Oktoberfest, Munich, 9:00 AM

Thanks to a tip from friends, I learned that early Sunday morning is a good time to go to the Oktoberfest. If you go too late in the day, especially on a weekend, it's practically too crowded to walk. We sorta ran into the opposite issue when we got there this morning at 8:45. But man, it was fun.

Amanda and Frank, WE MISS YOU! So wish you were here.

I don't have time to do thumbnail images for these right now, as I'm off to see the Dixie Chicks tonight at the Olympic Hall in about twenty minutes (yay!), but I'll just post these. Let 'em load, it may be a little slow for those of you on dialup connections. I'll try to change this entry with some thumbnails later.

Ferris wheel, 9:00 AM.


Getting ready for the second day of Oktoberfest, in the Hacker-Pschorr tent. I love the ceiling.


Early morning pretzel delivery outside the Augustiner tent.


In the Augustiner tent with my first Oktoberfest Maß. (Early, you can see how empty it is behind me.)


This looks more like the real Oktoberfest. The Augustiner tent around noon. The band is on the raised-up stage in the middle of the tent. We were sitting at one of the full tables on this side of the bandstand.


Aww. Standing up so they can see the band.


The Hacker Pschorr brewery has the prettiest horses of all of the breweries. And my husband's pretty cute, too.


I'll be going back one night this week to take pictures of the rides lit up in the dark, and to ride them myself. Not recommended after 2 beers. But I thought this was pretty.


So we had a couple of beers, and ate a half-Hendl (roasted chicken) and two of those big pretzels. Marty bought me a Lebkuchen with "Küss mich" on it in icing, which I wore for awhile and then we ate on the way home on the U-Bahn. The fest was really starting to swing when we took off. Then we came home and slept it off for awhile.

Now, I've got to get ready for the Dixie Chicks and the Thorns! Yay! Big day!

This one's for the moms.


Marty hiking near the Zugspitze, August 2003

Two larger versions (suitable for computer desktop wallpaper) are here and here. I'm using the second one for wallpaper right now.

If you'd like to set this picture as your desktop wallpaper, click on the one you want and do the following: right-click (click with the right-hand mouse button) on the large picture and then choose "Set as Wallpaper." Voila!

So, it's been awhile.

All is well here. Munich's gearing up for Oktoberfest, which starts this Saturday with a parade and the ceremonial tapping of the first keg. Two weeks of mayhem are sure to follow. Marty and I are making plans for our trip home next month, and are looking forward to spending a little time with our families and some of our friends.

Last Monday was a year since I moved to Munich. I still love it here, a year later.