Oktoberfest and Berlin

This past weekend we ventured outside of Italy and for a little Oktoberfest action and to go visit Berlin.  Germany is AWESOME.  I never knew that it could be so different from another country in Europe.  It's the art capital and most modern country of Europe.  Oktoberfest is unlike anything I have ever experienced.  We took a bus on Thursday night at 11 pm and arrived in Munich at 9 am on Friday.  Oktoberfest officially opens at 10 am (Germans really do believe in it's 5 o'clock somewhere apparently), but it's a good thing we started early....by noon there was so many people you could not move.

 The entrance to Oktoberfest...starting the day bright and early!

This is Hofbraü House, the first tent we went to.  There are a total of 14 beer tents over 103.79 acres that also includes carnival rides, food stands, etc.

 Inside of Hofbraü House, the second largest tent at Oktoberfest.  When we left this tent at around noon, it was jammed with people.  There is an upstairs on the other side and an area for a band off to the right.

 Oh you want beer?!?  They bring 'em out 12 at a time!!  She looks so happy too!

 Each beer is 1L equivalent to about 4 beers.

PS it was really good!

 Pretzels the size of your head and I'm not joking!  We also got a Rotisserie Chicken, which was sooo good that all of us were fighting over it.  I don't think that bad European food exists!

 When someone finishes their beer, the crowd goes WILD!

Each beer tent is decorated differently inside and has different mugs that the beer is served in.

Oh drunk/sleepy Germans after a long day, they pass out anywhere.  This is in the train station.

Friday night we departed for Berlin, which is the Capital of Germany.

 The capital building of Berlin.  Berlin, or Germany in general is much much colder than Florence, but it was really nice to be able to see some fall color, since the downtown city of Florence lacks in the tree department.

 This is the Jewish Holocaust Memorial that was built in Berlin.  There are 2711 concrete blocks arranged in a grid formation in this one city block!

 A part of the Berlin Wall...used as a place to put your gum when you're done chewing it.

 Inside the Sony Center.  There are shops, cafes, hotels, IMAX, etc inside.

The roof of the Sony Center.  It lights up different colors at night. Google it!

 There was some kind of Roller Blade tournament/race going on throughout the town, which was cool to see.

This is the Jewish Museum.  We thought it would be more about the Holocaust...it was mainly just about the Jewish Religion and just up until the beginning of the Holocaust.