Don't Use Your Hands

I just bought a ticket to the Netherlands vs. Iceland World Cup qualifying game. It is being held in Rotterdam, a city I have yet to visit. Rotterdam was destroyed by the Germans in the war. It is supposed to be an architectural wonder. The city is the main port of the Netherlands and services Germany and Belgium as well.

The Dutch still hate the Germans for that episode-that and the fact that the Germans defeated the Dutch in the European football tournament twenty years ago. I guess this can't compare to the excitement I felt before my first NFL playoff game or first trip to Wrigley field but it is exciting nonetheless.

Brrraving the Elements

I mentioned that the weather is unpredictable in Holland. Yesterday was sunny and about 65 degrees. Today is about 65 degrees and cloudy. It's a bit brisk. The interesting thing is that the Dutch are all dressed like we are in Siberia. They all wear heavy coats and scarves. I am supposed to be the cold one. I live in Florida, where we may get ten days a year below 65 degrees. By the time I bike to work, I am sweating and have finally learned to wear a t-shirt unless it is raining.

Rest In Peace, Maurice Murphy

I just learned of Maurice's passing and think it inappropriate to tell stories about this weekend. Travis and I went to Belgium for the weekend and by chance noticed Maurice's obituary at the bottom of Ocala.com when we returned. My heart goes out to the Murphy family. I wish I could be there to help support them.

Straight Pari-ee

I should be writing this from Paris. Unfortunately, the Belgian transport gods decided to strike so Paris was financially impossible. Travis and I met my English friend, Francesco, and my Bulgarian friend, Zheni, at a local bar for some drinks. We intend to make Belgium tomorrow but I think our chances would be better if we planned on scaling the Eiffel tower with the intention of base jumping from the top and coming up with a better name for Led Zeppelin before we hit bottom.

I owe you another installment of the German story and intend to oblige. The third day in Munich was by far the best. Germany is fantastic.

We needed a day to detox. Fortunately, the Bavarian Alps were a short drive away and we had a car. By this point I was over any apprehension. Driving to and across the Austrian border was not intimidating. There's no way to do the experience justice. Enjoy the pictures.

You're Gonna Burn My Country Music Award?

So much happened on this trip that I need to break it into installments. We expected the drive to take six hours but it was more like eight. None of us had eaten so we stopped at a McDonalds just outside of Munich at 2:45 in the morning. We did not have reservations for the night so we just slept in the car at this rest stop. John slept on a bench outside, Travis in the passenger seat, Chris in what is best described as the back seat and me in the driver’s seat. I slept on and off for about four hours because every time Travis or Chris would roll over, the tiny car shook me awake.

We woke early the next morning and drove the rest of the way to Munich. Travis did a pretty good job of describing the first few hours at Oktoberfest. Unfortunately, a member of our group (not me or Travis) could not handle Travis’ cousins (take a look at the picture of Travis and the lone Austrian toasting the camera). We went home early to meet with John and Chris’ friends at the hotel. I called Jami from an internet café and we all settled in for the night. There was no need to get too crazy on the first day at Oktoberfest. By now it was clear we would not be able to hang with the Bavarians so it was best to concede and enjoy the next day.

I tried to convince everyone that we should get there early. They didn’t listen and we ended up seatless again. Not having a seat in the large beer halls is not all that bad a deal. Sunday morning was a little slower than Saturday so we walked right up to one of the smaller tents and ordered a round. This time, inspired by the performance of our now absent colleague, we all ate a lot of Bavarian food before drinking. Brats and sauerkraut, ox tail, and giant pretzels. The entire day was tamer than Saturday. Everyone else went home while Travis and I walked around Munich looking for lederhosen.

I didn’t want to buy some tourist fake lederhosen but I can’t afford some of the nicer, heavier stuff. Fortunately, we found a shop that sold something in between. The entire shop was intrigued by my desire for the local dress and took the time to make sure I had the right pair. They weren’t cheap but I think you’ll agree they were worth it.

We had a beer at a beer hall and walked around the city center then we went back to the hotel. I thought the night was finished. I called Jami and weighed whether or not to sleep in my new lederhosen. When I returned from the internet café, the guys told me to get dressed because we were going to the bar. I thought they were crazy because: a) we had been partying for two straight days and b) it was a Sunday night in Europe, a time at which nothing is open. The first few attempts at finding a party proved fruitless. It looked like I was right until we stumbled upon a late night-Oktoberfest dance party. One of the cool things about Oktoberfest is how many locals you see. It isn’t a big tourist party. Nearly everyone is Bavarian and wearing lederhosen. I fit in perfectly. The DJ was very good. He played some German pop, some top forty American hits, and a John Denver cover set to techno music.

We had plans for the next day so we eventually made it home. Detox in the Bavarian Alps was next.

Lederhosen

The Wholly Unedited Travis Magamoll Post with a Brief Interruption From Your Host

so, i arrive by train via jamlando, philly, amsterdam... to the wonderful land of the hague. I had not slept in a day or so due to the lovely 15 hour flight, but was exicted like no other, dewspite the fact i got lost meeting ted. So i am hanging out at a Subway (go figure) anxiously awaiting ted to answer my email, which i assume will take three hours to go through. none the less ted shows up within half an hour.... nerves calm.

Well at this point its 9am and we need to pick up the car at 4pm, i realize this is not exciting, but it happened. Fast forward through three beers and we pick up the car at AVIS (go figure). Well we pull the car out of the 'drive'. Note: Ted is driving because i cant drive a stick and I have never drove a stick. Also we farggled for it and Ted lost two to three. So after about 12 stalls and roughly 119 "safety honks" we were off to pick up Chris and John.

Fast forward.

We drive 11 hours thorugh the Netherlands and Germany. the Autobahn s fuhn un yeaah. Also you have to pay to use the bathroom, however there are no highway patrolman.

Oktoberfest Day 1:

We take the train to the Theinweise stop, get off and realize this..... We are glad we did not wear "fake" leiderhosen. If we wore the Target or Spencer's Leiderhosen, we would be the flat out laughing stock of Oktoberfest.

So we get there and get int the Paulaner tent. Apparently 10am is about 5 hours late for a prime seat. Well we "luck" out and get a seat next to some crazy ass Austrians "dressed to the nines in Leiderhosen". they buy us a few beers, we buy them a few beers, next thing we now, its getting close to black out central. At this point....

Side note: My family hails from Austria (or Bavaria).

Ted realizes that I have, for the most part, meet my long lost cousins. He's right. They are a spitting image of my family... traditions, food, beer, facile expressions.

Well. We are have a drop down, drag out time.

Honestly: These Bavarians can flat out drink. We were not challenging them, but we had no chance.

Fast Forward: We have been drinking pints, however, we got called up to the "Majors". Chris got us a seat at 2pm in the HB tent where they bring the funk. Funk meaning the 32oz beer mugs.

New narrator:

I think Travis understates the wrath of the Dutch. I was the only person who could drive stick and the autobahn sat an hour drive away. The Dutch are a rule oriented people. They do not like it when you can't figure out the difference between first and third gear. First versus third, that's easy enough. Yeah buddy, it's real easy when you are used to pulling the stick back for reverse and forward for first gear but how cool are you when reverse and first are next door neighbors? We ultimately figured out that reverse has a trigger much like the joystick on an Atari. In the meantime, I stalled out about twelve times while everyone tried to keep their cool and the smell of the clutch took my anxiety through the roof.

Driving through Germany takes the cake. It gets better as the trip progresses but the countryside is stunning. Castles and churches abound. Lush green fields and windmills yield to the foothills of the Bavarian Alps on their way to the red carpet of the world's most famous beer festival.

Back to Travis:

yes. ditto. Ted totally drove like Jimmy Johnson to germany (just kidding, like Mark Martin). Well lets wrap up Oktoberfest with a timetble:

Day 1:

10am: get there, amazing.
11am: rage with Austrians
12pm: still raging with Austrians. they can drink
1pm.