Drokpa Journal

Back to Oktoberfest

After Dad and I completed our quick trip through Europe, and he flew home, I went back to Munich for Oktoberfest. When I told the woman at tourist information that I needed a hotel room for about a week, she simply looked at me as if I were stupid and said, “Have you heard of Oktoberfest?” Needless to say, I spent far too much for a hotel room for the next 8 nights. Spent my days back in Munich relaxing, wandering the streets, and trying to organize my trip to Bhutan. Also spent a lot of time in a quandary, wondering if I really wanted to go to India with the current situation in that part of the world. Spent a few of the evenings partaking in the local brew - one liter at a time, in the Oktoberfest tents. It had been 6 years since I was last at Oktoberfest, and it seemed less rowdy in 2001. That may have been due to the events in the States, as I know that attendance was well down - 800,000 people over the first two days last year, 550,000 this year. Some of those missing were Americans, while most were locals that were either worried about the bomb threats or didn’t want to brave the rainy weather. The festival isn’t just about beer - there are various kiosks of food, souvenirs, and rides. Most of the amusement rides are designed to get as much of the beer back out of your system as is possible, as they have loops, corkscrews, rolls, jerks, jumps, swings, etc.

Previous Trip

I’d also visited Germany back in September of 1995. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to my journal for those travels, and so they’re not covered in this travelogue. On that trip I visited Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and Berchtesgaden.

Germany Photos

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