It was to Munich that I headed last September in order to visit our partner school and enjoy the crazy atmosphere of the Oktoberfest.
It only took a few minutes to collect my bags and catch the first train into the city centre. Munich is a city which is very proud of its traditions and its long history as you witness by the people who are walking around in traditional costume in the middle of the afternoon or by the numerous perfectly conserved historic monuments. I am pleasantly surprised by this convivial atmosphere and by the cleanliness and security found in the place.
Our partner school, BWS Germanlingua, is situated at the very heart of Munich and is only a few minutes’ walk away from the central train station as well as the most famous square in the city, Marienplatz. The language school has its premises in an impressive building which was built in 1688. The high ceilings as well as the layout of the classrooms make it warm and welcoming. It is in the large inner courtyard or in the kitchen, which is accessible to students that the next outings are discussed and other good plans are made for going out on a discovery of the Bavarian capital, both by day and by night.
Following my visit to our partner school, I decide to enjoy the sun in a peaceful, green place before joining in the atmosphere, which is at once both traditional and crazy, of the Oktoberfest. Direction « Englischer Garten »! I am amazed to find myself in this immense park whilst a few minutes earlier, I was still surrounded by the bubbling stress of the city !
This enormous green space in the city centre offers numerous possibilities for you to enjoy yourself. I take a few moments to stroll along several pathways before sitting down in a Biergarten in order to enjoy a Munich beer accompanied by a Bretzel! There is in fact a river which flows through the park and it forms waves at its mouth. It is here that some athletes train regularly.
I left bright and early the following morning in the direction of the Theresienweise, where the official opening of the famous Oktoberfest awaited me. It only took a few minutes in the metro, which was ready to burst with people of all ages in Lederhosen and Dirndl, to land at the famous lawn which has been transformed into an attraction park for this occasion. I managed to see the tents already from quite a distance away. Once the doors have been opened, an unbelievably large crowd propulses me forward, right into the centre of the tent of our choice..I’m finally here!
The orchestra starts to play and breakfast is served. At midday, the cortege, lead by the city’s mayor, finally arrives, symbollically bringing the first cask. After a few blows of a hammer and a warm applause coming from a whole tent filled with almost 15, 000 people, the first Masses ( one-litre beer mugs which are typical of Bavaria and the Oktoberfest) are seen and the festival is declared open… it will last more than 2 weeks ! The atmosphere and the music go on until 10 pm, after which the hardiest among them will head towards the direction of the Ostbahnhof, the district with most of the city’s nightclubs.
Munich…to be consumed without moderation!
NB : this is an invitation to be taken very seriously.
Julianne Schenk, ESL counsellor
