Oktoberfest- My German Travels

Oktoberfest was such an amazing time filled with cheering, liters of tasty beers and delicious eats. It was wonderful both to see a part of Germany, but also to meet up with friends from home and university. I got into Munich at around 8:00PM and ran to our hotel room to see one of my best friends from home I haven’t seen in almost a year. It was great! Shortly after, we went out to dinner, caught up on life abroad, as she is studying in Barcelona, and prepared for tomorrow’s festivities.

            The next morning we woke up at 7:00AM grabbed a delightful breakfast at our hotel and headed to the park for Oktoberfest. Not only was the breakfast at our hotel amazing and full of fresh German breads, spreads and bratwurst, but our hotel was also a quick walk away from the park. So very convenient!

Grace and I, or better known Shirley, the morning of Oktoberfest. We headed to the park in excitement!

            When you enter the park it is full of rides, pop up shops and ginormous tents. Since it was bright and early, the park was rather quiet in the morning and the shops were just setting up. We hopped in line at one of the tents, hoping that our earlier arrival would allow us to find a table in the tents and thus be served delicious German beer and treats. It is crucial at Oktoberfest to get into the tents early, so that you can find a table to be served German beer and cuisine. It is the true Oktoberfest experience.

The inside of the tents were full of people dressed up in beer maiden costumes and adornments. The wonderful decorations were truly set for the celebration.

            We waited in line for an hour until the tents opened at 9:00 AM. As we filed into the tents, we surveyed the arena for a table. Luckily we befriended two beer maidens just about to get up from a table who offered us their seat! Afterwards we were joined by three German boys studying at university elsewhere in Germany and a husband and wife from the states. We had quite the table! Everyone was full of energy and excited to be at Oktoberfest in Munich. After being so excited with our place at Oktoberfest, we then passed the time till 12:00 PM when they start serving beer and food with fun stories and meeting our newfound tablemates and friends.

Our table was so much fun! It was so exciting to meet so many new people and share an experience of a lifetime. Together we joined in the Oktoberfest festivities.

The Oktoberfest menu is full of traditional German
foods and drinks. Ordering a bite and a nonalcoholic
drink is a great way to pass the time before the
serving of drinks starts!

In the opening ceremony, the man raises his glass
 to drink the first beer in the tent. Everyone counts
 down and the cheers become louder. After he drinks
 the beer, the beer maidens begin serving
 beer and the festival begins!

            The start of the Oktoberfest ceremony is really something special. The tents are filled with people all dressed in beer maiden and beer lad attire. Everyone is cheering, clapping their hands and joining in excitement for the anticipation of the day. At 12:00 PM the Oktoberfest opening ceremonies begin in the tent. The owner of the tent drinks the first beer and then everyone else in the tent joins in after. During the opening ceremonies a band passes by playing cheerful music and everyone is smiling and dancing along. The owner of the tent heads towards the center stage where they count down to drink the first beer in the tent. Once the countdown reaches “ein” the whole tent is lit up in cheers. The festivities begin.

            The tents were absolutely amazing. They are lined with wooden picnic tables and center isles with bead board after every couple of rows. These isles help waitresses deliver food while beer maidens hand out beer. Each beer maidens carries about twelve liter-full mugs of beer. That is some serious upper body strength! At the end of the tables towards the back of the tent, the walls are lined with different types of German foods and the waitresses head to the end of the tent to pick up the food and deliver it to the tables. In the corners, there are elevated floors, which are lined with more picnic tables.  At one point, trumpets stood along the pew of the elevated floors playing music. In the center of the tents is a beautifully decorated circular stage. The stage is lined with beautiful blue and white stripes and greenery. Here, the band plays and organizers of Oktoberfest reside for the festivities. The Bavarian flag and German flag were painted along the walls and hung from various points. It gave the tent are real feeling of Bavarian and overall German pride and celebration for one of the biggest events both in Germany and abroad.

The tents were aligned with aisles where the waitresses carried food. In the center, the beer maidens navigated through the crowds of people and table to deliver beers. The writing at the end of the hall are different types of German foods.

The beer maiden carried about 12 mugs of beer, each a liter filled. She had some serious upper body strength and was so happy and cheerful as she managed to deliver beers to crowds of cheering people throughout the festival.

            What I really loved about Oktoberfest is the cheers and excitement that flowed through the hall the entire day. From the doors opening at 9:00 AM all the way till 6:00 PM, people were singing everything from classical German tunes to American classics. We heard German songs, in which we might not have known the words to but still sung along with anyways. We also heard Sweet Caroline, bringing me all the back to my home in Boston. Everyone was clinking glasses, sharing stories and enjoying what was an absolutely amazing day.

Grace and her pretzel. We managed to find
 the mustard!

            The food and drinks at Oktoberfest were both traditional to German culture but also really enticing to try. I am a huge foodie, so a travel destination means loads of taste testing. The tent is full of waitresses filing up and down the isle with trays of traditional German food, while beer maidens carry dozens of liters of beer amidst a cheering and energetic crowd. We tried a beer in Germany that is part lemonade part beer. It was quiet sweet and delicious. Next, we went with a traditional German been, which was not as sweet and what I thought better in larger quantitates. A day at Oktoberfest would not be complete without traditional German bites. We tried a pretzel, Wiener Schnitzel and other tasty delights. One of my favorite memories was when my friend Grace and I went on a mad hunt for yellow mustard. In Germany, mustard goes on a wiener schnitzel, but certainly not on a pretzel. Being from Boston, though, pretzel and mustard is quintessential with any sort of festival, such as a Red Sox Game. About twenty peculiar looks later, we finally found our waitress who gave us a platter of mustard. Success! And somehow in Germany, my best friend and I were reminded of home.

My friends and I enjoyed every moment of the festival.
 Together we tried traditional German beers and foods.
 We all could not stop smiling and having fun.

            After a long day in the tents, we headed outside at about 6:00 PM. The tents are dotted throughout the park and in between are a variety of attractions. Here, we saw all the carnivals, tried some food and enjoyed the sight seeing. It was amazing how big the festival was and how many activities there were. People could do anything from ride a Ferris wheel, play arcade games to enjoy an afternoon in a pub. There are even beer gardens, however they are not in the park. One of the best parts about walking around was basking in that wonderful carnival sweet street food smell, but akin to German food and culture. I smelt traditional German foods, such as Honig Brat Mandeln, or honey roasted almonds wafting through the park.  The fact that it was the perfect sunny afternoon only added to the picturesque day. After much walking around we decided to head back to the hotel and recuperate. We were all so very tired but couldn’t have been more content with our experience that day.

             While my weekend in Munich was full of new and wonderful sites, one thing I really value is the learning experience. I learned how to navigate a city that was not in English and one that I did not know prior to visiting pretty much on my own.  My trip to Oktoberfest was one of my first travel experience in Europe, and also relatively by myself. Traveling to and from Munich I had a connecting flight, so I learned more about how to travel alone in different airports and organize my schedule. Additionally I learned how to take a train system I did not know and navigate it to my destination, which required switching trains and learning the different stops. Most importantly, I learned the value of doing some research ahead of time and understanding the train systems in a foreign city. By doing so, I could more readily navigate my way with little trepidation. Additionally, I learned the value in a map. Not only did it help us locate a hotel conveniently near the festival, but it also helped me find my way to the hotel. Without Internet readily accessible, it is truly helpful to have an itinerary in advance. It is also important, though, to trust yourself and know that you ‘ve done the research and are prepared to navigate the city. I also learned, too, that it is really easy to simply ask someone for help. People are kind and willing to assist someone who just needs a little direction.

My travel experience has instilled a sense of confidence in me that I can navigate a city unknown to me and mostly on my own. I know that I always have the support of family and friends behind me, which I think is what gave me the confidence in the first place to step out and take a stab at travels on my own. My travel experience has taught me so much about the world and my place within it. I know this sense of confidence and support will stay with me not only for my future travels abroad but be something I carry with me all the way home.

My friends and I together enjoying the festival. It was something special to see so many people from all over the world enjoying such an exciting and amazing festival. I really loved experiencing Oktoberfest and learning about a different part of the world.

            Oktoberfest was an absolute amazing experience. I am full of memories of cheering all day long, delicious German food and endless smiles from the scents and smells that greeted me in every direction. I am so thankful to my parents for giving me this trip. It has been truly an opportunity to experience one of the most renowned festivals in the world and experience German culture.

I think each pocket of the world has something true to its origins waiting to be explored. I want to delve into every possible corner of the sphere and seek out those endless levels of flavors and sensations. This trip has inspired me to always continue traveling and the value of new experiences. This is true both from my exploration in Edinburgh and Scotland as well as my travels abroad. I will be traveling to Paris, the Scottish highlands, Dublin, London and Amsterdam. All so many exciting places that I know I will enjoy. Each trip, I plan to savor every moment there and use my time to the fullest.

It was a beautiful sunny day as we walked through the park and enjoyed the sights and sweet smells. In the park, Grace and I split a Weiner Schniztel!

Traveling will be my chance to grow as an individual and learn more about the world in which I live in. By exploring these new places I will both learn the history and culture of the area, but also be welcomed by new adventures that expand my horizons. Each experience invokes creativity and inspiration in which I will explore new paths along my journey. These experiences, I hope unite in a growling global mindset. I am excited to discover all the exciting experiences that lie ahead. I eagerly await all the new sights, scents and scenes that greet me in all my travels abroad!