Has to be one of the best party events wherever you attend. We've celebrated in New Braunfels, Torrance, Orange (Ca), Big Bear Lake, Huntington Beach, Albuquerque and Munich. All were fun. Munich was a blast...although I couldn't understand how you could drink beer out of personal-sized pitchers and then ride a rollercoaster. (BTW, they do have smaller mugs which are only about 2 or 3 times the normal US size, but even the women don't order them...so drink up!) At work? Enjoy.... http://www.oktoberfest-tv.com/Wiesn2002/default.asp?PkId=23&LocId=2&LCID=1033 Zicky Zacky Zicky Zacky Oy Oy OY! Prost Ya'll!
Wonder what took you so long to post, SJC. Right now they're singing...heeeeey hey baby...I wanta knoooow...if you'll be my girl Doesn't sound to German of them... Ein prosit...Ein prosit... That's better!
SJC, Now they're singing CCR (Proud Mary)! Don't they sing any German songs anymore...instead of all of these 'Freedom' songs? * We were shocked when we first got to the tent a fews years ago. We practically went straight from the airport, and when we got there delirious tired, jet lagged, and ready to party... they were playing John Denver.
We are internationally-minded people . Younger people in Germany do not really listen to German language music at all, with a few exceptions (we have some very good artists in Germany who are not internationally known). That German language folk music stuff is almost only for old folks. But I'm sure there are a few tents there where you can find that kind of stuff. Plus, half of the people at the Oktoberfest are probably from the US, Japan and elsewhere anyway! (by the way, I have never been there, although I have friends in Munich, maybe next year)
Can't believe you haven't been there. We met mostly Germans there. It was amusing that trhe Northern Germans that we met needed a Swiss to interpret a Bavarian.
I think I have been invited to go each of the last 12 years, but there was always something else going on...then again, I think I'll probably live in Munich at some point, so I'll hopefully have plenty of opportunities to go there... Yeah, Bavarians are quite different...it's perhaps a little bit like the Texans in the US...friendly people from the south .
I used to work in Munich for Siemens and SJC is right - they have pride similar to that of Texans. I never could understand Bavarian, it's really a different language. It's an awesome place in the summer when everybody is out drinking beer at the beer gardens. Wish I could be there now for Oktoberfest.
SJC- Where in Deutschland do you live? I lived in Frankfurt for three years (from 1982-1985) and Stuttgart for four years (from 1988-1992). I miss Germany a ton. Especially during Chirstmas the time. The Christmas Markets are the best things ever, especially the heisse maroni and mandeln...and gluhwein too, of course... (Hope my spelling isn't too bad. It's been a while since I've had to speak or spell any German)
Well I'm happy to say that I'll be going for a few days next week to partake in the celebrations. For any who've been there, how much fun is it and what exactly do you do, aside from drinking of course? Also what's the crowd like? Women perhaps?
Actually, for those of you who want to celebrate Oktoberfest early, you should check out Septoberfest (especially you Behad...it's in your neighborhood!): Septoberfest We will be going on at 9:00 PM. Hope to see lots of my fellow CC.net drunkards there!
Have you been to Germany before? Munich? Speak German? All of my advice is from about 10 years ago... The train from the airport was cheap and nice. (The airport was brand new when we went and they had moved it way out of town. Our travel agent, unaware of this, told us to take a taxi. After traveling for auite a while, we finally get into rush-hour traffic in Munchen. Great way to start a trip...a $120 taxi ride.) If possible, familiarize yourself with the metro rules/signage before you go. It's a great way to get around. Re. the partying...the Oktoberfest is like a big County Fair with giant beer tents in the middle. We were in the Lowenbrau tent I believe. There was a serious feeling of comraderie and it made it easy to start talking to everyone around. We met people from all over Germany, Switzerland, and some Americans who worked all over Europe. Be prepared to sing along, and it helps if you know the standard (oft-repeated) Oktoberfest songs and toasts... but if you don't, no problem...you'll learn them quick enough (and as we discussed above, there will be many American songs to sing to). I'll try to help with the most commonly used excuse to drink: http://ingeb.org/Lieder/einprosi.mid Ein Prosit, ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit ... Ein Prosit, ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit Eins! Zwei! Drei! Zuffa! Interpreted: A toast, a toast to happiness (I always thought Gemütlichkeit didn't translate too well, and was more like hospitality and open friendliness...but whatever) Also...you'll learn the chicken dance quickly. Prost!
Cohen- Thanks for the help. I've never been to Germany and I don't speak any although I'm trying to learn at least some basic stuff. Pretty excited though!
Congratulations Simpson, you fell for our sting, there's no such thing as "Scotchtoberfest" "There's Nawt!!?!?!? YA USED ME SKINNER, YA USED MEEE"
