Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is by far the most fun thing I've ever done in my life. I felt like I was on the Disney ride "It's a small world." I met people from nearly every country, and because of that, I can hit on anyone in almost any language! haha! More importantly, however, God was truely on mine and my friend Parissa's side...It very easily could have ended up as the worst trip in the world but everything fell into place. It was so perfect I was almost expecting to be shot or something, like it was God's last treat for me before my time. Luckily it wasn't though! So the trip started off with me waking up super early and walking out of my room in a towel Friday morning to take a shower, when I ran into the 22 year old son of my host family in the hallway wearing his super skimpy European boxer Briefs - akward moment number 1 - I promptly got in the shower and got ready, assuming wouldn't really get a good shower all weekend traveling via hostels. (Additional detail: Parissa and I had nowhere to stay Friday night so we were planning on crashing in the airport). After showering as best as you can in Europe I made the 40 minute run/walk to the bus stop to catch a ride to the airport. I stopped on the way for some cash and of course my bank card was not working...Great. I continue to the bus stop where the bust is 20 minutes early! Thank God I made it on time, considering the bus only ran on the hour and I'd have been too late for my flight. (Lucky moment 1 of at least 100). I was floored considering nothing in Spain ever starts on time...The Spanish are always late. I make it to the airport and try to call my bank on a payphone that won't work, my flight to Barcelona is delayed an hour, and I was already there too early so after 3 or 4 hours of nothing I get on my Lufthansa flight to find that Luftansa has a deal with Spanair (who recently had the runway crash that killed 45). "Great," I think, "first flight on my own and it's with the shitty la-bomba airline." I board and try to stay posetive and not scared until I go back in time about 2 decades when I get on the plane it's so old. Have you ever been on an old shaky Hawaiian hopper flight during turbulance and rain? This was 10 times worse! The wings on the plane were teeter tottering during landing! So I finally make it to Barcelona where I quickly proceed to buy a mini bottle of wine and a Toblerone chocolate bar. Healthy I know. Board my next flight to Germany and talk to some German people and some guys from Capri. I have never felt so ignorant as I did waiting to board that flight. Everybody speaks English, knows about our politics, hates bush etc, and I can't even tell you where their country is in the world or what form of government they have! I sat next to a German who actually studied abroad at UCLA so I quickly picked his brain about Germany and got lots of good info. I land and am so excited to meet my friend Parissa until I realize I don't know what airline she flew in from France! I run hot laps around the airport about 3 full times until we miraculously find eachother. We proceed to call some people who offered us to sleep on the floor of their hotel only to find their phone off. Okay, plan B, sleep in the airport, early start the next day. Until we are told the airport completely closes! We run over to a help desk where we decide we'll just have to pay 300 Euro, or about $500 on a room when the lady tells us she found room for 99euro with a shuttle and breakfast! We literally jumped up and town and screamed, accepted and were on our way. We got to the hotel and it was AMAZING! Pink pillows, a rubber duck in the bathroom, great food! You name it, we got it! We started out the nexy day with every intention to take a bike tour of Munich but it was TOO cold and we were too excited at the sight of everyone dressed up in liter hose and dresses! After tons of walking we find our way into Oktoberfest where a man is passed out at the entrance. A little scary but funny as the police were trying to pick him up. We weren't there but 5 minutes and decided the beer maid outfits were a necessity so we ran all over town via subway until we finally got some! We proceeded back to Oktoberfest and promptly started socializing. We met some Spaniard with whom I spoke Spanish and they were very nice. However, we'd finished our beers and were ready to move on, so we set a time to meet them later, as they weren't very cute but were VERY nice! We went on our way until we weasled our way into a beer garden, where upon entering, about 100 people cheered for us! We realized the Spaniards were there! It was hilarious! We met some of their friends and spent the rest of the day at that Graden. That was my first liter of beer! At one point I was standing on a table taking pictures with our newfound friends and I saw people taking pictures of my from across the garden. (Everyone thought I was German b/c of my dress and Blonde hair - I even had people speak to me in German!) I proceeded to take a picture of the people taking a picture of me when I noticed the man was wearing an LSU sweatshirt. I ran over to him and met a group of Americans who were SO cool! After a wild day Parissa and I made our way back to the hostel but stopped at McDonalds for some food and to hydrate! We get back to the hostel and sit in the lounge to watch people stumble in, and before you know it, I'm tanked because people keep buying me beers! I met a group of beautiful Itallians who begged me to go to the club, which I kindly declined, a german who also wanted to go to a club, whom I also declined, and a BEAUTIFUL "Kiwi" / New Zealander! He and his friend hung out with Parissa and I and this group of older guys (about 60-70 years old, who'd run every guy off that would talk to me! haha! everyone thought one of them was my dad). Anyway, the night was calm, few drinks and hit the hay for an early start. The next day we went all out to get ready and left the hotel before our designated meeting time with friends because we didn't want to be tied down. It was a beautiful day, and on our walk to the tents, we found a cafe with Chocolate Crossoints (which we had been craving an unable to find!) Another one of God's gifts. We quickly eat and sneak into a tent that is SUPER difficult to get into and take a seat with two American boys who go to UCSB! We all started chatting and having beers and had a great time. Then....The band started playing and everyone went WILD! It was like in the movies where people slosh their beers through the air and hoot and yell, but even better because it was real! People asked for pictures and of course we took them. At one point, a German police asked me for my passport and then just smiled and left. (that scared the shit out of me becuase I had no idea what he wanted). Then the German girl at my table said she was a lawyer and he wasn't allowed to do that! Oh well, I continued to have a blast until I swung my beer around to cheers with the table behind me and spilled all over a husky beer maids boobs. It was like the whole room stopped. My jaw dropped - I honestly thought she was going to hit me. Luckily she moved on and I continued to cheers. 12 noon rolls around and I say my good byes as I have to catch my 3:00 flight after I got back to the hostel to get my things and ride the train to the airport. Unfortunately, the 2 liters of beer I had in 3 hours (9am-12noon) hit me the second I sat in the cab...I made it to the train station and immediately puked which somehow caused me to miss my train and later my flight! I had to pay to get another flight, and because I was a little out of it, there were some American boys who also missed their flights who offered to help me - of course I did it on my own. However, I was not going to have to sleep over night in the Barcelona airport...That was hell! I was frozen and hung over and ready to get home. I made it through and got home safely, a full day late. The funny thing is, Parissa had an expired passport and she's studying in France for the year so we were worried she wouldn't get back in the country and I turned out to be the one with technical difficulties. Made it home safe and sound to find my room mate sick from too much to drink also! we swore off alcohol for at least a week until we found ourselves drinking the next night with all of our friends. That was 2 nights ago. I met a really sweet guy from England named Nick who is teaching English over here and is fluent in Spanish! Nothing serious, just another friend added to our group and another escort home! Anyhow, from one excursion to the next I shall go. I leave for Morocco @ 4am tomorrow morning for 5 days. As usual, more updates to come. Someone please call Grandma and read this to her so she it in the loop too! Love you all!
Moroccan Molly