OKTOBERFEST!!!!

Our much anticipated trip to Munich started on the train Friday night. We packed sandwiches, pretzels, and wine (gotta love my mom for teaching me how to pack a picnic when going on a trip to save money). We got to Munich late Friday night so we just went to bed to make sure we were well rested to the big day. We were up at 5:30 Saturday morning to walk to the Oktoberfest fair grounds and wait in line to get into the tent. We meet Jack and his friends at the Haufbrauhaus tent which know to be a tourist tent. We were slammed packed with people waiting in line from 6:30 until 9:00 when the pushing to get inside started. Getting up that early definitely paid off! We had 3 tables to fit our large group (it is often hard to get one table). We were very happy to all be sitting because you are only served beer if you are sitting at a table.

Then the beer was not served until 12:00. So we stocked up on energy drink, pretzels (Jack was very happy to be eating the Sullivan family staple food again), cheese bread. It was so entertaining to walk around, people watch, and we had a great time meeting Jack's friends and catching up with him.

I loved getting to see Jack in Germany. I miss my famil so much and this put off my home sickness for a couple weeks. We kept saying how neat and how lucky we were to both be living in Europe and meet each other in a different country. We are going to meet up hopefully again this week in Interlaken.

This post is a little long but we had such a great time and want to share our first Oktoberfest experience!

Fair grounds at 6:30 AM

Yes, Zann is the only person wearing khakis. Next time we will buy the appropriate attire.
shoulder to shoulder for 2 and 1/2 hours. It got much more packed than this. Jack put his arms up to take a drink and couldn't put them down it was so crowded.

Yes! We made it

Nice healthy breakfast. Pretzel bigger than my head and an energy drink.

5,000 beer mugs ready to go

Haufbrauhaus tent

Cookie stand with many inappropriate comments

The Sullivan's favorite food.

The new brothers waiting out the time until the beer is served.

Its about that time. The parade has started. Our tables were perfect. The parade walked right by.

The opening ceremony

What we came for! First round of beers served!

How that lady carried 10 beers we still don't know. Lift one took two hand!

Finally the first beer has been served!

Cheers to 6 hours of patience!!

First Beer! So good after 6 hours of waiting!!

Sullivan's do Munich

Jack doing the German Squat (what we named his position for the day) He says the more fun he is having the more he sweats. I think he was having a pretty good time!

Having a great time!!

Walking the fairgrounds of Oktoberfest after the tent.

On Sunday we had some time for sight seeing around Munich before we left. We walked around the tourist areas. We were able to meet up with our friend Will from Auburn who is living in Munich for 3 weeks giving bike tours. It was great to see another familiar face in Germany! We got in a great American lunch at The Hard Rock Cafe for some nachos and cheese buggers before we left. The camera battery died so we don't have too many pictures of Munich.

Just pulling our suitcase while sight seeing

Bavarian Parliament

Auburn boys reunited in Munich

Here are some videos that show what was really going on.



The crowd signing "Hey Baby, I want to know if you'll be my girl" You wouldn't think it was our first beer from me singing the totally wrong words to the song and my little dance with my beer. So I'm taking the embarrassment to show off the atmosphere!




Hearing Country Roads made us very excited to be in the tent known for tourists. It reminded me of being back at Auburn.



The owner of the Hofbrauhaus leading the welcome toast which was then played through out the day about every 10 minutes. Translation is " I cheers you, I cheers you, I drink because I am happy. One Two Three Super!!"