Just got back from Oktoberfest a few hours ago. It's hard to put an experience like the one I've had in words but I will try. I showed up on Thursday and went that evening to the festival with the guy I was staying with. Upon arrival I saw thousands of people, rides everywhere, and beer tents as far as my eyes could see. We ended up going into a tent and getting a table in their beer garden. After a few steins (german beer mugs), I met his friends and we just talked, and enjoyed the music/environment. That night was a good "warm up" for the next few days, it set me up for a successful weekend since my local host gave me some pro tips. Side entrances are your friend, get there EARLY, the list goes on but without him I'd have been completely lost. The next day I woke up and went back and luckily it wasn't too crowded when we got there so we hopped around a few tents and explored since most of my friends first day was Friday. Saturday was by far the best day, I had bought a ticket from my host so I had a spot inside one of the tents. Best purchase ever. I showed up at 1PM and made my way through hoards of people waiting to get in without tickets (most never did, only a lucky few girls who managed to flirt with security or the people who bribed them). Since I was the only one with a ticket, I had no game plan, except maybe to meet people which would happen anyways since everyone was SO nice and outgoing. After walking around the tent a bit, a few girls approached me and invited me to sit with them and their friends so I did. They were all from Munich so I was the token "american boy" and the fact that I was from Texas, went to school in New York, and was studying in London blew their minds. Funny how things really hit you when other people react. I'm a lucky person to live where I live and be from where I am. We hung out for a few hours but once they left I made my way to another table and met yet another group of locals. We sang, drank, danced, and made toasts all night until it closed around 11PM. We parted ways but I went with one girl to ride one of the rides because I couldn't leave without going on at least one. Best decision ever! The ride took us up a few hundred feet and spun us around so we could see all of Munich and the festival. She couldn't find her friends so I walked her home since I didn't want her to walk home alone and it was still early so I didn't mind. It also gave me the chance to see more Munich since so much of my time was spent on the fairgrounds. In general, this little bubble of German culture, offered me my first view into a world I'd always heard about and never thought I'd live to see. People came from all over, and the mood was simply jolly, nobody was angry, and nobody seemed stressed. American frat parties have nothing on this festival, I can tell you that much. Never in my life will I see another man donned in Liederhosen chug a stein as an entire tent cheers and watches. The city itself was very nice and clean. It had the feeling of a large town just like Austin where youre overwhelmed but it still has a lot to offer. Its definitely a city I could see myself living in, but who knows! If I could go back and do it again, I would without a doubt. I was yet again reminded of how much of a bubble we live in sometimes, theres a whole world out there! With so much culture, its astronomical even from my limited perspective. Cheers!
