Oktoberfest in Munich

Oct 4th, 2008

Got here in Munich and to the hotel around 5 yesterday. Pawan and his friend david were here shortly thereafter. We headed out to Oktoberfest with a lot of anticipation, and as we approached the grounds, it was one huge fair. People in the traditional Bavarian dresses, roller coasters, food and of course, beer. David quickly guided us through all this and to the HB tent.

There were queues outside the tents, and though there were people having beer all over, including beer gardens outside the tent, it seemed that the real experience was inside. After waiting a bit, David realized we probably weren't going to get in this way. He went to the security and told them he had friends from India just for Oktoberfest. The guards obliged and let us in.

This has to be the biggest party in the world! There were thousands of people in this one tent alone. There was live music, and there was a lot of beer. Most importantly, everyone was just having a lot of fun - people chatting up with total strangers and making friends, everyone singing along with the band, the party went on. In the two days that we went to Oktoberfest, I was almost driven to not write about it - it is one of those things that cannot be described - it can only be experienced. The first day, we would have ended up with more than 5 liters of beer each, and when the party winds up at 11, the action shifts to the bars around the city. No wonder everyone is a zombie by the next day, ready to hit the fest again by evening!

Today was much harder to get in, and we spent 3 hours trying from one tent to another, and even the regular city beer halls. Finally, when we were about to give up, A decided to give another shot through the guard route, and got us all in with a lot of persistence. In fact, at end of oktoberfest today, we got chatting with a guard, Renee, who wasn't letting us in earlier, and he promised us entry the next day, though we were flying out and won't be back there.

Today, we also took a city tour - it talked about the Oktoberfest having started as a wedding party - now more than 5 million people come from outside Munich during these two weeks, consume 6-8 million glasses of beer, which accounts for 30 percent of all beer production here annually.

The tour also talked about Hitler and WWII, and origins and stories relating to the same. Its astonishing that a city which was totally destroyed in the war had been built back in such a fine shape - not only in the buildings, but also in character. The guide, Travis, also showed some of the subtle memorials of the events - a golden line on the ground, remembrance of a Jewish shop before WWII and the likes. However, during this time of the year, beer is what occupies Munich and millions of visitors.

Go experience Oktoberfest once - it has to be the biggest party in the world. Like God, it can't be described - it can only be experienced.