Two weeks ago I went on my last trip of the semester. Traveling with the family doesn't count for two reasons. 1. the semester will be over 2. it will be much more comfortable and less stressful than traveling alone or with friends. But i'm sure the suspense is killing you. My last trip of the semester was to Munich Germany for springfest. Springfest is like Octoberfest's little brother. Still cool but not as old or as big. But if you know what Octoberfest is then you know what Springfest is. And to answer your question; Yes, Springfest was a sausage and beer fueled ruckus. We are all lucky to be alive.
First let me speak of Munich. Munich is the capital of the Bavarian region of Germany. Let me warn you Bavarians are Bavarians first Germans second. They made that clear. They have alot to be proud of. Bavaria has a very powerful and rich history and a ridiculous countryside. Spring time in southern Germany is beautiful, I can vogue. Munich has a lot of history but the city itself is pretty modern due to a necessary reconstruction after WW2 (way to go Hitler). Speaking of Hitler, Munich was the city where the Nazi party had its start and where Hitler first tried to overthrow Germany, was jailed and eventually did take over Germany...and we all know what happen after that....best tea party ever. Public transportation, museums, parks, food, the beer, soccer team, all of it great. Munich is a great place to visit my faithful readers.
Day one quick synopsis: Went on a bike tour of the city. It was apologetically tourist but I was glad we did it. Munich was such a big city that we saw alot of things we wouldn't have had the time to see. We saw the sights, stopped some traffic and got some good jokes form our Irish tour guide (okay maybe I was the only one laughing) Highlights of the tour A piece of the Berlin Wall, The Hofbrauhaus; one of the oldest beer halls in Germany (500 years) and the location of Hitlers first failed coup ( had lunch there with my friends), The English Park; 8 times bigger than central park. Complete with multiple fake rivers. By far the biggest and coolest park i've seen in all of Europe. In the middle of the bike tour we stopped in the Chinese Garden, the second largest beer garden in Munich. It could hold 3,000 people. There they sold real German food and 3 types of local beer; only sold by the liter....yes liter. Needless to say things got interesting on the bike tour after a visit to the beer garden. On the way back to the bike shop we stopped by a section of a fake river where the rocks made a continuous wave and some dudes surfing it. It was awesome.
Now the main attraction. What we really came to Munich for: Springfest. Springfest was first a giant carnival with rides, food stands games, everything. Think of your local county fair and then think more German and more awesome. There are two Tents where the party is. One tent that is owned by the Hafbrauhaus, is fancy and is by reservation only. The second one, has a rock band playing, all the young people and beer everywhere. In The mugs, on the tables, on the floor, and guaranteed to be on your shirt.
The tent had thousands of people in it, all drinking tasty tasty local beer by the Liter (again beer only sold by the liter) signing along with band. Standing on the tables, dancing on the benches, yelling "Prost" (german word for toast) and hitting their mugs together. I know this sentence can't do it any justice but IT WAS FLIPPIN AWESOME.
Both Friday and Saturday night were spent in the tents with my friends. Both American and German. With the lubricant of beer making new friends was too easy. Both nights I showed up with my Americans but by the time I had my first Liter in hand I had made new friends. This was made easy by the fact that young Germans and most young eastern Europeans speak good English. They are very educated. They are also very nice once they become your friend, making you eat this, pouring their beer into yours. And about every five seconds we were all yelling Prost for one reason of another.
It was an awesome weekend. I will exclude my story about getting lost in the city my second night. I'll just say its a story... next time you see me and i'll tell you about it. Be on the look out for a video I took while in the Beer Tent and my post about our trip to the Concentration Camp in Dachau.
Its my last week in Florence so I'll do my best to post before I leave. If not I'll be writing from Paris and London.
Legend of Mr. Rager - Kid Cudi (this is the song I put up in my headphones when i'm going to meet my friends at night)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_Gv12FvkCo
Eclipse - Uno Hype
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq1hkjfo5cU
Truth - Alexander
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_atFMCUJ1o
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