SIX MILLION CHEERS FOR OKTOBERFEST
This week's Where in the World picture celebrates
Oktoberfest, the beer-swilling, pretzel-chomping, party-having, table-thumping festival that has kicked off in Munich, Germany, and which runs until October 6.
More than 6 million people are expected through the gates this year. Many will be locals who come for the day with their kids to have a fine Bavarian lunch and sink a couple of lagers while singing drinking songs. Others will be tourists drawn by the magic of strong beer in 1-litre steins known as ein mass. For some, this will be the start of their troubles.
As tripsavvy.com points out, German beer “is heavier in both volume and size”. Which explains the Bierleichen (beer corpses) sleeping off the revelries on the hill inside the fairground.
Not surprisingly, the paramedics on site are kept busy.
Last Sunday, a visitor proposed to a medic in the ambulance that was taking him to hospital, Germany’s en24 News reports. The story does not say whether she accepted but one understands that this sort of thing happens a lot in Munich in October. The first festival was held on October 10 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of SaxeHildburghausen and the Bavarians have hardly missed one since.
● To stand a chance to win R500, tell us the common local name for the festival, after the colloquial name for the fairgrounds. Send your answer to travelquiz@sundaytimes.co.za.
Last week’s winner is Danit Herr. The correct answer was Sir Herbert Baker.