September 19, 2015

Munich, Germany

Oktoberfest!

The Oktoberfest grounds, located in Thereisienwiese in Munich (opening day, September 19, 2015).
The Oktoberfest grounds, located in Thereisienwiese in Munich (opening day, September 19, 2015).
Another view of Oktoberfest's setting.
Another view of Oktoberfest’s setting.
The towers outside of the Löwenbräu and Winzerer Fähndl beer halls.
The towers outside of the Löwenbräu and Winzerer Fähndl beer halls.
The entrance to the Winzerer Fähndl beer garden and hall, which is obviously supported by Paulaner.
The entrance to the Winzerer Fähndl beer garden and hall, which is obviously supported by Paulaner.
The Bavaria Statue and the Hall of Fame.
The Bavaria Statue and the Hall of Fame.
Inside the Winzerer Fähndl beer hall.
Inside the Winzerer Fähndl beer hall.
Another view of the interior of the beer hall with its central gazebo.
Another view of the interior of the beer hall with its central gazebo.
The opening ceremony for Oktoberfest inside the Winzerer Fähndl beer hall.
The opening ceremony for Oktoberfest inside the Winzerer Fähndl beer hall.
A server carrying 12 liters of Paulaner beer to some thirsty patrons.
A server carrying 12 liters of Paulaner beer to some thirsty patrons.
The glass washing machine used inside the beer hall.
The glass washing machine used inside the beer hall.
One last view inside the Winzerer Fähndl beer hall on the opening day of Oktoberfest 2015.
One last view inside the Winzerer Fähndl beer hall on the opening day of Oktoberfest 2015.

I woke up today at 07:20, showered, dressed in my Oktoberfest costume, and grabbed my camera before walking out if the hostel/hotel. I walked south to the Oktoberfest grounds, entered inside, and walked past many amusement rides and booths that were still setting up early in the morning. I made my way to the Paulanerbrau beer hall and seated myself outside, making it there at 08:44. Around 09:00, the doors to the beer hall opened and I entered inside with everyone else. I then found an empty spot next to an Australian, a Scotsman, and an Irishman. Later on, the friend if the Australian, another Aussie, showed up. Then, as we were waiting for the first keg to be tapped at 12:00, a waiter took our order and an American couple showed up at our table. At about 10:40, we received our first drinks (not beer, that doesn’t happen until after 12:00; I had a liter of Sprite – never mind that the prices were only in half-liters and a liter is too damn much soda) and soon after out food (I had pork sausage, sauerkraut, and mustard). At about 11:30, a procession entered the building, led by a marching band. They marched around the beer hall twice and many speeches followed. Finally, at 12:00, the ceremonial keg was tapped and then our table waited 25 minutes before we received our first beers. Two women joined our table for a while and we had beer after beer. Later on, we invited an international group of women to our table (one “White Russian” (Belarusian), one Russian, one German, one Moldavian, and one Mexican – all living together (they said they were students studying at different universities, which may have been true, but instinct tells me there was something else going on with that assortment of women)); we squeezed in and were soon the most crowded table at Oktoberfest (with fourteen sitters). Eventually, the two women at the end left and we were twelve total. Later on, the five of us guys, the five girls, and five other girls and another guy (I have no idea where from and who had come to our table) had a great time (the American couple had left). Around 16/17:00ish, I began to gain spots in my memory. I started to slow down during my fourth liter of beer and I remember buying the fifth round for the Irishman, Scotsman, and myself. I also remember jumping up on the table with the Scotsman to gain a better view of the ceremony that was taking place. Sometime near finishing the fifth liter of beer, the Irishman and Scotsman most have left, as well as the Aussies and first group of girls, since I soon found myself alone with the five other girls and the guy. I know that I had at least made it through my fifth glass and that I finished that . . . before moving on to leftovers that the Scotsman and Irishman had left behind (why let it go to waste). Then I remember starting to fall asleep and being woken up before losing my hat some how (I think a drunk man grabbed it to wear it and then walked off; I was too inebriated to give a damn or even move). Finally, sometime after 20:30 (at least, and possibly closer to closing time, 22:00), I remember getting up and leaving to walk back to the hostel/hotel, calling it quits after a long day of drinking. I vaguely remember stumbling through the amusement park grounds. Then I remember walking through the city as it began to rain harder and harder. The next thing I remember is checking my iPhone map application to see if I was heading the correct way – I was not. It was around 22:30, I was north of the railway tracks (I don’t remember how I crossed them) and I was walking west instead of east like I needed too. I soon corrected my heading and walked back to the hotel. Luckily, I did not have a repeat of Kathmandu where I ended up wandering around for two hours before getting a taxi back to my hostel (although, perhaps I did wander around for two hours (?)). Anyway, as usual, it seems that I was protected by Divine intervention and I made it back to the hostel/hotel at 23:11 with my wallet and my camera and alive and with no organs harvested (this time). I soon received my key from the receptionist, rode the elevator up to the top floor, entered my room, took my lederhosen off, and went to bed around midnight. I would pay mentally for my debauchery for the next two days. Fuck my life.

An open journal or an exercise in narcissism.