 and the area that housed the tents was already teeming with people and the "lines" (crowds of people in front of the tent entrances) were already huge. Somehow we cut a line just as some doors were opening, a couple of our group got into the tent and saved us a table while the rest of us were stuck being pushed and suffocated by a mass of Germans for the next hour. I never wanted a Xanax so badly.
 |
| The "Line" |
Once I finally made my way into the tent I was welcomed with cheers and whistles and a vision of wooden tables and benches and hanging ivy and big breasted women in Dirndls (typical Bavarian dresses). Basically when you imagine what Oktoberfest looks like, that's what it looked like. My friends (about 12-14 of them) were all sitting at a table already enjoy a liter of beer each in giant glass mugs. The next few hours consisted of mug upon mug of beer, full roasted delicious chickens, picture taking, German songs, American songs (they really enjoyed playing Take Me Home, Country Roads), table dancing, and all around good German fun.
No Longer Inside the Tent
We were kicked out around 3 when people with reservations came in. We found out quickly that it was raining outside. From 3 to 5 it was just chaotic. We broke the number 1 rule: Stay together. Eventually, our German friend managed to get the majority of us back in the tent, but we didn't have a table so we couldn't be served. Some people were able to make friends and get a table/get served, but some did not. Those of us who did not decided to leave (after we saw a really brutal/bloody fight! I had to be held back. I was trying to get a front row seat/steal their spots at the table but apparently I was getting too close to the action.).
The Night
We met up with some of Brian's friends and walked through the rain to the center of the city to find food and (for no good reason) more drink. We eventually had kebabs and falafel (classic German meal) and the few of us decided to make our way back to our friends house with every intention of breaking in and going to sleep. Somehow we managed to subway back to house and realized as soon as we got there that it would be too hard (not to mention incredibly rude) to break in to our nice new friend's home. So we went down the street to a bar where 3/5 of us fell asleep at the table. A couple hours later, Cormac somehow finds us (by himself) and a little after that the rest of our crew shows up miraculously together. Finally we were able to get in the house and sleep.
 |
| 2 Carmates and Innsbruck |
After some showers and a morning beer, we began our trek back to Bologna. We decided to stop in Innsbruck, Austria for lunch, and it was just so lovely! It was a beautiful town and we had traditional Austrian food- Schnitzel, deer, stew, wine, beer, and strudel! We played on a playground and then drove back to the great city of Bologna. And that was my Oktoberfest adventure. The end.
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