7:10 AM
All the build up to the keg tapping today has been pretty impressive. Munich is pretty much filled to capacity with locals and visitors ready to participate in the largest beer festival in the world. Today update will be in time blocks as we go through the day. I am having a coffee at the camp canteen watching the tour groups line up for their busses. I tried to go to bed at midnight but the party lasted to at least 4am with many going all night. The Aussies are either starting early - most are drinking beer now while I have my coffee. Or they just never stopped and this morning is continuation - the Aussie are professionals when it comes to drinking and partying. It rained again for the second night in a row. The inside of my tent is getting pretty soggy. The forecast is for rain the next 3 days so don't think we will dry out before we leave. Oh well, at least there will be beer...11:55 AM
We arrived at Oktoberfest about 10:15am and quickly realized we had come too late to get a seat inside one of the 10 massive beer tents - which was a problem as it has been pissing rain all morning. We talked to one of the servers and found out that you have to arrive around 7am and get in line for the 9am tent openings. We standed around in various tents amazed at the number of people - the largest tent holds 10,000. We ended up at a beer garden at the Lowenbrau tent around 11am waiting for the cannons to go off. At the time we were amount about 50 people in an area that could seat 800. Beer is not served until the opening ceremonies where the mayor of Munich taps the first keg. While we waited a steady rain was falling - not fun sitting in the rain with no beer. Finally the cannons blew, the crowd cheered and liter beers started coming out 10 at a time from a stream of servers. Life was good again.
1:45 PM
The rain subsided and the sky opened up to patchy blue sky and sunshine. The rain had stopped completely and we are enjoying the music and our new friends and table mates from Germany on one side and New Jersey on the other. The beer, pretzels, sausages and roasted chicken are flowing - good times at Oktoberfest in Munich!
4:00 PM
The rain has returned and we are getting wet again. It was nice to be dry and in the sun for a while. It may be time to call it a day and come back early on Sunday to try and get a seat inside. 3 liters of beer before 4pm is probably good. Our German and New Jersey friends have moved on and we now have an Anerican couple living in Germany at our table. They have a friend that just flew in this morning from Arizona with them. The rain stopped again so we stick around, chat and enjoy the music for a couple more hours - while still nursing that 3rd liter.
6:00 PM
We left the beer garden and walked around the grounds - roller coasters, Ferris wheels, spinning vomit rides, games of chance etc. it is basically a giant carnival. The promenade was packed with people - adults, kids grandparents, etc. Oktoberfest is certainly an event for everyone. It's not entirely about drinking beer - but mostly. After about an hour we decided to head back to the campground. Another day of Munich and Oktoberfest awaits tomorrow.
Inside one of the massive beer tents.
No comments:
Post a Comment