Even the Germans take a break from their beer for a few minutes.
Oktoberfest was actually much different than I expected. If you are from the Midwest, you've probably been to your fair share of county or state fairs, and that is pretty much what Oktoberfest is like. There are lots of rides, midway games ... oh, and gigantic beer "tents" where thousands of people are drinking liters of beer, eating sausages and pretzels and singing drinking songs.
Me and Mandy at Oktoberfest!
I'm a bit late in writing this recap so instead of giving you a play-by-play, I'll let you know the key takeaways my trip to Oktoberfest with Mandy, Molly and Nicole left me with. In no particular order ...
1. "Spaetzel" and "pretzel" sound very similar to a waiter whose native language is German. Don't be surpised when you get one when you think you've ordered the other.
2. There is a reason that Hofbrau House is the most famous beer hall in the world. It is one of the most fun places I've ever been.
3. Amanda Gaeta Shields is the funniest person I know. I already knew this, having been friends with her for 15 years, but this trip just reconfirmed it.
Mandy G-S, playing coy with the camera
4. It is perfectly acceptable to drink (drink, not eat) at a Hard Rock Cafe in a foreign country if all other bars are closed.
5. Clooney wins 99.9% of the time in a game of "Would You Rather." (This may not hold true in a game dominated by 20 year olds ... but it is true of the 30 and over set.)
6. Molly Monentaro does a GREAT Irish accent. Also, it is astounding how many f-bombs an Irish man will drop in a conversation. But since "feckin" isn't a bad word in American English, you start to overlook it after a while.
Mother of two and champion beer drinker.
7. Italian men like two things -- shiny shirts and making an entrance.
8. Sometimes there really are only two choices ... chicken or duck.
9. It is perfectly acceptable to have inappropriate thoughts about men in lederhosen. In fact, it is expected at Oktoberfest.
10. Never drinks 3 liters of beer on an empty stomache!
Show us how it's done, Nicole.
Bottom line, if you ever have the opportunity to roadtrip to Munich for Oktoberfest with 3 of your best friends from college, do it.
