Oktoberfest 2009

According to some statistics I've seen, about 6 million people will attend Oktoberfest this year, and about 7 million liters of beer will be consumed. Brian and I were lucky to be among those individuals who attended and consumed!

We spent last weekend in Munich, which is a beautiful city. Saturday we roamed around the city and enjoyed all of the Saturday markets. That night we met up with Brian's German relatives, the Reiners, and went to the Hofbräukeller. It was so fun to catch up with them!
Then on Sunday, we attended mass at this church with the Reiners.

After church, we met up with Konstantine's fraternity and walked across the street to Oktoberfest! His frat had tables reserved inside the Schottenhamel tent - which is one of the most popular local tents - and he invited us to join them! Here are some of my favorite Oktoberfest lessons/moments:

1) The tents aren't actually tents - they're giant buildings that take 3-4 months to build! Then they are taken down at the end of the festival - only to be re-built the next year

2) Ein Maß = one liter of beer, please! Please notice this waiter is carrying 12 LITERS of beer - check out that forearm muscle!

3) It is tradition for the men to wear Lederhosen and the women to wear Dirndl. Verena's Dirndl was very cute, and she's going to take me shopping for my own so that I can wear one next year!

4) There's a band in the middle of the tent that plays traditional German songs - and John Denver.

5) It is not tradition to drink the water that is served with the Weisswurst (white sausage). If you see someone doing that, they're a tourist who has been tricked! Don't drink the water!

6) Even babies enjoy the fun at Oktoberfest! Isn't she cute in her little Dirndl??


I can't wait to go to Oktoberfest next year!!