Dave the Nomad

I have to say, the Bavarians know how to have fun. There is nothing quite like watching thousands and thousands of people sit, stand, and meander around singing, drinking beer, and eating superfluously large pretzels. I definitely underestimated the immensity of this event. Take a large carnival, and take the big tent at the carnival, now put twelve of these tents together, and pack each one full with thousands of people drinking and singing.

2010 will be bringing around the 200th annual celebration of this wedding gift to the wife of Bavaria’s King. The Bavarians had so much fun the first year, that they recommence the 12 day celebration every year. If you are planning to come on a weekend, go early, grab a table and make some friends. If you go after noon, the lines will be out the door to get into the tents, and once you’re in you have to be “seated” to get a beer. I say “seated” because its more of a place on a bench at a table in which is yours to sit, stand on, sing, cheer, and in olden days pissed from until you get up.

As I was leaving the first night with close to no voice from singing a veritable mixture of songs, my new German friends insisted on having me ride every single roller coaster with them… Starting with Olympia, which was a 5 loop coaster in the form of the Olympic Rings. Definitely fun, but nothing compared to the world’s fastest and tallest coasters at Cedar Point back in America. Beer isn’t served after 11 pm at the latest, but you’re welcome to stay and sing, or as I did enjoy the festival outside. The next morning, I went at opening and went to as many tents as possible to scope out the scene before it was too crowded. To be honest, if you’ve been to one of them you essentially have been to all of them. I stopped and had a liter in a couple, and then went to the debaucher of tents – Hofbrau. This tent is infamously packed with foreigners and a never ending party including a standing section!

No matter your take on this event the Germans remember that this is a happy time, and they have kept it as a happy and fun event….even with the Aussies. Yes, those beer loving Aussies flock to this event with zero inhibitions and a lemming-over-the cliff like mindset. The Germans seemed happy to have us there so long as one kept some amount of decorum and respect for the whole event. To them its a social time to remember, not forget from too much alcohol. With this thought in mind, the translation for the song they play every 10 minutes says “Cheers to the feelings, cheers to the feelings, we’re experiencing right now with everyone here.”