Munich-Prague-Budapest-Vienna-Salzburg-Oberammergau-Munich
September 18-30th, 2010
This tour proved to be a magnificent journey, as we visited five of Europe's most intriguing cities.
Munich, Germany Oktoberfest
We arrived in Munich, Germany on a beautiful sunny day. The city is a flurry of activity and no wonder! Oktoberfest begins this weekend; an annual 16-day celebration of beer and Bavarian culture. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and the largest folk festival in the world. This year marks the 200 year anniversary of the event. As we entered the city, we were observing the finish to the parade which annually kicks off Oktoberfest. Thousands of Bavarians in traditional costume (embroidered German lederhosen for the men and vest with apron and headscarf for the Frauleins), were celebrating throughout the downtown streets of Munich. The moving costumed crowd could only be heading to Therensiewiese, the name given to the festival grounds. The area is massive totaling 4,500,500 square feet. The main attraction seemed to be the many beer gardens. For example, we tried to find a seat at Augustiner Biergarten which accommodated 6000 people on benches inside and 2500 outside. After wandering through many similar beer halls and not being able to find a seat, we were thrilled just to observe the fest. Thousands arrived at the grounds early that day to secure a bench for their group. For some, reservations were made weeks in advance. Beers are served in litre steins costing $11 per with an additional refundable deposit for the stein. In many of the beer houses there was a raised orchestra pit with rowdy musicians. We watched in amazement as costumed crowds danced on tables, enthusiastically dancing and singing. When I return to Oktoberfest with proper costume, I will be sure to make reservations well in advance!
Marienplatz is the central square in the city center of Munich, Germany. Every day at 11am (12noon and 5pm in the summer) the Glockenspiel in Marienplatz, chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century.On this beautiful day in September with musicians scattered throughout the plaza, crowds gathered to witness the event consisting of 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures. The whole show lasted between 12 and 15 minutes long. At the very end a small golden bird at the top of the Glockenspiel chirped three times, signaling the end of the spectacle.
