It's very hard to get back in touch with people in a place like Oktoberfest. On top of that all of us had run out of minutes, and none of us were really able to call each other. We only had some money to text each other. So the celebration didn't really go as I had planned from the beginning because I was separated from a good majority of my friends. At any rate we ran into a few friends, David and Sammy T. We tried to get into the Spaten tent that our friends were at, but could only make it to the garden (It turn out there were two tents, and we were at the wrong one anyway). Regardless, we decided we would try to meet up with them later so we go looking for a tent. Many of them were closed off, I thought I wouldn't get in, but good ole David was determined to get me in one.
We ended up at the Pauliner tent. It was amazing. There is nothing quite like Oktoberfest. After looking for a table for about 15 minutes we finally found one in front of the band, but had lost Sammy T and James. We figured they would try to text us, or were just a bit behind. David and I got a few liters and started making friends. The table next to us was all Italians, the table behind us was British folks, the table on my left was a mix of German, Austrian, and Alaskans. The table behind them was some guys from New York, and the table directly across from us was just some cute German girls. After a few liters we were all friends. Glorious thing of festivals involving music, food, and beer.
At last Sammy T and James had found us. Just as a group of Italian football players arrived. They were ridiculous. They instantly befriended me for my Italian heritage and the next thing I know we are singing and drinking together. The New Yorkers turn to me and yell, "Hey California!" I respond, "What up New York?" For some reason all the Americans found it easier just to call each other by their state. He continues, "Yo man, we need to get a goddamn God Bless America in here!" I respond, "Why not? You start, I'll get your back." "I'll right once there is a break between songs!" As he says this the band stops playing and there is an uproar for New York and me, the Alaskans, and my friends. The Italians join in as well as the Germans, and once we finish all of the Italians and Germans yell, "Obama!!!!!"
The Italians treat me as one of their own now. They start getting really saucy, and well, start grabbing woman passing by pulling them onto our table and having them dance for us. Meanwhile, continually telling me to grab their posterior. I'm not going to lie, I did, and every single time it went exactly like this. "Hey! Did you do that?" cried the damsel. "Why yes I did?" I replied with a slight grin. "Where you from?" they would retort. "California..." I would say. "California!!!! I love you!!!" they would yell. To which all of the Italian guys would start laughing and goading me on....oh ONE of my peoples.
We finally leave that tent get some food and crash out in the hotel. Which was sweet because the hotel was literally about a 100 feet from the festival. We later regroup and I get a call as I wake up that all my friends had just woken up from a nap to and our waiting for me on a hill. Meanwhile, one of the guys who had invited me to stay in his hotel, had gotten sick the day before (literally sick and was in the hospital). He ended up being ok, but could go out. Which sucked because he is of German decent and had gotten really excited about being here to the point where he had gotten legit linderhosen. I told him I would don his garb in his honor for the remainder of the day. Mind you he is bigger then me in both height and size, so the entire ensemble hung on me, and I looked as if I was 12 years old. I didn't care though...I was a man with a mission.
We eventually meet up with our friends and get into the Haufbrau tent. We spend the rest of the night there, as my friends buy me a few more drinks for my birthday. At last we get a bit more food and part for the night. Oktoberfest is an endurance test. Drinking from about 7am to 12am is quite a challenge, but we had survived.
The next day I took advantage of being in Munich and explored the city. I headed to the Olympic stadium, visited the BMW museum, and the Haufbrau Haus. We ran into a few friends throughout the day. Namely I ran into my friend Blake and Sam Thomas (who is studying in Austria). Later we ran into a few of the girls. First being Anna, who tagged along with us to the Haufbrau Haus. Along the way she found a stein from one of the tents and decided to take it. James had warned her that it wasn't a good idea, but she took it. As we walked up to the Haufbrau Haus they caught her with the stein and kicked her out. It was slightly funny. Anyways to make it up to us she offered us a space in the car that she and another girl were renting to take back to Bonn. James and I mulled it over and decided to take her up on that. Not the greatest choice cause we ended up in traffic the entire way. Oh well, I saw a lot of country side, and sang obnoxiously to the random music on German airwaves....
Overall, part 4 of MG21E! was pretty amazing. A few of the guys still want to do a little something for me, since we didn't really get to celebrate together till the very end though. So it looks like there may be a part 6 and a possible part 7 still to come. Part 7 being celebrating with my friends and family back home, since my 21st actually means something there...
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