Yesterday I went to Oktoberfest 2013 and a festive occasion it was! We happened to go on the second day of Oktoberfest, so you know it was packed! Even on a Sunday. This time we were smart and got a hotel for two nights and just took a cab in the morning (9:00) to the festplatz. 6 million people a year attend this event and growing. The fact that we go early helps. We again found a table just by arriving early and we didn't have to reserve in advance... like months in advance. Brandon and I walked around the fest for a bit to show our two friends who came to visit, what it was like. Then we decided on our breakfast. They chose bratwurst and a roll, but I chose a chocolate covered banana. Wasn't feeling the greasy food so early in the morning, but chocolate, hell yea. Now bring on the beer!
We decided on the Paulaner tent because Brandon loves the beer. Because we arrived early we were all able to snag a seat along with some Germans we met from Munich who were also on the local Soccer team. We also met some cool Australians. The next 5 hours were spent at this table doing God knows what. We drank, ate huge pretzels, and got stepped on as people were getting up and down from the tables. Every so often a very inebriated person would stand on their table and chug their entire beer as even more inebriated spectators cheered them on. Below they look on as the Oom-pah band begins their set.
I usually don't drink beer, like ever, so it was rare form for me to be enjoying this massive Oktoberfest beer. Last year we partied in the wine tent. This year I gave in! But I was drinking Radlers all night which is a mixture of beer and lemonade. Germans also have Colawiezen which is a mixture of cola and beer. They are pretty refreshing! Can you believe these beers are up to about 9.80 Euro this year? They are gradually going up in price every year and the waitresses and waiters don't give back any change so they can make a killing!
Brandon was doing this "funny" thing where he refused to smile in any of my pictures. What a funny guy huh? He hates his picture being taken so he loves to ruin all of mine!
After 5 hours of sitting, I was getting antsy so we left our precious seats (at this point people were ridiculous anyways) and we headed outside for some food and rides. Can't believe I did rides this year. I love haunted houses so I made everyone ride the one here. It sucked by the way.
And for some crazy reason, the boys decided to ride this:
I found out later it was the highest transportable free fall drop at 80 Meters. No thank you. Especially after eating and drinking all day.
If you'd like to check out my first year at Oktoberfest and the mistakes I made as a newbie, you can go here. Also, if you'd like to know what to look for when buying a dirndl, you can go here. The fest goes on for three more weeks!
Do you have any fond memories of Oktoberfest past or do you have plans to go this year? Let us know!
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Dwellings
The Expat Diaries
The Dedicated House
A Stroll Thru Life
Kathe With An E
Dagmar's Home
Savvy Southern Style
The Brambleberry Cottage
No Minimalist Here
Budget Traveler's Sandbox
Ivy and Elephants
Rooted In Thyme
Common Ground
Pret-a-Vivre
The Tablescaper
Serenity Now
A Dose of Paige
Twigg Studios
Sunday View
Dwellings
The Expat Diaries
ahh looks so fun!! I really want to go this year..
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a lot of fun! Going to Oktoberfest is definitely on my list of things to do. Sooner better than later. Where did you get your hotel and how far in advance did you have to book it?
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteThat is expensive beer! I guess you're also paying for the experience and the atmosphere, but still.... However, it looks like you had fun and I'm looking forward to the local Oktoberfest taking place in a couple of weeks here in Greenville even more :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it's definitely paying for the atmosphere, but the Radler's are actually good for beer. Have fun at yours!
DeleteThe bratwurst looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteDrove through Munich yesterday (Sunday)... what an absolute mad house! Unfortunately I had to catch my flight back home; didn't have time to enjoy the festivities. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteO no, you were in Munich and you didn't have time to stop for Oktoberfest? haha what were you doing in Munich? Yes traffic was horrible, I already hate driving in Munich the buses always try to sandwich you, it's crazy.
DeleteI am so jealous of your photos and that you got to experience Oktoberfest!! I lived in Hanover back in 2010 and I never got to venture there!! I will just have to live vicariously through you now that I'm back in the States :)
ReplyDeleteWell I'm sure you will travel to all the places I want to visit now that I'm no longer stateside, like seatle and oregon!
DeleteMy husband hates having his picture taken too and it's only rare times that I get a good one! Looks like you had a great time! I hope to finally make it to the Munich Oktoberfest someday. I've gone to smaller local ones but not the big one! :-)
ReplyDeletelooks like fun! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, what the tower! just amazing..
ReplyDeleteBrittany, I am so with you with the rides--that thing looks terrifying! But I would happily have consumed half a ton of chocolate along with you :) Europeans sure know how to do chocolate.
ReplyDeleteThe chocolate covered banana was so good. And I may have ended the night with some roasted macadamia nuts and ice cream. Haha, glad I'm not the one who puked at the end of the night...
DeleteI think I had waffles covered in chocolate for breakfast when I went, chocolate anytime!! Least you got some fruit with yours haha. With the price of normal pints I actually didn't think the giant litres of beer were too horribly priced. They must make a killing though.
ReplyDeleteDannielle | Chic-a-DeeDee
O yea, someone told me that if you work as a server for two weeks there, you make about 10,000 Euro. Not sure if that's true or not but I'm going to look into it haha
DeleteLovely event. I wish we had Oktoberfest here in Belgium.
ReplyDeleteSounds great! I meant to be there on Saturday but boyfriend wasn't listening when I told him the train times.... and we live in a village with a very infrequent train. We'll be there this weekend though!
ReplyDelete(I need a Dirndl, badly...)
So fun to pick out a dirndl! Have a good time at the fest Mary!
DeleteI'm hoping to make it to the fest next week or the week after, it looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteKate | Diaries of an Essex Girl
Yea, it's best to go maybe not the first week like we did haha
DeleteLooks like so much fun, but really, I just want that CHOCOLATE!!!!
ReplyDeleteoh yum, all of the chocolate covered items look wonderful! i bet oktoberfest was so such fun!
ReplyDeletelindsey louise
hellomrrabbitblog.com
How fun, this looks like such a great time. I was in Germany any years ago for the festival, so much fun. Thanks so much for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a lot of fun! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't drink beer either but would that beer and lemonade sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteYea it's actually pretty good!
DeleteSix million people attending - I wonder how many of them get drunk. Sign me up for a good German Bratwurst but hold the beer. Looks like you had fun.
ReplyDeleteLet me put it this way, people are lying in the streets and sidewalk by noon haha
DeleteLooks like a good time, but expensive beer...ewww, and no change back!
ReplyDeleteYep that's how they make their killing. They don't even say the right amount they say what they want. And for the food, I heard they buy it from the restaurant and then serve it to you with their price. I guess it's what they all do.
DeleteThis looks like so much fun! I'm with you on the chocolate bananas for breakfast. And a huge pretzel sounds so yummy right now. I'm not a beer person either, but I think if I cut it with cola or lemonade, I may be able to stand it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYep, the pretzels are so good, I guess especially when you are drinking.
DeleteWow sounds like a really fun time! I've slowly gotten into beer, but the thought of drinking one of those huge beers before it gets warm hurts my stomach. But I could definitely do lemonade and beer.
ReplyDeleteStopping by the say hello from Fresh Face Friday!
This oktober feest are always fun , and happy, have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteLooks like great fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bi Ti, I can never figure out how to comment on your blog. I don't see a comment box anywhere.
DeleteThank you for linking up with us!
ReplyDeleteSuch fun photos. We absolutely loved hanging out in all the beer tents at Oktoberfest... and the food was wonderful!
6 million people!!! That's amazing! I had NO idea! And 9.80 Euro beer!!!!!!1 YIKES! And 5 hours at the same table! WOW! That sounds like a heck of a party. And yeah, my guys wouldn't smile for a picture either and dear son would certainly go on the free fall thing. (Ugh- after all the food and beer!)
ReplyDeleteReally interesting post, and looks like a good time.