Day 2:

Somehow after getting sideways at Oktoberfest, I managed to get up early and get my day started, ready to see some things that I’ve never seen! I believe that getting up early, which is always something that I’ve loved to do, is only going to get earlier! My clock just seems to say, “GET UP!” I wish that I had a response that said, “LEAVE ME ALONE I’m SLEEPING!” Oh well, I guess that I should just get used to it! Life is about the times you have while you're awake, not sleeping! Eventually, I met up with my two travels partners and I went to see what we could see in Munich. We decided to go to the English Garden, which is at the center of Munich. I gotta tell ya this park is enormous! We must’ve walked like 3 miles just to get to the end of it and I was beat. It was definitely time for a drink. I think throughout my trip that I was going to look at my watch many times and have it read, “BEER O’CLOCK”, especially while I was in one of the beer capitals of the world! This park was sooo pretay, and I could definitely see myself having a similar lifestyle, slow it down a notch from the pace it’s at currently!

In walking through the English Garden, we happened upon some nude folks just trouncing about in the grass..geesh. Later on I would hear that we were lucky to not have met, ‘TRIPOD”! I tell ya life is full of small miracles, and I was glad that this was one of them!! From the Garden we got lost and eventually found our way down to Marienplatz which was the city center. There we sat out on the Platz and had lunch. Watching the world go by snickering most of the time is one of my favorite past times. Folks in Europe are so different than in the states. I could’ve sat there on the Platz for hours playing, “spot the Americans!” Oh, and once again, my watch read, “BEER O’CLOCK!” I happy accepted the challenge, having a couple of beers with Wursts on the Platz.

Munich

Day 1

So the beginning of my journey took me to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. I was so excited that I could barely contain myself! I was excited on many levels, to be out of country, to be on my own and free to do as I pleased, to not have to work, to go somewhere other than the middle east, to be going somewhere that I’ve never been before; it’s an understatement to say that I was excited! I got on my flight to Munich in Dubai about 8am and arrived just before 1pm, Munich time. I didn’t really know where to go or what to do, just to get some money exchanged into Euro and be on my way. Upon coming out of passport control, I met up with Justin and Katie who would be with me over the next couple of days for the debauchery that would be Oktoberfest! For those unfamiliar, Justin is one of my coworkers from Greenville who is in country with me, and Katie is his girlfriend.

Me, Jusitn, and Katie each exchanged money, and got to on the subway that would take us into Munich. We parted ways in Marienplatz which was the city center and also my stop! I got off the subway and made my way upstairs to the city center. I can’t tell you the feeling that I had once I popped my head above ground, much like a gopher peeking to see if the coast was clear and there wasn’t any danger! I came out into the city center and I had such a feeling of exhilaration…ugh I feel as though I haven’t seen other people in forever….100 days to be exact! The city center was magnificent! It was filled with bike tours, people sitting on the square enjoying lunch and a drink, street performers showing off their skills, shops filled with knick knacks and the like. Yup, it’s safe to say that the next couple of days would be quite the experience, and one that I wouldn’t forget! I got to my hotel, and took a shower almost immediately. It wasn’t before too long that I was ready to go and I made my way down to the café across the street. There I sat with a beer and people watched, two of my favorite things to do! Ahhh, this is what life is supposed to be all about; not work, not being anxious at odd times because of incoming rounds that make their way on base. Life is supposed to be what you make it and I haven’t had any sort of chance in 100 days to have any affect on what I wanted my day to be about! This was truly a nice change and welcome indeed!

. That first night in Munich, we met up around 6ish, had dinner, and made our way to the tents to see what all this hooplah was about? well this place I no joke, 14 tents, a fair, and roughly 100,000 folks, a true party!