For both la tomatina and Oktoberfest, we decided to do it with a travel group called stoke travel! What this company does is ensures you have a place to stay, sleep, a way to get into the event and a lot of beer in your hand at all times. Generally we are in a teepee for basically one person, but they squeeze two, however, for Oktoberfest we got this unreal teepee that is supposed to house 8. Thank god there were only 6 of us, we had so much more room to crash. Now, one thing you should know about this company is their slogan. This slogan claims that "if it wasn't for booze, we'd all be virgins." With this said, it's clear that the name of their game is to get you as annihilated as possible at any hour of the day. Unlimited drinking for everyone and beer served with breakfast, lunch and dinner became our daily routine.... this is just at the camp site.
Day one Oktoberfest!
This day was a little mellow. It's point was basically to prepare us for what was to come. We left for the beer tents at around 11 and were in shock with how many people were at this event. Kids in their 20s, parents, children, grandparents and even infants, all dressed up and ready to celebrate one of their countries biggest... Holidays?... It should be a world wide holiday! I actually saw a man drinking a beer while feeding his infant child who was strapped to his chest... pure class at this event.
As you walk around the streets you are literally bombarded with the amount of people, rides, AMAZING smells, food, and who can forget BEER tents! There is literally some form of beer drinking something every other shop, majority of which hold thousands of people and an insane amount of beer mugs. Incase you haven't seen an advertisement for Oktoberfest, it is literally a requirement for these servers to be able to hold at least 5 litre beer glasses in one hand! I literally need two hands just to hold mine up!
After dodging all the amazing smells we finally found 1 tent that for some amazing reason had no line and still space to stand and drink. Essentially what happens at these things is 1. You enter the tent (this can take no time at all, or all day depending on the beer tent)' 2. Grab a giant beer 3. Attempt to get your ass on a bench 4. Find something small to eat that's cheap aka pretzels 5. Try not to puke 6. Attempt to make it home... This one usually doesn't work so well. So, we got into the tent got ourselves a beer and got too excited, I think we downed it in like 3 minutes! So we grabbed another one and coincidently found a seat at the same time! I grabbed a pretzel that was the size of my face and we were ready to get the party started! Problem was, the boys found out there was a football aka soccer game going on and we might be able to find a scalper to get tickets. Second beers were finished and out the door we were. We ended up following a crowd of drunken football fans in our attempt to get to the stadium. After reaching the stadium we were slapped with the sad reality that scalpels were selling for about 100€... We were hoping for 20€. As a result, we head back to our camp for some unlimited drinking, only to realize we should prob call it quits early to make it into Oktoberfest early the next day.
Day 2... The biggest wreck
Ok first... Don't judge me, it was Oktoberfest... I blame their excessively big beers and their stupidly high percentage.
It is officially the last day of Oktoberfest! Apparently at the end of the night on this day they do some fancy thing... I don't know what it is but basically it's a big party. We didn't think we'd last that long so we didn't pay too much attention to the details. We arrived at our tent at around 11 (this time there's only 4 of us) so we immediately squeeze our way into the first table we see leaving. Beer are grabbed and introductions are made. Apparently the men beside us were all about 50 and were getting as buckled as we were.
Beer 1 comes around and we have learned... Grab that pretzel ASAP and get something in our bodies to absorb alcohol. Pretzel is grabbed and my friends and I split it 4 ways... Our first mistake. Beer two comes one of our friends realizes he isn't feeling too well and heads home. Wih it being our last day and the last official day of Oktoberfest, the decision is made that we should do the table chugs. End of beer 2 is chugged on the table, round 3 on its way. Now, just to let you know, I have a go pro on my wrist this whole time... I decide it's smart to record myself after every beer to see how stupid I get.. Worst idea ever... Do not do this! Plus I'm pretty sure after beer 2 I forgot to keep filming until beer 4. Yes, I said it, beer 4. Now for those of you yelling pussy at your screen right now.. These aren't just beers... They're litres and they're a minimum of 6 percent (god knows what mine was but I was a disaster).
Anyways, back to beer 2. I see a guy passing with a kcco shirt on .. Don't know it go to the site right now (www.thechive.com), your life will forever be changed. Obviously after a big kcco cheers fest he joins our table along with his buddy. These guys are around 30 and are army men! Woo woo! At this point we realize we should maybe eat a little more. When a menu is opened at these restaurants, jaws automatically drop. I'm talking French fries and ketchup at 5€ jaw dropping style. However, this doesn't stop my friend and I. We've had our eye on a pork knee since yesterday and that is getting in our mouth ASAP. So for the low cost of 20€, the pork knee is ordered. This is split between the two of us and is probably the size of my fist in terms of food that can actually be consumed. Clearly, not enough food in us to keep drinking, does that stop us... NO! Third round is ordered, and then forth. At this point I don't know my name.
Apparently I fell asleep at the table (only reason we know is my friend took a picture)... I'm a sleepy drunk sorry :s after this it just started to rain with disasters.
I went to the bathroom and was supposed to meet my friend outside, apparently I never ended up going to meet him so he went on a hunt to find me. Now it was either in the bathroom, while leaving the tent after the bathroom or at some point in between my friend trying to find me and the bathroom .. But basically I puked. In my hand... I clearly finished puking somewhere (I think it was outside, because I then wiped my hand on my sweater ... From this point on known as my puke bucket) ... Sorry for the details, but that's life.
My friend finds me! I'm in some other tent eating.. I don't know what but that's my second favourite thing to do while drunk. Then the suggestion comes out. Let's go on a ride!! So off we go to this ride that is almost like psyclone from wonderland but better. We're on these 2 seater things and basically there's 8 seats on each claw. If you kick your legs on this ride you can basically flip your two seater over. Being 4 liters deep this has become the best idea in the word! So we literally go on the ride twice, both times the ride conductor man takes my "puke bucket" and puts it on the side for me to collect later... My life!
That is the end of crazy drinking for me... At leat until Ireland!
I'm sorry for the little delay, but set least this ones a long one... I'll try to get better at posting about my travels. Some days just aren't as interesting as others!
Keep an eye out for more crazy euro trip fun!
Xoxo
Feeding infant chind... Look center
