Oktoberfest - Part I

Let’s get this party started.

My first beer at the Oktoberfest inside the Paulander tent

Ozapft is!!-the barrel is tapped- yelled the mayor of Munich at noon on Saturday after he tapped the first barrel of beer and so began the 174th Oktoberfest. Before the tapping ceremony there is a parade where horses from all the different breweries enter the Wiesn with barrels of beer. We got to the Wiesn at around 11 o’clock in the morning to try to watch it all; but forget it. The place was so full that it was nearly impossible to try to get a glimpse of the tapping ceremony. Everybody and their mother were at the Wiesn. Since the tents where already opened we decided instead to go inside the Paulander tent and try to get a seat. And even though we did not have a reservation (the school has the reservation for next Saturday) we lucked out. We found a table on the second floor that was only reserved from 4PM on. The good thing is that from the second floor windows we were able to see part of the horse’s parade. We sat down and waited patiently until 12 o’clock: they are not allowed to serve beer before noon since that is the time when the Oktoberfest officially starts. The tent was full of people, all eager for the mayor to finally do his thing so they could order their first of many liters of beer (Maβ). Just after noon, the band that plays at the Paulander tent walked inside the tent as they were playing some music, positioned themselves on the music podium, handed out a couple of beers, and got the party started inside our tent.

Horse´s parade -------Oktoberfest 2007

And what can I tell you: Oktoberfest is mad crazy, la locura total, lots and lots of fun, and lots and lots of beer. Everyone is happy, everyone smiles and laughs, everyone is having a good time. Everyone talks to you and you talk to everyone. Everyone is just part of a big happy family. I’m not necessarily the biggest beer fan but once again the German beer didn’t let me down. It was very good: good taste and very cold. Just before 4 o’clock we had to give up the table for the people who had it reserved. We walked then into another smaller tent and also found a place where we could theoretically sit down. There is actually not much sitting down at the Oktoberfest. Somehow you always end up standing up on the benches while singing traditional Bavarian music, German Music, or plain old English songs which are a favorite of locals and visitors (country rooooadddd take me home to the plaaaaace I beloooong West Virginiaaaaa; We are the Champions from Queen, Summer of 69 from Bryan Adams, Que Viva España, etc) and toasting with your neighbors. We left at around 8 PM, time at which we were starving but didn’t feel like having any German sausages or any other greasy fair food. So instead we decided to go to an Indian Restaurant near where I live. One of our usual suspects from the group is leaving Munich soon so this was kind of a farewell dinner. And I have to say that the Indian food finally redeem itself with me. Up until now, most of the true Indian food I had tasted was not to my liking; except the one in Ibiza which was kind of a blend of Indian/middle eastern food. But this place had authentic Indian food and it was very good!!!

Riding out the first Maß (1Liter beer)

Sunday´s Parade

On the first Sunday of Oktoberfest there is also a parade at the city center where the different towns and communities of the state of Bavaria march wearing their traditional clothing (trachter). There are also bands that accompany them. This time around we were able to get a good and decent spot to watch the parade. It was really nice as there were a lot of people of all ages marching with their “trachter”. And the weather couldn’t have been better. It was warm (without being too hot) and there was not even a cloud in the sky. It’s amazing how much the weather changed right on time for the Oktoberfest. The weather has been perfect during the last 3 days. Of course, after the parade we had to go once again to the Wiesn to continue enjoying the fun of the Oktoberfest. This time around we were able to get a seat inside the Hofbrau tent. This tent, from what I had been told, is the one where all the young people go to (the tent where I belong, the tent I was borned to be in during the Oktoberfest, ja ja ja!!!). I had to go there to be able to continue partying with my twenty-something year olds. So with all the young crowd coming to this tent, you can imagine how crazy it was in there. Everyone was standing on the benches or the tables, everyone was singing (well actually yelling while they pretending to sing), and lots and lots of people just standing up on the hallways. It was almost impossible to walk from one side of the tent to the other. But nevertheless it was once again lots of fun. A good thing is that there are lots of security personnel and police officers both inside and outside the tents. So they do a pretty good job controlling all the drunk people. I still haven’t seen the first fight or the first scary incident. I’ve only seen like 2 or 3 men being escorted out (peacefully and without any sign of resistance or violence) of the tents. Now, what I have seen is quite a few people who have to be taken in a stretcher because they are way too drunk. This is funny; they lay them down in a stretcher and they cover them completely (including their faces) with a yellow plastic. They do this so it is not such a big embarrassment for them to be taken out of the Oktoberfest in such a state and also so the other drunk people along the way don’t start making fun of them or taking pictures of them. And I know what you may be thinking but NO!!! I haven’t been taken out in a stretcher…..at least not yet!!!. With only drinking a beer during each stay at the Oktoberfest I don’t think I will be needed one at all.

Hofbrau tent

Someone who had too much to drink being carried on a stretcher

This week I do not have class so I’ll be enjoying the Oktoberfest in the meantime while I also get ready for my family’s visit (they arrive on Saturday). OK, I have to leave, Oktoberfest awaits me….but I promise to have a beer in your name and toast for all my good friends "on the other side of the blue sea". PROST!!