Bavaria, Germany Part 1: Oktoberfest!

This past weekend, Brian and I headed over to Munich, Germany, to see the real Oktoberfest. Since we were there on the last weekend of the festival, it was PACKED!!! They estimated 6-7 million people were going this year. Now if you think Oktoberfest is just for drinking, you would be very wrong - yes, there is a lot of beer flowing but there is so much more! All of the local breweries set up "tents" which are really elaborately decorated temporary buildings that can hold upwards of 10,000 people. Once inside, you grab a table (usually you are sitting at a large table with strangers) and then order your drinks and food. We always eat so well in Germany - the roast chicken, bratwursts, and homemade potato salad were delicious as always!

Beyond the tents, Oktoberfest includes "carnival rides," but we don't think that is the accurate term to describe them. These rides would fit right in with the best amusement park rides - they are crazy scary (probably even scarier if you've been drinking!). The carnival has several rollercoasters, two giant ferris wheels, and tons of rides that spin you and flip you and throw you into the air. We opted to avoid those rides... =)

After Oktoberfest on Saturday, we ventured into downtown Munich and visited the famous Hofbrau House. We had to shove our way in, but it was so worth it! The food and drinks were really good, and it was so much fun just to watch everyone around us. (Check out our photos to see the traditional German attire we saw all weekend...)

We weren't sure what to expect going into Oktoberfest, but it was a blast and we are already planning on going back next year. Check out our photos and let us know if you'd like to join us! =)