European Tour: Munich, Germany

Dinner @ Bierhalle

We arrived in Munich just in time for dinner time (I told you how much we enjoyed eating, right?). We went to a local beer hall for some traditional German food...schnitzel and beer :) Megan Hale was celebrating her 21st birthday that day, so we all drank our stein's of beer in her honor.

After dinner, we headed over to the Oktoberfest festival. Everything that I've seen or heard about Oktoberfest is right and it's even crazier/better in person. There are multiple tents set up for consuming beer. There are festival rides, there are gift tents. And best of all, there are little booths set up where people sell giant cookies...and fest nuts! I had some when we visited Germany when I was kid and that's literally all I could talk about until we got there. And they definitely did not disappoint; sugar coated, toasted goodness of a cashew...yummy! And if the vendor liked you...he would throw in a whole lot of extra for free...I threw out "Danke" left and right.

Getting ready to ride the rides

We decided to ride the rides first, we knew that we were about to consume copious amounts of beer. And beer and rides that spin you around don't really mix well together. Yes, it was raining but that definitely didn't stop anyone from riding the rides or enjoying Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest - Night 1

After riding the rides, we made our way to the Hofbräu beer tent. It was loud, it was crazy. There were so many people in one spot but everyone was SO happy. Lots of singing and dancing, the traditional German band would even play modern songs which sounded funny in that context, but everyone was singing along and dancing on the picnic tables. Random people would buy you a beer, and clink your glass before you took the first sip. People wore funny hats and funny glasses, and would pass those around so you could take pictures of yourself or your friends in them. I think the secret to world peace is Oktoberfest. So many people in one spot and everyone was happy and getting along.

The next day was definitely a stark contrast to the fun night before. We rode the train from Munich out to Dachau. Dachau was used as a concentration camp during WWII...I had the advantage (if you want to call it that) of having been there before when I was younger. Even though I kind of knew what to expect, and I've been to the Holocaust Museum in DC, there is nothing more emotional or humbling than actually being there. Seeing the place where thousands upon thousands of people were murdered is a chilling experience. This picture is of the infamous saying "Arbeit Macht Frei" - work will set you free. The Nazi's told the prisoners that if they did their work like they were supposed to, they would be set free. It's on the gate that leads into the Camp.

After a solemn visit to the Concentration Camp, we came back into Munich and went back to Oktoberfest. I bought some souvenirs for friends and family, ate some Brats and fest nuts and then went back to the Hofbräu beer tent. Once again, it was nuts inside. I don't think I could ever clearly or sufficiently describe the atmosphere in the tents. My only recommendation would be to go and see for yourself :)

Oktoberfest Night 2

To be continued...Next Up: European Tour: Venice