Oktoberfest Munchen 2009

[erik winkler]

I do not have a letterhead workshop in mind, but a nice get together.
As you probably have read already I live in the Netherlands (Europe).

For 9 years now I go to the best Beerfest of the world in Munchen Germany called the Oktoberfest.
A lot of people, museums, history, culture, goldleaf to be seen, a lot of fun, perfect atmosphere, friendly people and also e few beers

For a tourist it is hardly impossible to get a hotelroom, in Munchen downtown during the three weeks of Oktoberfest, unless if you book at least 8 months in advance.
Well after one year of sleaping on a parkinglot, in the open air, for a few hours with my drunken head, one year of sleeping with 5 friends and girlfriends in a small Korean car on the streets 6 years of sleeping in a tent on the campingsite I learnt to book in advance...
Now I have 5 extra bed reservations (along with my 9 other friends) in a good and cheap hotel for 23-26 spetember.
So if you want and experience all this, I invite my Letterhead friends to come over and enjoy this years Oktoberfest.
Will be great!!

Here is a link to get some extra information: http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/

Erik

[Larry White]

We drink to good health....to those that got it comin'!

[Tony Segale]

spit it in my mouth, chaco.

[Doug Bernhardt]

Eric......It seems you've got it perfectly. You Europeans have life by the short and curlies. As all my friends know I have no taste(NOT) for beer and had an idea that I'd have to attend this festival of sausage and fine beverage one day. I also had no idea(in truth)that you'd have to book so far in advance! One day I'd love to hoist a frothy one there. Enjoy not sleeping in a Volkswagon this time!

[erik winkler]

Thanks Doug,
They serve lemonade by the way
I can not wait to go, it is the best vacation every year!

[Patrick Mackle]

To Doug and all,
It is advisable NOT to drink lemonade in an area where so many drink beer.

[erik winkler]

To everyone, I have made a rule at my table of 9 persons, that everytime we finish one beer (that is one liter... ) three of us have to fill our empty glasses with water and drink it among the the 9 of us BEFORE we order a new glass.
Only that way we can make it from ten in the morning untill 11 at night.

Lemonade or a little walk around in Munchen is therefore no shame, it is a lifesafer.
I can not wait..... eventhough I do not like beer that much.....

[cam bortz]

I went to Oktoberfest in 1974 - stayed at a youth hostel in Augsburg and took the train to Munich in the company of an Aussie chap. I was eighteen at the time; managed to swallow two liters over the course of some hours. The train ride back to Augburg was memorable to say the least.

What a great memory jog this thread is! I recall sitting at a table with several middle-aged German men who were having a very jolly reunion of some sort; my German was't good enough to catch what - they all wore an odd little roughly diamond-shaped pin, with numbers and the word KRIM engraved on it. Eventually I figured out they were having an Army unit reunion, and that KRIM and the shape of the pin stood for the Crimean penninsula - these guys were veterans of the Russian Front! I suppose if I'd survived that, I'd be jolly as well.

[erik winkler]

Great to hear your experience Cam!!!
Somehow I allways get homesick if I hear someone talk about his or her remembrance of the Oktoberfest.

Of course not everyone has the possibility to just grap his bag and go for it, but if you can: GO!
I have everything aranged, just not the plain ticket to Munchen airport or to Schiphol (Amsterdam) airport.
Transport from Amsterdam is all arranged, hotel in the absolute centre of Munchen, food drinks etc all aranged.

But to give the unfortunate ones a glimps of the beauties of this South German city I think this must be the moment to post some of my treasured photographs of last years visit.
Hope you like them.

2 Good food and lots of it.jpg (41.61 KiB) Viewed 19357 times

3 One of the 30 beertents.jpg (33.7 KiB) Viewed 19361 times

4 The fair.jpg (56.32 KiB) Viewed 19354 times

6 One of the palaces in Munchen.jpg (24.43 KiB) Viewed 19355 times

[erik winkler]

And some more...

7 Yes this is rococco gold.jpg (42.34 KiB) Viewed 19354 times

8 Gilded cariage.jpg (28.76 KiB) Viewed 19349 times

9 Gilded cariage mega cool.jpg (28.24 KiB) Viewed 19351 times

9a And it goes on and on.jpg (34.87 KiB) Viewed 19347 times

9b Gilding in the Residenz palace of Munchen.jpg (29.59 KiB) Viewed 19350 times

9c I rest my case.jpg (39.56 KiB) Viewed 19346 times

[erik winkler]

And the last ones...



[attaehment=4]9d In the 400 years old Hoffbrauhaus.jpj[/attachment]

9e Is there an extra spot to be gilded I Ask.jpg (28.88 KiB) Viewed 19334 times

9f This whole room is completely silvered.jpg (44.52 KiB) Viewed 19329 times

9g Yes this is it.jpg (29.98 KiB) Viewed 19334 times

9h A place as big as a whole city is build just for three weeks of Oktoberfest.jpg (34.76 KiB) Viewed 19331 times

Erik

[Jim Moser]

I didn't go to Munchen during Oktoberfest, but there was plenty of celebrating around the local area ( Hanau, near Frankfurt ) where I was stationed between 1966-68. Lots of great local biers and of course the Fraualines ! Pictures of the ladies should be included when showing the beauty of Oktoberfest !

[Doug Bernhardt]

Eric ,
Great photos. You made me decide to go there one day in the not too distant future.....not this time as holidays are for later in season and booked.

[erik winkler]

Good for you Douch.
If you want I will be your guide

Erik