MUNICH

After yet another incredible bus ride, this time through almost the entirety of Germany, we arrived in Munich! Because we came during Oktoberfest, prices for accommodation, even on Airbnb, were pretty high. Because of this, we only spent three days in Munich, including travel time. Fortunately, we had been looking forward to attending Oktoberfest for quite some time, and were happy to have even one day there!

One of the best parts of Oktoberfest was the outfits. At Oktoberfest, everyone wears traditional Bavarian clothing, which means a dirndl for the women, and lederhosen for the men. It turned out to be cheaper for us to just buy our outfits rather than rent, so that’s exactly what we did! I braided and pinned my hair up, and off we went! Oktoberfest is an extremely popular event in Munich, with thousands and thousands of people coming every day. The place was packed! We walked in, took a picture with the welcome sign and set off exploring!

There’s actually quite a bit to do at Oktoberfest besides drink beer, although that is definitely the main reason to go. There are plenty of children, who look adorable all dressed up. Hundreds of stalls offer carnival games and rides, as well as lots of delicious food. We wasted no time getting some bratwurst and smothering them in ketchup and mustard.

There are about twenty tents at the festival, each with a unique theme. We went on a Sunday, so it was especially busy and we weren’t able to find a table inside any of them. It was still so fun to just walk through and see everyone dancing and singing along to classics like “Don’t Stop Believing” and “99 Red Balloons.” Most tents have a live band performing, and in one of the smaller tents we were able to find some standing room right up front by the band. The atmosphere is exciting and exhilarating and we had a blast.

We did eventually find a table outside but didn’t stay for long. We rode a Haunted House ride and then the Ferris Wheel. The Oktoberfest Ferris Wheel is one of the largest in Europe, and we had a spectacular view of the festival! We went right at dusk so we could see everything all lit up and bright.

After the Ferris Wheel we grabbed some roasted almonds that we had been smelling all day, and they were simply scrumptious. Usually things smell better than they taste, but this time around we were not disappointed and quickly scarfed the whole thing down. With our wallets considerably lighter than when we left the house that morning, we participated in one of the best free pastimes Oktoberfest has to offer: watching drunk people play carnival games. In particular, we joined a crowd gathered around a game where participants have to glide up a moving sidewalk to then come down a slide. A good majority couldn’t make it up without falling, making for an excellent show.

After a great day at one of the largest festivals in the world, we said “auf wiedersehen” to Oktoberfest and to Germany! Clad in full lederhosen and dirndl on the train, we were sad to leave Germany after only two weeks. But with our Bavarian outfits stowed in our backpacks, it was off to the hidden jewel in the Mediterranean: Pula, Croatia!