Three Days at Oktoberfest 2011

Two weeks ago, a group of us embarked on a crazy road trip to Munich for Oktoberfest (and then on to Amsterdam). Guess how long it took to drive from London to Munich? Just guess.

I nearly killed myself and ALMOST regretted going on the trip.

We were delayed as we got to Dover too early ahead of our scheduled train – get this, you can actually take a train across the channel to Calais as in your car drives INTO the train. A CAR train! It was amazing!

There were also road blocks and we got stopped by German police (immigration check) at a random section of road in the dead of the night, at which point everyone took turns to run into the pitch-darkness to pee.

I have to say, I found this part really exciting.

It was drizzling as well!

Predictably, we arrived there exhausted, agitated, and lacking sleep

But two hours later, we were at the festival grounds – time must not be wasted!

The first tent we visited was a relatively new one and sold beers in 0.5 litre portions instead of the full litre, for the same price of €10.

You do get what you pay for though – this was my favourite of the whole fest

Me and a giant salted pretzel

There’d be girls with baskets walking around to sell them in the tents

Emma managing to hold two litres

Which is NOTHING because you’d see all these crazy waitresses holding up to a dozen of these mugs AT ONCE

  

The rest of our first evening was spent outdoors in a beer garden

Where we witnessed a beautiful sunset – a blanket of thick cloud lit by golden rays beneath

Of course, you can’t get the full effect from a mere photo.. :p

The following day we were all much fresher

And got dressed in our ‘Oktoberfest Gear’

By this I mean ‘cheap beer wench outfit from eBay that you think is what girls will wear at Oktoberfest but in reality they’re all tastefully dressed in traditional dirndls, making you feel just a BIT silly’

  

Still, I liked the costume and really enjoyed wearing it!
Then again, I like looking silly..

I got myself a a red felt hat from one of the numerous souvenir stands
Which I later LOST in Amsterdam.. I’m so bummed.. don’t even talk about it..

The interior of our Day Two tent

Outside one of the tents
Each one is very elaborately decorated, both inside and out, and have a unique feel or vibe

For example, the Hofbrau tent is supposedly the ‘international tent’, where you’ll find a truckload of people from all around the world.. mostly Australian, I’m guessing.. hahaha

Me, Aysh, Emma in our matching costumes hehe

I drank my beer so fast that day I felt so tipsy after just one

I think this was the drink that spurred me on to buy my red hat

Sausage and sauerkraut

I love sauerkraut!
I used to pile it on at the bratwurst stand at Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne that I used to visit regularly for my sausage fix

A little bit drunk

This is obviously a drunk face (Ryan)

Mark and Dave in their matching festive shirts
Lederhosen are expensive to buy!

In the evening, we managed to get a table in a really lively tent

We perched ourselves on the benches

Sang along to loads of cheesy songs performed by the live band

They play a lot of really cheesy/universal stuff.. I’m not sure why.. but probably cos everyone will recognise the songs

We shouted ‘Prost‘ (that’s ‘cheers’ in German) a bazillion times to plenty-a-stranger

And heartily yelled the words to a popular German singing toast which goes ‘Ein prosit, ein prosit der Gemutlichkeit’ even MORE times.. the band would play this every 10 minutes or so

It was one of my favourite things!

Aysh & Ryan.. not sure what happened here

The atmosphere was absolutely buzzing

You really had to be there

Everyone was HAPPY and loud and smiley

Emma & I

Outside the tents, the scene was like a giant carnival/fun fair
Full of colour and things to make you feel like a kid again

We went on a  good number of rides

Especially when you’re half-drunk and your bladder’s about to burst 😀

It was quite a sight – to see so many people dressed for the occasion

By the end of it I kind of wished I had a lederhosen..