OKTOBERFEST

The Oktoberfest in Munich is the largest fair worldwide. More than six million visitors in two weeks either get drunk and/or have fun with rides and other attractions on the "Wiesn". 16 beer tents are set up and six Munich breweries serve a special Octoberfest brew – very smooth and with elevated alcohol content – in 1-liter glass mugs (rarely steins anymore) for horrendous money: over 10 Euro for about a quarter gallon of beer! Mugs are never completely filled up anyway and everybody is giving an additional tipp. Nevertheless, consumption is enormous and money is rolling in. Tents are packed almost all the time and the later it gets, the more people dance on tables, sing loudly, get drunk and weird and crazy.



The "Olde Wiesn" is part of the whole area, so to say, a reconstructed historic section of the original beer fest – which BTW originates in the wedding celebration of King Ludwig with Therese in 1810. There are historic rides, old-fashioned boothes and vendors and only two beer tents with traditional Oompah bands (instead of mainstream modern pop songs to sing along) and traditional dancers attract local Bavarians rather than foreigners, and, middle aged people rather than young ones. There is an additional small entrance fee to the area, but it's worth the money: more authentic and less crowded.

We had a business appointment in Munich last week and since the meeting took place closeby the fairgrounds, we decided to give it another shot. We had experienced the Oktoberfest twice in the last three years: Once, in 2012, we came with American friends for the main parade on sunday and afterwards it was just pushing and shoving and we had no chance to find seats or get a beer in one of the tents. Two years ago then, we came for the (smaller) parade of the tent owners and breweries on Saturday, the opening day: No chance to walk the grounds or get a beer. This time it was rather comfortable, but it was a weekday afternoon and the weather wasn't too inviting. Therefore, we enjoyed our little excursion thoroughly, drank a "Mass" beer, listened to Bavarian music, ate roasted almonds and attended a show in the old Motodrom, where adventurous bikers on historic Indians drive suicidally in circles on straight vertical wooden walls.



Pics show different rides, beer tents and are supposed to give an idea of this huge beer festival, which became a beloved part of Bavarian history and tradition.