Munich Mardi Gras

In what was more like Mardi Gras than Munich – I mean with twice the drunken, and half the disorderly (this is Germany afterall) – thousands of locals marched through town in the annual Costume and Riffleman’s Parade. The parade today paid tribute to the historical roots of Octoberfest, as hundreds of troops showed off their colorful folk clothing in a procession again toward the site of the Octoberfest, the Theresienwiese. Nearly every troop had several drink ladies, marching with a small keg of brandy and shot glasses. Others had the tap going from the float, and would pass around a beer stein. More than 900,000 people joined the Octoberfest over its first weekend – that’s equivalent to two-thirds the population of Munich, all drinking beer at the same time. This fest takes over this city, and captivates the locals and tourists alike. Most of the city center is packed with people, and it’s difficult to catch a downtown headed train that is not filled with men in lederhosen and women in dirndls. Oh what a beautiful place.