This is the second year in a row that I've come to Munich for Oktoberfest. How can I resist the invitation from my friend Tobias. He texted me back in May that they might have a table reservation again this year. When I was able to snatched an airfare deal for Phoenix to London round-trip for $546, it was a done deal. I started to build a multi-country trip around Oktoberfest.
First, I'd stop in England for two days: 1 day in Stratford-upon-Avon and another day in Oxford. The two previous posts are on those two beautifully charming cities. I arrived in Munich on a Friday evening, bought my week-long train pass (cost US$41) and ready to take the S-Bahn to Daglfing station. This would take about 30 minutes but something happened on the tracks between the airport and Daglfing station. Someone decided to be on the track and the train can only go up to 2 stations before Daglfing. If I take the train going the other direction it'd take about 1 1/2 hours. So, I called my friend to pick me up. Still feeling fatigued from jet-lag, I had no trouble falling asleep.
The S-Bahn is the regional train. Around the city you take the U-Bahn. The train system, as in most European cities, works very nicely, moving a lot of people on tracks instead of cars on the highway.
The big day arrives the next morning. We had a nice big typically German breakfast. Lots of bread, cheese and cold cuts. Later, friends Wolfgang, Sandra and their son Daniel, arrive from near Frankfurt. We had a light snack at about 2 and at about 3pm, we were ready to go. We took the S8 train to Hacker-brücke station. It was packed with people, mostly coming but a few leaving.
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| Everyone is all dressed up (except me) and ready to go to Wiesn |
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| Huge crowd getting off the train |
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| Security is tight. All bags and backpacks are checked. |
Most people who have never been to Oktoberfest (or properly called Wiesn by the Germans) have no concept of how it works. First, you enter a big fairground area. Security is tight, after a bombing incident about 10 years ago. Bags and backpacks are checked. This open area has souvenir stands, rides, food, etc, and mostly importantly big beer tents. The actual drinking and celebration are in these big beer tents. They have names of the sponsoring breweries but nowadays they are owned by individuals or companies. The best way to get into a beer tent is having a table reservation. You are given a wrist band for your reservation and your table is ready for you and your guests. If you don't have a reservation, then you get into the tent on your own. If you come early or during the week, it may not be difficult. But, if you come on the weekend, then it becomes a challenge. You may not get in at all. In the event that you are able to get in, you will be in an open area. You need to be near a table to order a beer. Otherwise, no beer.
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| One of the beer tents |
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| Another beer tent |
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| Waitresses carrying as many as 10 1-liter mugs of beer. |
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| Inside the big beer hall, including the band stand |
The band plays some popular favorite music, like Sweet Caroline, Sweet Home Alabama, etc. Music that you can sing and dance to.
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| You don't buy beer. You rent it. Here's where you return it. |
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| You need food so that you can drink more |
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| Pretzels here are so good. They are soft, not hard like a rock |
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| This couple enjoys more than drinking beer |
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| Partying Italian women from Venice |
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| Italians are the ones who want to hug and kiss you |
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| Souvenirs for sale |
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| Security is tight inside as well. |
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| Our table with friends from all over Germany |
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