I begrudgingly returned to Oktoberfest this year after my friend Kevin and his wife, Joy, said they’d be in Munich for a weekend in late September. I say “begrudgingly” because, while I do love Oktoberfest (thirty days on the weisn is a spiritual journey), finding a place to stay in Munich during Oktoberfest ranks high on my list of things I hate. There’s barely enough housing for the people who live there, and those of us visiting during Octoberfest get absolutely fleeced by the locals when securing housing.
The last time I stayed in Munich, a housing authority official knocked on my door at 7 a.m. to inform me that I was “illegally residing” in an Airbnb; apparently, my landlord had skipped a few forms. Anyway, this woman was a menace and did her best to shame me for renting an Airbnb as a tourist, visiting Munich. Nothing like Bavarian hospitality.
This time, Marce and I managed to book a convenient place near the festival grounds. The host raised the price twice before confirming the reservation, which felt appropriately Munich. Nothing like Bavarian hospitality.
Once the logistics were handled (again, begrudgingly), the festival itself was as fun as ever. I’ve just lost my Oktoberfest constitution. I can’t drink all day anymore, but I’ve found I enjoy the rest of Oktoberfest more like wandering around, eating questionable food, and riding ridiculous rides. Maybe that’s a natural evolution as I continue to age: less beer, more braut.
The last time I was at Oktoberfest, I lost my mobile phone while riding a carnival ride, the one with dozens of seats suspended on cables that are raised in the air and then spun around. This year, I lost my phone on a roller coaster, which has led to worrisome self-reflection. I can’t remember the last time that I repeated a mistake.; likely because I’m losing my memory. This year, I’ve already counted at least 3. It seems I have already passed the apogee of my trajectory, and like my mobile phone flying out of my hand at a roller coaster’s first hard turn, I, too, am now accelerating towards an inevitable end downwards. That’s life.
I’m grateful to have had such a thrilling journey. And I’m still happy to enjoy bratwursts, ride carnival rides, eat pretzels, and go to sleep early.
