Munchen

Rented a car this weekend and drove the Autobahn to Munich for Oktoberfest. Paul, Annie, Tim (Chawa-gaga) and I set out on Friday morning for Bayern (Bavaria). The driving here is amazing.

Here's a few stats for our Berlin-Munich drive:

Model: VW Passat

Average speed 180kph (about 108 mph)

Top speed 210kph (about 126 mph)

Distance about 600km (5.5 hours)

Cost of 1 tank of gas €90 (about $130)

Windmills seen: endless

When we got to Munich it was about 4:30 and we got a parking place right in front of the apartment where we were staying. I met a couple of "Muncheners" at Kesner in NYC this summer and Daniel, who lives in Munich (his girlfriend Christine lives about 30min away) was kind enough to let me and Paul stay at his amazing flat about 4 blocks from Oktoberfest (Wiesn).

After throwing on a pair of liederhosen and traditional socks, we were out the door for the park. All the tents were completely full already, but Daniel's brother knew someone at one of the tents/houses so we got through and managed to get a beer. The Mass, which is one liter of beer is stronger here than the usual brew (didn't manage to find out why...except for the people singing and dancing on tables...seems like a good enough cause). After I downed my second Mass of the evening, I was well on my way to...somewhere. We stopped for a quick Hendl (Half a chicken with the most amazing flavors) on the fair grounds walking back to Daniel's apartment.

And then we commenced drinking. Alot. So much. Never before or after or again will I consume so much alcohol. After a couple of hours a group of us left to go to a club. Paul never made it in a cab. APPARENTLY we went to a club. Drank. danced. went to THREE MORE clubs? Drinking all the time. Then we went home? Then I woke up. Here's the miracle: I was NEVER sick. There is something in the water in this place.

Paul had a great time too. He passed out on the bench outside their apartment and was discovered by Christine with a beer in his hand and a pack of cigarettes he didn't smoke nor remembers buying.

At 9am we awoke to the ROAR of tens of thousands of people filing into the Wiesn. By 9:30 ALL the tents were full and CLOSED. People like their beer early here.

After a traditional Bavarian breakfast of weisswurste (white sausage with little condom skins) and pretzels, we spent Saturday getting a fantastic tour of the city of Munich. It is so different than Berlin. I always mention how much destruction and identity confusion there seems to be in Berlin. Munich embodies history, culture, and tradition. Every building, person (the liederhosen and dirndls helped), and corner of this city feels ENTIRELY German. Like stereotype. In the most Bavarian way. It's just beautiful.

After a delightful dinner, our overworked and underpaid hosts drifted off to the deserts episode of Planet Earth, and Paul and I headed to a Rave about 25 minutes away. Yep. Check.

I had THE MOST fun in Munich. Daniel and Christine showed more hospitality than I could have ever imagined from someone I met once for 20 minutes on the other side of the world. If the rest of Munich is anything like them, then this truly is really quite close to heaven.