Tali Goes Travelling

Unless you were born and raised in Austria or Germany, chances are you don’t have enough experience or stamina to get you through a 17 day Beer-festival. Actually, if you’re not Bavarian then a little bit of advice probably wouldn’t go astray when you’re heading to the Wiesn (as the locals call it). Here are some lessons I  learnt which I hope my fellow beer-festival goers and drinkers alike will enjoy.

Lesson 1:
Wear a Dirndl or Lederhosen. If you don’t, you will be the odd one out. Plus it’s fun! A traditional outfit from your own country is OK, but you’ll get more into the spirit when you look Bavarian while you participate in their festival.

Lesson 2:
Get training early. If you’re going to wake up at some ungodly hour of the morning, most likely suffering a hangover from yesterday’s binge, then wait an hour or so in the cold before the tent opens so you can get a good seat, you need to be prepared. Not to mention that 1 litre is a lot to drink when it’s a higher percentage than “normal” beer. And you’ll certainly appreciate your training if you want kudos from the crowd for a beer scull, the crowd can be tough and you wouldn’t want to get booed down from your perch on the table.

Lesson 3:
Learn to eat a 1/2 Hendl (chicken) with only a fork. That’s how they come and you wouldn’t want to make a waitress who’s been on her feet 16 hours a day, 17 days straight walk back to the kitchen to get a knife for you, now would you? You should also be prepared to eat your Weißwurst (traditional Munich sausage) with no cutlery. That’s how the locals do it.

Lesson 4:
Be prepared for all weather. From sunscreen to umbrellas and most definitely a jacket, the weather in Munich can change from brilliant sunny days to thunderstorms without a lot of warning. And if it happens when you’re leaving with all the other revelers when the tents close, you’ll more than likely be stuck with not a lot of shelter, no taxis free to jump into and a fair distance to walk home.

Lesson 5:
And finally, don’t be ashamed to take a nap. I was fortunate enough to live close enough to take a nap at home. A lot of people made themselves comfortable wherever they were.

Did I also mention wearing old shoes? Mine got completely destroyed.

To have a look at my Lessons learnt at an Italian Chocolate festival, click here.