October 3, 2006
so oct 3 is german unity day, a national holiday celebrating the re-unification of east and west germany. Many things are closed other than it seems most restaraunts, a couple galleries, and museums. I spent the day walking around to some galleries, went to check point charlie, and then to the east side gallery, which is a section of the wall that has been preserved and turned into a public art forum. over the years it has sort of been grafitied and eroded, so the most impressive works remaining are the current graffiti. but there were some remniants of the origonal murials painted on it. I also walked around a couple neighborhoods and photographed graffiti… did my laundry.. etc.. saw so many shops I wish I could have gone in, and gallerys that were closed…
Filed by pete at October 3rd, 2006 under Europe 06
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October 1, 2006
made it to berlin safe and sound… had a rough day, a little hungover from the oktoberfest, but mostly in one piece.. happy to have a single room and a nice hot shower. great neighborhood (prenzlauer berg) so many cafes and whatnot everyone was out having late night dinners, had some thai at like 11pm and the place was full! almost every place I walked by had a dozen people in it. looks like people tip here and I think I was verry generous to the thai people because they said thanks and bye like 20 times before I got out the door.
Filed by pete at October 1st, 2006 under Europe 06
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September 29, 2006
checked in and rolled right over to the fest. its amazing. so many people, so much beer and meat and bread. huge carnival rides, rollercoasters, games, etc. lots of people dressed in traditional german costumes…
had a brotwerst, as many liters of beer as I could hold down, met this couple from puerto rico, verry nice, verry funny, we hung out for a couple hours and talked about our travels, and they told me stories about the italian police in munich, since there were so many italians there for the fest they actually bring up whole stations of police to help with the hundreds of thousands of extra people staying in munich.
finally got inside a beer tent (not easy, many require reservations and the lines start at 7am. was probably luck that I got in at all) after it closed I got lost and had some other random meat on bread product that I ordered by pointing at what looked most delicious.
a couple numbers i found:
over the 16 days of the fest about 6 million people visit, its the largest fair in the world!!!
there is seating for 100,000… thats just seating.. and finding a seat is damn near impossible.
30% of the year’s production of beer by Munich breweries will be consumed in the two weeks of Oktoberfest, with a total of over 6 million mugs of beer sold, a mug is a approx a liter of beer (2 – 2.5 pints)
the fest employs 12,000 People, and over 1600 of those are waitresses (with verry strong arms)
Roasted oxen: 88
Sausages: 219,443 pairs
Roast chickens: 459,279
(all verry delicious I might add)
Prost! Salut! Cheers!
Filed by pete at September 29th, 2006 under Europe 06
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my first train was delayed and I missed my connection in frankfurt. a conductor re routed me and I made it to munich by sunset.
Filed by pete at September 29th, 2006 under Europe 06
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September 28, 2006
met up with this kid andy who is a friend of a friend, and who used to live in SF. he took me out and showed me an awesome time, we rode his bike around, and went to about 4 or 5 bars. all awesome, and none of which I would have found with out him. met some awesome people at the last stop, met a fellow vj. great time. andy, I stole your bike light.. I will have to come back to amsterdam to give it to you.
Filed by pete at September 28th, 2006 under Europe 06
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September 27, 2006
I’ve never seen so many bikes! every where you go they are chained up 3-4 deep! wandered around last night with some roommates, a fella from australia, and two hungarian girls. the city is crazy at night! red light district was a trip. had a great milkshake at abraxis (thanks for the reccomend brett!)
Filed by pete at September 27th, 2006 under Europe 06
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