Ty’s 15U baseball team made it to the Deutschemeister (Germany National Championship) in Berlin, so we FINALLY were able to visit a city that was on our list since day 1 in Europe.
The boys were missing over half of their starters, a few were playing with injuries (including Ty), some 12U boys joined the team. It was a rough tournament, and despite getting destroyed (physically and mentally) on day 1, the boys showed up guns-a-blazing and won their last game against a team of boys that literally live and breathe baseball.
Ending on a high note was a great way to start our actual vacation. We moved hotels to be closer to the city center. I found a smokin’ deal at the Ritz. Fancy schmancy, comfortable, and a great location for seeing the sights.
We woke up early on Wednesday morning, 1 October, to get all decked out in our Oktoberfest attire and head to the tents when they opened at 10:00. As we were waiting for the boys to get cash, the hotel manager filled us in on some bad news…
Day 2 was lacking photos – and Jess…. But we made it to the tents a little before noon. We jumped to 4 different tents, enough time to grab a table, drink a beer, eat a half chicken, and get a vibe.
Ok so here’s the deal. I was not really looking forward to Oktoberfest. I thought it would be way too overstimulating, way too drunk, way too many obnoxious people.
Was it overstimulating? Yes….but I thought I would only last a couple hours one day. There were times when it was so loud that I couldn’t hear myself think, but the bands took breaks.
Was it a drunk mess? Yes, there were lots of drunk people, but 99% of them were happy and orderly. We saw 1 person get escorted out (smiling). We saw 1 guy puke on the table in the middle of the afternoon. A few girls crying in the bathrooms. But considering the fact that there were a million drunk people in a confined area, they were surprisingly NOT a mess.
And SO organized. There are unwritten rules to Oktoberfest (this is Germany where rules rule). And everyone follows them. The trains were packed but friendly and orderly. You sit at a table (if you’re lucky enough to get one), cram 8 people together on a bench, tip the waiters, dance on the benches (not the tables), leave when it’s time for the next group to come inside. The food and drinks arrive quickly. The mug washers never stop. The rotisseries never stop turning. The bathroom lines move quickly. The band plays a mix of oldies, goodies, folk, and everything in between.
Did I mention that ALL of the structures are temporary? 14 HUGE beer tents (although Ty doesn’t think that “tent” is an accurate word). The grounds are over 100 acres. Fun and games for all ages. Check out the Oktoberfest Toboggan on YouTube – Ty mastered it.
I mean, think of how special this is. In 1810 a prince and princess wanted the entire country to celebrate their wedding. Everyone got dressed up in their finest clothes, danced, ate, drank, and were merry for the marriage of their royals. Over 200 years later, the tradition continues. Nearly everyone wears the traditional Bavarian clothing. The band is the star of the show.
No entry fee. Zero Euros. That alone is unbelievable for an American. No need to charge admission when the average daily sales are over $70 million in beer and food sales. Could they make more money? Sure. But they want to keep the original intent of the future king and queen alive – available to everyone, no matter your class or social rank.
I love Germany. Yes, some things drive me crazy. But this place hangs on tight to traditions. And that determination is the secret ingredient.
Shearer Adventure 