Fall is definitely here and back home in the US, this means back to school and the start of football season. In Germany this can only mean one thing: Fests! Germans seem to have this crazy desire to get one last blow
out party in before winter really sets in. Why? Germany and the rest of Europe north of the Alps shuts down for five months when it's cold. This is everyone's last chance to live it up before the suck arrives. I can dig it.
The US has many things that, in my opinion, are far superior compared to what exists in Germany. 24 hour convenience stores, BBQ, and football with pigskin are all things that Germany needs ASAP. However, Germany seems to have "cracked the code" when it comes to throwing an incredible fest. They are a total blast and it is difficult to compare it to anything back home. Sure, there are plenty of fairs and carnivals back home but they're not the same.
Here's an example: My childhood hometown of Sunland (suburban Los Angeles) throws their annual Watermelon
Festival every June. I don't want to sound like a snob but it's lame. There are some trucked in rides that were built in the sixties which are operated by Carnies (and their dogs) that haven't realized that they are no longer living in the sixties. Alcohol isn't served because if it was, there would be drunken lawlessness that would ruin the event (even further). Music, if there is any, would be provided by Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick or some other band long past their prime. Most of my friends at home would rather stay home and watch TV than go to these things.
Germany, on the other hand, comes alive during these fests. We've had the opportunity to hit a few of these
up in the last month or so. First, we went to the Witlich Pig Burners Festival with my brother and his family (see the write up a few posts ago). We then had a blast at a wine fest in the riverside town of Bernkastel Kues. What made this fest special was the parade. Rather than seeing the Shriners drive around their miniature cars and the VFW parade around a busted up float, we saw float entries from each village in the local area celebrating their local wine. The folks in the Mosel region are fiercely proud of their local winery and aren't afraid to proclaim that their wine is "besser" and the other villages vintage taste like "scheisse". Honestly, all the wine from this area is pretty damn good scheisse. 
Last weekend we stopped by the Bad Durkheim Wurst and wine fest. What made this special was the festive atmosphere in their massive wine tent. Here a bunch of slightly inebriated folks sipped wine, ate huge plates of chicken and potatoes, and sang along to the ompapa band. Unlike the US, the Germans tend to smoke up like chimneys and pack as many people together as possible at these things but even that couldn't take away from the experience. Anyhow, we were all pretty surprised when the band suddenly donned cowboy hats and broke into a version of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads". On a side note, the Germans have sort of a thing for the Country Western thing. Anyhow, the place went crazy and everyone sang along with thick accents. We met up with some friends of ours and they too had a great time.
We head to the mother of all festivals, Munich's legendary Oktoberfest, in a couple weeks.
Should be a blast.
Take a moment to check out some of the pix on this post. The one with the float is from the B-K Winefest. If you look close, it is a float dedicated to spanking naughty children. Love it! For some reason, Julia didn't. Another one is from the Pig Burners festival. I think Daniel and I actually ate some of that unfortunate piggy. The next couple are from last weekend's wine fest in B-D. The crazy couple to the right are friends of ours from Ramstein. Good stuff.
out party in before winter really sets in. Why? Germany and the rest of Europe north of the Alps shuts down for five months when it's cold. This is everyone's last chance to live it up before the suck arrives. I can dig it.The US has many things that, in my opinion, are far superior compared to what exists in Germany. 24 hour convenience stores, BBQ, and football with pigskin are all things that Germany needs ASAP. However, Germany seems to have "cracked the code" when it comes to throwing an incredible fest. They are a total blast and it is difficult to compare it to anything back home. Sure, there are plenty of fairs and carnivals back home but they're not the same.
Here's an example: My childhood hometown of Sunland (suburban Los Angeles) throws their annual Watermelon
Festival every June. I don't want to sound like a snob but it's lame. There are some trucked in rides that were built in the sixties which are operated by Carnies (and their dogs) that haven't realized that they are no longer living in the sixties. Alcohol isn't served because if it was, there would be drunken lawlessness that would ruin the event (even further). Music, if there is any, would be provided by Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick or some other band long past their prime. Most of my friends at home would rather stay home and watch TV than go to these things.Germany, on the other hand, comes alive during these fests. We've had the opportunity to hit a few of these
up in the last month or so. First, we went to the Witlich Pig Burners Festival with my brother and his family (see the write up a few posts ago). We then had a blast at a wine fest in the riverside town of Bernkastel Kues. What made this fest special was the parade. Rather than seeing the Shriners drive around their miniature cars and the VFW parade around a busted up float, we saw float entries from each village in the local area celebrating their local wine. The folks in the Mosel region are fiercely proud of their local winery and aren't afraid to proclaim that their wine is "besser" and the other villages vintage taste like "scheisse". Honestly, all the wine from this area is pretty damn good scheisse. 
Last weekend we stopped by the Bad Durkheim Wurst and wine fest. What made this special was the festive atmosphere in their massive wine tent. Here a bunch of slightly inebriated folks sipped wine, ate huge plates of chicken and potatoes, and sang along to the ompapa band. Unlike the US, the Germans tend to smoke up like chimneys and pack as many people together as possible at these things but even that couldn't take away from the experience. Anyhow, we were all pretty surprised when the band suddenly donned cowboy hats and broke into a version of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads". On a side note, the Germans have sort of a thing for the Country Western thing. Anyhow, the place went crazy and everyone sang along with thick accents. We met up with some friends of ours and they too had a great time.
We head to the mother of all festivals, Munich's legendary Oktoberfest, in a couple weeks.
Should be a blast.Take a moment to check out some of the pix on this post. The one with the float is from the B-K Winefest. If you look close, it is a float dedicated to spanking naughty children. Love it! For some reason, Julia didn't. Another one is from the Pig Burners festival. I think Daniel and I actually ate some of that unfortunate piggy. The next couple are from last weekend's wine fest in B-D. The crazy couple to the right are friends of ours from Ramstein. Good stuff.
Prost!
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