Wies'n 2002 - 25.08.02

(Click the thumbnails for the bigger picture.)

We're nearly there!! And I'm seriously hoping these guys are going to get the finger out and get finished with the construction. They're probably on a go-slow until the last minute so they can claim a load of hours at time and a half for Sundays and evenings.

If you're under 16 you're not getting any beer (allegedly) and if you're under 6 you're not welcome after 8p.m. Jesus, I've been in some of these tents at 3 in the afternoon and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who can't swill beer and protect their seat with the best of them. Come to think of it, what the hell is someone under 6 doing at the biggest beer festival on the planet in the first place. Surely amongst all the under 16 year olds who aren't allowed to drink the parents could find a few baby-sitters.

Last weekend a guy I was chatting to said he'd let me in on a secret and now I'll share it with you. Oktoberfest has already started!!! I looked at him with a suitably questioning raised eye-brow. He went on to explain that in his opinion, the canteens (like the one above) are the best part of the whole thing. he said he never goes to it after the official event starts because there're too many tourists and the beer is too expensive. Can't really see it myself. Had a beer there one day. Granted it's a hell of a lot cheaper for a Maß (and it tastes just as good), but there' something slightly off-putting about articulated lorries steaming past, jack-hammers going off in your ear and the company of only carpenters & brickies. Give me 30,000 pissed-up screaming aussies, equal numbers of Japanese, Kiwis & Italians (amongst all the rest), over-priced beer and "Hey Baby" at ear-splitting volume any day

Here's a tip to store in the back of your mind. There's a row of phone boxes just by the Löwenbräu tent if you need to phone your friends, an ambulance or the national guard. Good luck finding one of those free and good luck being able to hear anything if you do get one. And watch you don't step on the vom!!

The lion is well settled but the Paulaner boys still haven't gotten their giant Maß up yet. Hmmm, maybe Löwenbräu could use that in their commericals. "Drink Löwenbräu - Our giant erections are always the first up! - RROOAAAARRRRRR"

Stay tuned. If you're not going to be able to make it to the Fest yourself I'll be trying to keep these pages updated as the madness progresses.