Re: Oktoberfest in Germany, any suggestions?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
-----------------------------------
Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Oktoberfest in Germany, any suggestions?
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,488
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,488 |
Quote:
I don’t think I like any German beers
BURN HIM!!!
Mike, it's probably because you haven't had them in Germany.
bibere usque ad hilaritatem
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Re: Oktoberfest in Germany, any suggestions?
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,444 Likes: 16
connoisseur
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OP
connoisseur
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,444 Likes: 16 |
I'll drink some of them foo-foo Belgium ales with the corks sometimes....
But you may be right. I didn't really appreciate Genius till I had it in the UK, and then really appreciated it at the brewery.
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Re: Oktoberfest in Germany, any suggestions?
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 678
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 678 |
Spaten lager from a keg is mighty fine! I also have not had a beer from Paulaner that I did not like. Enjoy your trip!
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Re: Oktoberfest in Germany, any suggestions?
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441 |
Ayinger makes some fine brews, too. Attempting to answer the Paulaner Optimator vs. Ayinger Celebrator "which doppelbock is best?" question is always a good use of time.
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Re: Oktoberfest in Germany, any suggestions?
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 973
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 973 |
My girlfriend and I were lucky enough to travel through most of continental western Europe last July. I should be able to offer a couple of suggestions, though I have found that my memory is fading fast.
Belgium we had the most fun here, mostly because we were staying with family and not pushing ourselves too much to see everything while we were there. We did find the people to be the friendliest and most polite of any country we visited. We toured Brussel, in which most of the main city sites are within short walking distance. There are no particularily well known sites, well except for the peeing boy - Manikapis (sp?). You might also enjoy visiting the bar Delirium with the pink elephants. They own(ed) the Guiness Record for the most types of beer in one bar - 2004 (not uncoincidently in the year 2004). You have to make sure to visit a few "friturs" when you are there. The Belgians invented "frites" or what we know as French (or Freedom depending on your politics) Fries. If you happen to be a big WWI or WWII history buff there are plenty of battle sites, monuments and cemetaries scattered all over this tiny country and within short distance in neighbouring France (Ypres, Vimy, the Ardenes, Dieppe, Normandy, etc). We also enjoyed our stay at a small inn near the Abbaye de Notre Dame de Scourmont where Chimay beer is brewed.
Germany we didn't see too much of Germany, just Berlin. There is a lot to see here and the city is well spread out. The good thing is that the transit system is very easy to use and quick too. We visited KZ Sachenhausen, which was according to stats the worst concentration camp within German borders. Sobering to say the least, but I think important for everyone to see. Sounds like you are on the right track with the beer gardens, that'll be plenty of fun.
Switzerland also didn't see too much of this country, but did have the opportunity to visit Zermatt which was the only area of the Alps in Switzerland that was open to summer skiing (at least that I could find). We really enjoyed the town of Zermatt, even if it was a bustling little resort town, it was very relaxed. It was especially enjoyable for us considering we had just come from a week in Italy where the weather was always above 30 Celcius. The nice cool weather in the mountains was a great refresher. We had taken the train to (from Venice) and from (to Zurich) Zermatt and I'd have no problems recommending that method of travel. It's not the quickest, but the scenery is wonderful and it's pretty relaxing.
Italy this country is hot, dirty and smelled bad. It was overcrowded and a PITA to get around in. After this is said though, i would go back in a second. With all the incredible sites you can't miss it....and that wasn't the best part. THE FOOD is unbelievable. Of course I could live on pizza and pasta. I'm sure you won't but don't miss Rome.
I'm sure both of you will have a blast. Sorry to be so long winded, hopefully some of this will come in handy for you. If either of you had any specific questions, even to the point of what train we caught to get somewhere, i'm sure i could find it in the mass of papers that we collected and brought back.
Make sure to take plenty of pics and share with us when you get back.
"Chickens don't clap."
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Re: Oktoberfest in Germany, any suggestions?
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,185
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,185 |
Cool trip. I think you'll have your hands full cruising Germany/Belgium in a week. I've been to both and there's a bit to see/do. Enjoy driving the Bahn, can be very intense, just make sure to pay attention if you're going to push it. I've done 200 KM/H in an Audi and then get high beamed by both a Porsche and a motorcycle riding my arse. That's intense.
Munich Skip the Hofbrau Haus. Hard Rock Cafe a la Munich. You can get better beer at smaller places.
Stuttgart/Ulm Would be cool to visit the Porsche. You're close to Lake Constance which borders Switzerland IIRC. There's a cool castle on the lake.
Rothenburg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothenburg_ob_der_Tauber) Kindy touristy but what the heck. It's a walled town kinda like fairy tale books. Pretty cool to visit and take pix.
Heidelberg Cool castle town. I was there for the 800th anniversary, they know how to party...
Frankfurt So so. I personally like the smaller towns, more character.
Dusselfdorf FANTASTIC Alt bier. It's also the fashion capital so if you're lucky and there's a fashion show, you're hotel could be full of models. Mine was...
Belgium GREAT beer. Kinda fruity but I really like the kriek. Fantastic fries, you can't beat real Belgian fries. Found really good waffles too. It's cool (though a bit touristy) to sit in the platz, have a stein of beer, bucket of mussels sitting in butter/wine, basket of fries and just people watch. That was probably the best times I've had in a Euro city.
Den Haag (The Hague) More closer to Amsterdam but I did drive from Belgium to Amsterdam and stopped in Den Haag. It's a beautiful town, probably one of the nicest I've seen around that area.
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Re: Oktoberfest in Germany, any suggestions?
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,602
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,602 |
Any suggestions? As my brother is fond of saying "Don't mention the war" Bren R.
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Re: Oktoberfest in Germany, any suggestions?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 601
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 601 |
Made on a Mac
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Re: Oktoberfest in Germany, any suggestions?
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,859
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,859 |
Thanks for the info. While I would like to get to Rome, we aren't going to make it there this time. We have been talking for a while about doing Rome and then southern Italy from there for our 5 year anniversary, which is the end of summer next year. We'll be sticking with the Northern part for now. 1 night at lake Como, then 2 each at Milan, Florence, and Venice.
It is tough because there is so much I want to see over there. I could spend months just travelling and checking out all of the different countries. I'm looking forward to both phases of the trip. It looks like work has even built in some sightseeing time in Germany since the first week I am there for business, so that will be nice.
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