Shpreken zee Englisch?

So we have arrived in Germany!

Our last day in Ireland we visited the Cliffs of Moher. The clouds cleared up just enough to make for a beautiful view, but not quite enough to see the Aran Islands in the distance. Getting there was certainly interesting, though. We had to buy bus tickets because the trains don't run out that far. The roads that got us there wound back and forth up an extremly steep hill, just about 180 degree turns, and very sharp. I was shocked that the bus was able to make it. Following the Cliffs we took 3 trains down to Trallee, a little village just outside the Kerry Airport.

Our flight in the morning was at 9 am so we were up around six. The train got us to about a mile outside of the airport and we walked the rest of the way. The airport is so small it was really rather amusing. It reminded me of the one in Wings, just a small cafe and two gates. Ryan Air has a very strict carry-on policy. Each person can only bring one, including a purse, and they have size restrictions, which our packs were definitely just slightly over. Checking a bag is expensive, something like 40 euro, so that wasn't an option. We spent a few minutes compressing everything as much as possible, filling our pockets, and wearing an extra layer as to not have those things in the bags. They let us pass!

We spent most of the plane ride attempting to memorize key German phrases without laughing. Our flight was into Dusseldorf... or so we thought. In reality it was into Weeze, which is an hour and a half train ride away from the city. We had to take a bus to the train station, and then a train to Dusseldorf, and finally a 5 hour train ride to Munich. The last train we took was really, really, REALLY nice. We thought we got onto a first class car, but when we walked to the front we realized we were in coach. Sweet. There was a cafe and bar, plugs to charge electronics, foot rests, automatic sliding glass doors that opened upon approach, and separate cabins for business meetings or anything else. It went about 300 kilometers an hour.

Once in Munich, it took us some time to get our bearings. The Lets Go book told us to take tram 17 to the tent, but we couldn't figure out where to buy a pass, or which pass to buy. We found a ticket machine and it looked like the best option was the 3 day City Tour Card Partner. We put money in the machine (a nice crisp bill), and it fed it right back out to us. We try again with the same response. A local tells us that they don't take notes. Great. Now we have to find someone to break a 50 euro bill. Good thing we practiced. We found a cafe that would break it for us, but I felt very pathetic not being able to ask in German. Luckily when I asked, "shpreken zee englisch," I got a positive response. We were able to buy our pass, and hopped on a tram to the Tent a few minutes later.

The Tent was a very good decision. It looks like a giant campground, with several large, circus sized tents erected among some trees, a few huts with currogated metal roofs, gravel pathways, Christmas lights criss crossing the entire property, and a raging bonfire surrounded by young people from all over the world. Awesome. We check in, find our beds, and set out to see if Oktoberfest was still going on at this hour. Apparently it wasn't, so we figured we would just walk and find something.

After passing some shady bars and strip clubs we happen upon a traditional beer garden. We walk in, but can't seem to find a bar anywhere.... very strange. A gentleman working there points us in the direction of a narrow downward winding staircase. We walk down a few steps but quickly turn around. He must have been pointing somewhere else. We walk around the room with stupid looks on our faces.... WHERE WAS HE POINTING??? Another gentleman points us in the direction of the same stairs. Down we go... down, down, down.... surely this is where they send all of the stupid Americans to die. We finally reach the bottom, and low and behold there is not a utility closet in front of us, but a massive brick beer cellar with arched cielings split into 3 enormous rooms. We see the bar, as well as hundreds of long tables and benches inviting us to come sit. We do.

After practicing how to order a beer (eesh mersh teh Bock?) I freeze up when the waitress comes over and mumble, "eh.... bock?" She gives me a puzzled look and asks me if I want a menu in English. Yes, that would be great. It was smooth sailing from there on out. We enjoyed their lager (served by the liter!)which came out of a wooden cask, as well as a cheese board, and eventually made our way home.

The past 2 days we have been enjoying Oktoberfest, but more on that later. We are checking out of the tent in a little while, spending the day in Munich, and we will be taking the overnight train to Berlin.

Prost!