27-28 September 2023 Munich and Octoberfest

 

27-28 September 2023      Munich and Octoberfest

After two weeks enjoying the many wonders of Sicily (magnificent ruins, lovely scenery, friendly people, and the most delicious pasta and seafood dishes and wine), we flew to Munich where we took part in another gastric delight – Octoberfest – the world’s largest (and most likely messiest) beer festival.  Bring on the beer and bratwurst!  This year’s Octoberfest runs from 15 September to 3 October   

After arriving at the Munch Airport, we took the Lufthansa bus into the city where we only had a 2 block walk to our hotel.  In the late afternoon we walked to Marienplatz where the magnificent Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) is located.  Built between 1867-1905, this Neo-Gaothic structure replaced the old Town Hall and is famous for its Glockenspiel (mechanical clock) in the hall’s tower.  At 11 am and 12 pm there is a daily performance where dances perform six waltzes to four different songs (which change monthly).  And at 9 pm, the Glockenspiel plays two songs – Richar Wagner’s “Meistersinger von Nurberg” and Johannes Brahms’ “Lullaby”  to tell the citizens of Munich it is time to go to bed.

We then set out to find Kilian’s Irish Pub, but unfortunately Google let us down.  It told us the Pub was located at the corner of Marienplatz, but after walking for about 45 minutes, we could not find it.  We asked several people, and they all sent us in different directions.  Finally, one women said that the Pub was actually about two squares over, but by this time our reservation time had expired and we were both very tired.  So we just walked back to our hotel where we enjoyed a free mug of beer and a German pretzel, compliments of the hotel in honor of Octoberfest.

Neues Rathaus-Glockenspiel

Neues Rathaus

Old Town Hall

Our Beer and Pretzel

My treat for drinking beer!

Octoberfest started in 1820 as the reception for the marriage of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese.  Ludwing wanted to invite the whole region and asked the beer breweries to create special beers.  Today only 6 breweries provide the beer for Octoberfest and all have been in production over 100 years and each year create a special beer that is only available during Octoberfest.

Our participation in Octoberfest began the next morning (29 September) at 10:00 am when we walked to the Fat Tire Tour Company in Karlsplatz.  (The easiest way to get a seat in one of the beer tents is through a tour company.).  From there our guide took us by subway to where Octoberfest is held.  Bill had thought that Octoberfest was held in several locations/breweries in Munich, but in fact it is in just one very large field, called Theresienwise (in honor of Princess Therese). 

Once there our guide walked us down the main street of Theresienwise pointing out the more famous beer tents.  It is like a big carnival with beer tents, amusement park rides, food kiosks, and vendors selling all types of Octoberfest souvenirs.  And crowds and crowds of people! During our walk a gaily decorated beer wagon came down the street bringing beer to one of the beer tents. Many of the people who attend also dress in  traditional German attire -- dirndle for women and lederhosen for men.

Entrance to Octoberfest

Paulenar Beer Tent

Main Street of  Theresienwise - Love the Traditional Dress

Holfbrau Beer Tent

Augustiner Beer Tent

Gingerbread Hearts

Beer Wagon

Lowenbrau Beer Tent

Beer Wagon

Love the Hats!

We then had 4 hours in the Schottenhamel Festhalle beer tent to enjoy the beer, lunch (half a roasted chicken), great German music, and noisy and ruckus atmosphere that is Octoberfest.  I now know why I should not drink beer – after one large mug, I made Bill buy a chicken hat that when you pressed a button on the hat the two drumsticks clapped together!  He had a “great” time carrying that hat in his carry-on throughout the rest of our travels.  Hopefully our “fouth son” Duffy appreciated all the effort we made to bring it back to him!  After we left the beer tent, we walked to the amusement area where we rode the Ferris wheel and got great views of the crowds wandering through Theresienwise.  One has to be careful walking around the rides, as you do not want to get under some of the rides, like the roller coaster or some of the rides that swing you around or up and down.  It is certainly not rain coming down from up above!

Schottenhamel Festhalle - Our Beer Tet

Inside the Tent

Inside the Tent

My Beer

Bill's Chicken Hat

Statue of Bavaria

In addition to the Beer Tents and amusement rides, there is the Statue of Bavaria, the female personification of the Bavarian homeland.  Commissioned by Ludwig I in 1843, it is cast in bronze and is 59’ high – the largest statue of a woman in Munich.  It stands in front of the Hall of Fame (Ruhmeshalle) which contains busts of famous Bavarians.

Amusement Area

Amusement Area

Looking Down at the Crowds

Looking Down at the Crowds

Looking Down at the Crowds

Returning to our hotel, we just rested the rest of the evening as we had an early morning bus ride back to the airport for our flight to Warsaw Poland.