Oktoberfest!

I have to admit, I had no real idea what Oktoberfest was all about.  I assumed it was an annual event where heaps of people gathered in a park to sit on green grass (BYO picnic blanket) and drink beer.  A sporadic marquee placed here and there and maybe a food stall or two.  But yeah, the gist of it was sitting in a park with a beer with a tonne of other people.  Well the actual Oktoberfest is not too far from my above description but the real thing is definitely no moshpit affair.

There is history behind all the revelry.  The first Oktoberfest was in celebration of a royal marriage and involved a horse race.  The Muncheners loved it so much, they did it the following year and then the next year.. and then the next and so it went on.  Another misconception I had - there is no grass nor a conventional green park for that matter.  The grounds on which Oktoberfest take place was historically a meadow (a green one I would think) but in our current times, for the majority of the year the modern meadow is a asphalt-laden 'field'.  Which also explains why locals don't call it Oktoberfest.  They call it 'die Wiesn' which is German for 'the field/meadow'.  Oh and the 'sporadic marquees'.  I found out they do set up beer tents each year, although these are 'tents' in the loosest possible sense.  The 'tents' take two months to construct and a month to dismantle!  Enough about the facts - on to the frivolities!

My original intention for today was to visit Neuschwanstein, drag Moo along and finally tick the Disney Castle off my list.  However, when I realised it was the 200 year anniversary of Oktoberfest, well I couldn't pass up such an historic event!

At the entrance - it's free!  The weather was absolutely glorious which I have to say, I took for granted.  But maybe the sunshine just follows me?

Super cool shoes with asymmetrical laces, worn with lederhosen and socks.  Must have socks or you will look stupid!  

I realised while on the train to the grounds, if you weren't wearing tracht then you weren't giving Oktoberfest your all.  Seeing so many people dressed up in lederhosen and dirndls was like seeing an entire city going to a costume party.  It was awesome!!  The Bavarians sure are proud of their national dress.  An Asian in a dirndl is a novelty and Moo happily posed for photos when approached by other tourists.

About to head into our chosen tent. 

We turned up bright and early to beat the crowds and settled in the Armbrustschützen tent.  The masses hadn't arrived yet and there were plenty of empty tables around.

I felt a little out of place so put my hair into pigtails to get into the mood.  After studying the menu, we ordered our food and beer.  Well actually, neither Moo or I are big beer drinkers and so we shared a shandy.  I know, I know *hangs head in shame*.  Good news for the beer enthusiasts - the beer purity law and the Bavarian's passion for beer means that you are guaranteed to only have excellent and smooth beers here!

The first picture demonstrates incorrect beer drinking technique.  Note the hand gripping the stein handle.  Tsk, tsk.....Wrong, wrong, WRONG!!  An elderly Bavarian couple sitting near our bench took pity on our novice skills and showed us how things are done.  Hold the stein dammit and use the handle as support!!!  The weight is spread across your hand, prevents fatigue which ultimately equates to more drinking enjoyment!  The waitresses on the other hand carry about five or more steins with each fist and then rest them against their bosom.  I have no idea how they cope but they must have massive biceps and forearms.

Trays of hearty fare.  My sausages and sauerkraut and Moo's veal and mushroom stew... I think.  Num nums!  So tasty! 

We were in prime position to enjoy the oom-pah-pah music and watch some traditional dancing (until the fat Americans sat in front of us).

Lederhosen definitely don't flatter but they are sure good for thigh slapping!

Moo shows the dance troupe how it's done.

Trying to finish the stein.  I tried to finish it in one gulp but I under-estimated the volume of beer.  Moo shows me how it's done.  

Verms and I with the horsies.  So cute.  

I needed my fair share of Oktoberfest souvenirs so next on the purchase list was a Lebkuchen heart.  These are gingerbread heart-shaped biscuits with lovey-dovey messages/pet names on them.  Men given them to women to wear around their neck for all to see.  I... errr.. bought my own.  Schatzi = sweetie/honey/darling!  Hehehe...

It's hat time! 

Inside the Hofbrau tent.  Inside the Augustiner tent.  Yes, there are 'tents'. 

Inside the Ochsenbraterei tent.  So pretty!  Even prettier are the oxen dishes in which they specialise. 

Moo rocks it outside the Lowenbrau tent.  On our way to ride the giant ferris wheel.  

The view from the ferris wheel.  Beer = drunk fun.

As part of the 200 year anniversary, a section of the meadow became a time portal and rewound us back to the years of the historical Oktoberfest.

Mooey patted a fake cow and a fake pig before finally getting her real shetland pony.  So cute and stumpy! 

We then hit the ghost train.  The last time I went on one I was 13 years old and even back then, I thought it was lame.  I still think ghost trains are lame but by ghost trains standards this has got to be one of the better ones.  There was a friendly Freddy Krueger outside!

All that frolicking around, photo-snapping and animal-petting made me hungry.  Well not really but I wanted my fill of German desserts.  We had ordered a germknodel but they must have misheard our shitty accents and we ended up with dampfnudel instead.  Essentially, it's just a bit of dough with custard - one has jam in the centre of the dough, the other doesn't.

A nudel nonetheless and as long as it was served with warm custard, I was happy.  Apple fritters dusted in cinnamon and sugar.  How could I say no?     

With the teenage crowds making their way to the grounds, we were pretty beat and ready to let the vomiters and bierleichen (beer corpses - people so drunk, they have passed out and look dead) take the reins.  I must thank Verms for being a most patient host while Moo and I (especially I) indulged in our touristy behaviour.  Must buy hat!  Must buy magnets!  Must buy stein!  Must buy t-shirt!  Must try to eat everything!  Must take a billion photos! 

So yeah - Oktoberfest.  While it was never high on my tourist list, I'm so glad I went.  My advice?  Do it people!  Do it!!!