We checked into our hostel Friday afternoon and were drinking by 6 o’clock. We checked out Monday afternoon and took a train late late that night to Osnabrueck. The time between then was simply amazing. Oktoberfest 2006 was one of the best times of my life for many reasons and hopefully someday I can do it again. I could type stories for hours, but I will try to keep it short and simple here. If you really want to know, come find me in person!
Our hostel was the Meininger Hostel located barely 3 blocks from Oktoberfest. In a very cool twist of events, the room reservations we had booked were through some British travel company, which included a whole list of events for us to do all weekend, which ended up making Oktoberfest so great. The guides met us at 6PM and we had dinner at a nearby restaurant. We got to know everyone in the group and then set off to Oktoberfest. It was pure chaos, even this late at night. Hundreds of thousands of people scurrying about. We sat down at a table outside a beer hall and started talking 2 Italians at the table. They had been drinking all day and couldn’t speak a word of English, but we all understood each other perfectly. We told them it was our first time here in Oktoberfest and they bought our first rounds! It was a good start of the weekend.
Saturday, we woke up at 8AM and went to wait for a table. At Oktoberfest, the big Liter beers are only served to you if you are seated either inside a beer tent or alongside the tent, in a small section of beer tables. The tent we had chosen was already full, so we grabbed 2 beer table and sat down for the day. I started drinking at 10AM, others held off until later. We sat at that table drinking all day long. Around 6PM, I got curious and managed to sneak my way into a beer tent. Entrance to the tents is strictly controlled, you either need a wristband or your name on a list, but I managed to find a wristband. Inside the tent is like heaven, there is a giant band playing in the center of the tent and everyone is as happy as can be. I stayed late until it shutdown and then found my way home.
Sunday, we woke up at 10AM and headed out to a bar called Ned Kellys, a split Irish and Auzzie bar. Some new friends of ours were from New Zealand and wanted to watch the rugby championship game. It was my first rugby match and it was great. From there, we walked around the downtown for a bit and then headed back to Oktoberfest. There were 5 of us and we managed to get into a beer tent. From there it was amazing. We sat in the tent for the rest of the night and enjoyed the company. I can’t describe it. The entire weekend was amazing.