Oktoberfest: The entrance!
View of Oktoberfest from the ferris wheel!
It’s amazing where 10 hours on a bus can take you from Hungary. But before I get into that, let me start with my injury.
I unfortunately earned my first running injury, and not one that I’m proud of, to say the least. I’ve been running steadily 4 times a week since I got back to Hungary, and last weekend I even managed to go the distance — 4 miles (which was a workout for me)! And ideally I’ll run another 4, maybe 4.5 later today! But on Wednesday morning during my mid-week 3 mile run, about halfway through I realized I was running off my normal path. Now, I’ve gotten used to running a certain route depending on the distance, but I don’t mind veering off the beaten path, either.
And now I learned my lesson! Stick to the path! As I was going down a street that hadn’t yet been hit by the morning sun, I noticed an old lady walking her dog. As I swerve to the right to go around them, I didn’t notice the uneven pavement, tripped, and nearly ate a big piece of sidewalk! Luckily, my wailing arms were near a fence and my finger got stuck, slowing my fall, but also jamming it backwards. Not wanting to look like I injured myself, I ran a few more feet before stopping and assessing the damage.
I had a choice to make. My finger was killing, and I still had half a run left. I don’t know how to stop a run on my watch, so I either forfeit the half I already ran, or keep going. So I kept going. Going at a slower pace and holding my finger in my other hand to keep it straight, I finished the run! What do you need fingers for when running, anyway?
I don’t think it’s broken, but have suspicions of a sprain or dislocation. After traveling to several pharmacies, I finally found tongue depressors and adhesive-but-not-sticky bandages to put together a makeshift splint, which so far seems to be working. I haven’t gone to a doctor because I figured they’d put a splint on, anyway, and there’s not much they can do for a finger injury (I don’t think!).
Now, as I was saying before, 10 hours on a bus from Hungary can get you pretty far! Myself, along with three Hungarians — Bea, Kari, and Balint (contributing photographer to this entry, thanks!) — were the American-Hungarian Beerfest team! After having some Mexican food for dinner at Arriba, we trekked to Heroes’ Square to find our bus. Bea got us reservations on the lower level of a double-decker bus, and with a table, too! We left at 2200, or 10 PM.I was under the impression we’d be arriving at 11 AM, but that was the time they intended for the tour of the city to end and for us to be at the festival’s doorstep!
After several stops along the way, with some sleep, a dubbed version of “The Bounty Hunter,” and even a movie about Munich, we finally
Walking around Olympic Park
arrived to our destination, starting with some stretching around Olympic Park.
Now, I have to say that Germany has never really been at the top of my places to see list. Many have told me I should, and after visiting Munich, I have to say I’m intrigued and would happily take another trip that way at some point. From what little I actually saw, it seems like a city with some interesting history, unique architecture, and a fun place to walk around and enjoy a liter of beer. Which is why we even came, right?
After losing our tour group, we decided to wake up with some coffee before trekking to the festival. I couldn’t believe how many people were walking around the pedestrian shopping area, but seeing the crowds at Oktoberfest was even more insane! We got there around 12-something, and people were already hammered. Stumbling, being carried by friends, or just plain sleeping — Oktoberfest definitely was a mecca for a party of drunkards!
Kari and I enjoying the best of the wurst
Instead of get right into drinking, we decided to eat a wurst, and then hop on the big ferris wheel! I’m glad I did, because seeing the event from that high up was that much more awesome! With so many people, I was in disbelief with how we even made it from the entrance to the ferris wheel! Once we got off, we were in agreement that it was time to drink!
Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks to going to Oktoberfest on such short notice AND on a weekend is that you might not find a table. From what I’ve been told, people reserve tables for the following year right after they finish drinking at Oktoberfest the previous year! Supposedly, areas are reserved in every tent for people without reservations, but we were there late enough that it would be challenging to even find those open!
Bea really came to the rescue here with finding not only beer, but also a place to
Augustiner Beer...what we drank in the tent!
sit! She suggested we pay 3 Euros to go into some unknown area fenced off from the rest of the festival. After entering, we were surrounded by carnival games and sausage stands. However, we were on a mission, so we sped over to a tent called Festzeit, which served Augistiner beer. (I tried to find what tent we were in exactly, but I think it’s a smaller tent, so it’s not on any official map for Oktoberfest. Either way, it rocked!). Inside was insane! Folk dancing, singing, people standing on benches and jumping up and down. Whips were cracking, beer was spilling, and everyone was having the time of their life. Unfortunately, there wasn’t an empty seat around.
After walking a bit and having our doubts, Bea asked a waitress about finding us some space. Instead of telling us tourists off, she happily asked some people to make space for all four of us! I am so glad that we were able to squeeze into a tent, because it just made the experience that much more memorable! We sat with a woman and her two kids, dressed in dirndls, and a Brazilian man and a German man with his grandson. They’re friends because one’s daughter married the other’s son. The Brazilian, a former Samba singer, told me he loved San Francisco, but his hometown Rio is the most amazing place in the world, based on natural beauty alone. Can’t argue, never been. The German guy had something to do with Bosch, the equipment company, but he looked more like a crazy/awesome scientist/musician. He also gave his 6-year-old grandson the last of his beer…kind of forgot about that until now!
After enjoying our beers — which were 9 Euros a liter, by the way — we decided to do some more exploring around. We had to leave soon, anyway, because a reservation for that table was coming at 1730, and by now it must’ve been 1700 or so. Kari and I were hungry, so we snacked on some currywurst – my first time eating it, and it did not disappoint! A trip back to Germany to enjoy the wurst certainly would not be the worst decision!
Bea and Kari, beer champs!
Balint and I enjoying our liters of beer! (Note: those are not my glasses!)
The strangest thing to me about Oktoberfest was that there were tons of rides. I don’t know if the rides are there year-round, but I just don’t get why a bunch of drunk people would go on spinning rides (that were definitely spinning faster than any ride I’ve seen in the US), only to puke. Bea, Balint, and I decided to challenge my notion by going on a roller coaster. This was one of the few coasters that actually went so fast that I couldn’t keep my arms up. Probably for the best, anyway — I didn’t need an entire broken hand, and with such tight turns, who know what my arms in the air would hit! Once we got off, we saw a guy who was leaning against a fence start puking for a good minute! Which is why I didn’t get the rides/alcohol thing.
Lowenbrau horse! Our transportation around the festival!
Another surprising part of the event was the lack of trash cans. Rarely did I see any around the festival, and even walking back to the bus, I only passed one — after we’d been on the move for 20 minutes. Instead, trash continued to pile at various spots around the festival
So we casually made our way back to the bus, and waited, tired and hazy from a long but awesome trip to Oktoberfest! I did get a souvenir — a beer stein! At one point, Bea got a picture with some guys in lederhosen (which she challenged me to get one with a few girls — which I did, and I’m calling it generational because from what I remember, the age of the four started low and went…up), the guy ended up giving me his beer stein to take. I really wasn’t supposed to, and my guilt got the better of me. I took it out of my backpack, and put it down somewhere around the festival grounds.
Balint with some damsels in dirndls
We left Munich about 2200, and arrived back in Budapest at 0645 in the morning. An amazing weekend trip, and one I’d be up for again — but maybe with an extra night or two to fully enjoy what Oktoberfest and Munich have to offer!
Bea found some men in lederhosen, too -- but I think the guy just wanted her candy apple!
The 411
The bus: We paid 12,000 forints, or about $60 USD, per ticket for the bus to/from Oktoberfest. It was about a 10-hour bus ride each way, with stops along the way. This included leaving Friday night to Munich, leaving Saturday night from Munich, and returning Sunday morning to Budapest. Dates for the bus trip are already up for next year, which you can find here.
And I found a few damsels in dirndls, too!
Oktoberfest: Walking around Oktoberfest is free, but contrary to what we were told, you really can’t find beer to purchase around the grounds except in tents. If you know you’re going for sure, I’d try and do some research and make a reservation somewhere, or get there early enough (probably 11 AM would guarantee a seat somewhere, but I don’t know for sure!) If you’re going on a weekend trip, pack light. I brought some extra clothes and a toothbrush to avoid wearing the same sweaty clothes for two and a half days, but some people don’t mind their own stench — even if others do! Beer was 9 Euros/liter this year; wurst was around 5 Euros, and usually came either in or with a roll. The coaster and ferris wheel were 6 euros each, but definitely worth it if you’re into those kinds of activities!
