Oktoberfest Cruise - September 2015

Danube River Cruise with Prague and Munich (Oktoberfest)

Let me start by saying that all the pictures I took during the Danube River Cruise were lost, due to an SD card failure.  Luckily I only visited one new city, Bratislave, Slovakia.  So unfortunately there are no pictures from September 13-18.

September 7-9, 2015 - Traveling

It took two days traveling from Orlando to Prague, due to flight connections. 

September 9-11, 2015 - Prague, Czech Republic

In Prague I met my two friends from Orlando, Michael and George, who will also be taking the Danube river cruise with me.  We spent the afternoon with our young tour guide, Jara.  Jara took us to sights not normally seen on the organized tours.

Prague building

Main train station in Prague

On the tenth I took a train to Tabor for the day.  It was a small village, with picturesque vistas.  The highlight for me was the Museum of Chocolate and Marzipan.  The aromas were orgasmic.  That evening I joined Michael and George, and others on the cruise for an amazing local dinner.

Town square in Tabor

Decorative trash cans

Bike in Tabor

Jara joined all of us on the eleventh for another day of sightseeing.  I visited the old Jewish section of town.  On the way back I saw the colorful street market.  I walked across the Charles Bridge and took a tram to the Prague Castle.  I rejoined the group for another nice dinner.

Prague street market

One of the bridges over the Vltava River

Synagogue in Prague

Synagogue in Prague

Polished penis statue in Prague Castle

September 12, 2015 - Prague to Linz, Austria

Today was a travel day to join the Danube River Cruise in Linz, Austria.  I walked the crowded streets with the locals.  We boarded the ship and set sail for Vienna.

The Boheme River Boat

Flowers on bridge over the Danube

Yes, the bread is great in Europe

September 13, 2015 - Vienna, Austria

We took the Hop On Hop Off bus to see the city.  Our first stop was the Schoenberg Palace.  I had spent over a week in Vienna last year and never saw this beautiful sight.  I took the group back to the Vienna Opera House.  I had great wiener schnitzel for lunch.  I took a different bus in the afternoon where I saw great vistas from far above the Vienna forest.

September 14-15, 2015 - Budapest, Hungary

We arrived in Budapest in the early afternoon.  I walked to the beautiful parliament building, a few miles up the Danube.  That evening we went to a local restaurant, skipping the on-board meal.  On our second day I walked across the Chain Bridge to the Buda side.  I completed my visit in the Central Market, where I had Hungarian Goulash for lunch.  I also got another cycling t-shirt and some paprika.

September 16, 2015 - Bratislava, Slovakia

This was my first time visiting the Slovakian capital.  The highlight was the new castle.  I also visited the impressive presidential palace and the old town.

September 17, 2015 - Durnstein and Melk, Austria

This was my second visit to both charming villages.  The abbey in Melk is the most beautiful one I've ever seen.

September 18, 2015 - Linz, Austria to Munich, Germany

I had a very interesting train ride today.  I got to the station early and was advised the border was closed at Salzburg due to the Syrian immigration issue.  So I had to be rerouted through Newmarkt, Austria and the border town of Simbach, Germany.  My first train had three carriages of immigrants going from Linz to Passau.  I wonder if they made it into Germany?

Dinner was amazing - wiener schnitzel of course.  But the restaurant was packed with locals and tourists here for Oktoberfest.  I sat by the bar losing count of how much beer was poured.

September 18-21 - Munich, Germany

I did the Hop On Hop Off routine today.  Munich is a beautiful city, but fairly modern compared to the other cities on this trip.

Marienplatz town hall in Munich

Olympic Stadium

Rainbow at Olympic Stadium

Walking man sculpture

Gargoyle

One of the main purposes of the trip was to attend Oktoberfest.  I followed the crowd on the subway.  There were 1000s of people.  I was blocked by a parade but managed to get to the Braurosl tent, which is gay on Sunday.  I walked in an saw a flood of happy, and cute, faces.  All had a liter of beer in front of them.  You must be seated to be served.  I found the group I had traveled on the river cruise with.  No one seemed drunk, but it was only 10:00 am and they had until 4:00 pm.  I stayed for a while but wanted to visit the other tents and view the entire fairgrounds.  I took over 300 photos on my recently purchased SD card.  The only comparison I could make was to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Boys walking to Oktoberfest

Candy at Oktoberfest

Me in Braurosl Tent

One of the other tents

Official poster for Oktoberfest 2015

Pretzel boy

Beer girl

Band in another tent

More pretzels

Beer wagon

Another tent

One of the many rides

Ferris wheel

Olympic five loop coaster

Oktoberfest band

Start of my liter of beer

Half way

Finished

In the afternoon I revisited the Olympic Park.

  

On Monday I visited the Daschu Concentration Camp Memorial.  This camp was mainly used for enemies of the state, defined as everyone except party followers.  It was nowhere near as disturbing as Auschwitz.  The Australian guide was excellent.  There was evidence of a Jewish presence, and there was a nice memorial.

Sculpture at Daschu

Jewish Memorial

September 22-23 – Munich – Frankfurt – Miami – Orlando

Again I had a long two day trip home.