What’s there to say about Oktoberfest that you haven’t already assumed? Overcrowded yes, drunken yes, touristy yes, lederhosen and dirndls yes, expensive yes, fun? Hmmm. Oktoberfest is a massive party in the heart of München. Germany is already known for it’s lenient drinking laws (drinking on the train or street is perfectly allowed), but why not add 2 weeks from Sept 20-Oct 5, of festivities to encourage tourists to drink themselves stupid? I don’t want to sound like a wet blanket but all who know me know I hate massive crowds. Perhaps I wouldn’t have been so overwhelmed if we went during a weekday instead of a holiday. Perhaps I would have had more fun if we just sat in a beer tent and watched the shenanigans going on. Instead I was stuck at armpit height being pushed by the crowds. Even if I wanted to stop and look at the many attractions, I kept getting swept away by a wave of people. I enjoyed the company I was with and when we lucked out and found a table to seat 8, I really enjoyed the food and beer. Other than my vegetarian friend, who could complain about oxen, railers, baked chicken, and amazingly good cabbage, the works!?
To be perfectly honest I’m sure if my drinks were more potent I would have enjoyed myself more, but instead the 0.5 l lemonade and 0.5 l beer concoction just tested the capacity of my bladder. Sadly, not all the bathrooms were well marked with exception of the free ones. Yes I said free ones, the others you had to pay 1 euro or more. So I had to run all over the site to find the free toilets. Thankfully the bathroom queues moved quickly and I was relieved within 5 minutes of standing in line. Unfortunately I walked out just in time to barely miss getting hit by an ambulance or ambushed by officers escorting a bleeding vagrant. It’s unfortunate that the Oktoberfest that started as a celebration in 1810 of a royal marriage, which included horse races and an agriculture emphasize has turned into 7 million people visiting Munich for drunken debauchery. Don’t know what I mean? Look up Munich pukes and you’ll see evidence in colorful pictures. A personal example I witnessed: it was a little past 2 when one poor soul stooped down by us to fall asleep against a wall. Others followed in suit, some with care takers, many left behind as the weak link, all with the classic head bob from side to side and spittle stains on either shoes or shirts.
After all is said and done I always ask myself “Was it worth it?” I would still say it was worth it, at least for the experience, but I highly doubt I’ll go again, but if I did I would go early during the week with the rest of the old folks.