260902 – Home, Copenhagen, Oktoberfest

For those snowflakes, wokes and libtards who may not be able to cope with some of my Rants etc., then select here:

Well back in Batshit Bonkers Britain and by way of a change it’s raining. Uber from airport was a first, didn’t have to wait long and only £60. Wouldn’t hesitate to use it again and best of all no inane chit chat.

Up at the crack of Sparrows fart to fly to Copenhagen. Usual Easy Jet flight. Only under seat luggage so we go straight through to security. Wow, one less queue. Booked into lounge, but as usual with everything Dragon Pass there’s a screw up – long queue to check in. Not a bad flight as usual. Check into the Crown Plaza, one of my favourites – Ross always chooses good hotels. Really modern hotel with fabulous ground floor forest and not to far from the metro. Have a stroll down to the World famous harbour with colourful house. It’s a tourist magnet, but you have it to do. Restaurants galore, all selling the same Danish dishes. Settle for a Lobster soup and a fish Smorgesboard, with a few Carlsbergs, of course. Back at the hotel we stop by in the rain forest for a night cap. Tuborg, not seen that in a long while.

Usual great break fast then off sight seeing on the Red bus. Have to get off at the little Mermaid, and she is little, and infested with tourists. Have a stroll around there. In the evening we have a good traditional Danish meal at one of the oldest restaurants in Copenhagen – 1720. Complemented with a few Carlsbergs of course.

Up and out for Ross’s highlight of the trip. Yes, another art museum. I go and see some grey dingy paintings of the artist he’s been ranting on about and then set off at my own pace to explore the rest of it while Ross imitates a snail, enthralled by them all. After 30 minute cultural overdose I’m sat in the cafe waiting for the snail. To overcome the mornings excitement we’ve booked a Carlsberg brewery tour followed by a tasting in Probably The Best Beer Cellars in the World. A great afternoon. Amazed when they poured out some Grimbergen. Didn’t know they brewed it and all very lively and fruity. For dinner we ventured into Christianshavn. To a traditional locals restaurant. Good food and good experience, try a flight of the home made Snaps.

Booked a morning free walking tour of Copenhagen. All very interesting. Then in the afternoon we do another free walking tour around Christianshavn and the renowned Free Town Christiania, Venture into the famous hippy commune. No drugs there anymore they’ve cleaned their act up. What a dump. Why would anyone want to live there. Then it’s Airport and a querky airport lounge. We’re both cream crackered. Two walking tours in a day is a big mistake, but hopefully you lives and you learns, as long as I don’t forget.

As I’ve never been to a cricket match yet go to Baseball in Salt Lake I feel pretty guilty about my disdain for our national sport so I suggested to my kids why not go to one. Both of them came back with the restort that it’s boring and I’d rather stare at the Sun. Kurt said why not go to Oktoberfest instead – can’t quite see the link. Anyway, here we are, Ross, Kurt and I on another easyjet flight to Munich. Arrived at our Holiday Inn rather late so we talk a walk to local traditional German restaurant for a late dinner and some beer.

Up early for a good breakfast and then we catch the U-Bahn, or was it the S-Bahn, to the Beer festitival. Today is opening day so no beer is served until the opening ceremony at 1100. I can’t believe how lucky we are to get a table in the Augustiner tent and sit with a Belgiumcouple and an Americancouple, all very friendly but then that’s what beer does. Have a few too many beers, 3 Mass I think (ein Mass is 1 Litre, just over 2 pints), then the Americans Insist on buying us another. I’m totally pissed and have to stagger home with the help of Kurt, always thought he was a lightweight, but he was in better condition than me. Call in for a Donner Kabab for tea, then it’s back to the hotel bar. End of an awesome day

Up for a good breakfast, no hangover. Then where off to the Augustiner Keller bier gardens for a few drinks, some lunch and a leisurely morning. After lunch we set off down to the main town square, Marien Platz, sadly the famous clock is not working. Never mind time for another leisurely beer. Then we stroll round to the Hofbrau House, my favorite. Have a beer outside in the beer garden before going into the cellar to listen to the awesome brass band and have some dinner, and a few more beers of course. An awesome atmosphere and full of history, the hitler youth used to meet here. Then it’s back to the hotel for a few leisurely drinks, including a Cognac nightcap.

Good breakfast and then off back to the Oktoberfest and the historical Oktoberfest (Oide Wiesn, Bavarian for “old fairground”) was introduced in 2010 for the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest. Pop into the Festzeit Tradition tent, largest beer tent in Olde Wiesn, featuring brass music, a dance floor, and Augustiner beer from wooden barrels. Starting to learn some sense. They don’t serve half a Mass, so we order two Mass and an empty Mass bier stein between the three of us. Then we’re off to my favorite, the Lowenbrau tent. Great atmosphere and awesome friendly service. Order a 2 + 1 and have some lunch. Lowenbrau has to be one of my favorite beers. Finally we visit the Hofbrau tent, another one of my favorite beers. Not a very friendly tent, jam packed and the waitress was Eva von Brown – if she managed a smile I’m sure the whole table would have had a fit. Apart from the Hofbrau tent we met and chatted with so many friendly folks over the three days. Of course Americans were the friendliest.