Munich Day 1

Finally maybe catching up a bit more!? Since the Oktoberfest trip would make a super long blog post I decide to break it up into a few posts :D

September 25th-27th I went to Munich for Oktoberfest. I was invited by a friend to tag along for the weekend at my very first real Oktoberfest!! Cynthia, Danette, and I all rode together and followed two cars of Amme and her family. Amme knows some Germans from a local restaurant near her house, and with their assistance, we were able snag some tent reservations and a great hotel! They really welcomed us into the group, invited us all to dinner, and showed the way to the festival. 

Day 1, September 25th :
The drive wasn't bad really- roughly 4.5hrs- all of which were filled with lots of crocheting for me (hello almost finished baby blanket!) We left super early on Thursday and arrived with enough time to check in and head into town to explore. Since I'd never been Munich I was super stoked! 

First photo session, the lovely hotel:

Gotta love the window in the shower. Oh and the fact that it's right in the room!

At least the toilet had it's own room!

Once we settled in we headed out. Our hotel was only a 5-10 minute walk from a train station- just a few stops and we'd be in town (or at the festival on the following day).

P.S.- couldn't forget to share this gem we passed on the way to the train station!

Then- of course, had to get artsy with the bikes by the station and the station itself. So pretty.

It was a little chilly outside but we were too excited to care really.

Then- the fun began and the train arrived!

Amme and Danette

Cynthia and I

We all took the train to Marienplatz, the main square downtown, and split into a few groups to walk around. A few people wanted to hunt for lederhosen and drindls to wear at the festival whereas Cynthia, Danette and I just wanted to explore. There was SO much to explore with having never been to Munich so I was super excited to absorb some of the sites. 


The first building we saw as we came up to the ground level from our train stop- the Town hall (Rathaus).

Awkward downward shot but - Cynthia, Danette, and I in front of the town hall.

This is the bell tower. It shows what is called the " Rathaus-Glockenspiel". When the bell tower
rang each level rotated along with the music. Each level represented a different story from their histroy.

A fountain in front of the town hall building.

One of the stores we walked past first. The screens were making angry faces at each other!

First we stumbled upon a perfect little market! lots of fruits and veggies, food booths, and home decor pieces.

So many photos happened at the market!

This gem was outside one of the cheese shops.

Love these as door hangers. Most were made with dried flowers or spices and smelled amazing.

love this picture! the color and the veggies look amazing!

And huge hand woven baskets? I want one.

Had to snag a Starbuck's Oktoberfest mug!!

We also stumbled upon a HUGE Abercrombie & Fitch. I know the pictures are crappy (anyone who has shopped there knows it is super dark like Hollister) but man alive- prettiest, biggest, and fanciest Abercrombie & Fitch I've ever seen!

Red carpet steps all the way up to the third floor? I felt important coming down them
and seeing that gorgeous chandelier *dreamy foyer*

These guys were some weird H&M manikins.

In a department store we stopped to explore I had my first
Oktoberfest stein sighting. :D

This store was a GEM. We stumbled across it as well (like the other amazing things since we were
just wandering). It had GREAT deals on drindls and lederhosen (gotta remember for next year)!!

One thing I LOVE about living in Europe are the street artists. I mean a grand piano? I could sit there and drink coffee and listen to these people play music all day.

As we headed back to our spot to get on the train I took the below two photos: 

This guy was chilling on one of the corners of the town hall building.

And this five piece orchestra was playing outside the town hall!
-again, fav.-

All in all, our wandering-in-Munich for the afternoon turned out great! I definitely can't wait to go back!

Once we got back to the hotel we rested up and walked to dinner. The group of Germans that we came with invited us out to dinner with them.

The restaurant looked super cute!

Loved the wheelbarrow out front; very autumn-y

We were each given necklaces as gifts! I wore mine for the festival.

This was my dinner- yummy steak with a fried egg, fried onions, and french fries.

Danette and I even managed to pay-and-pick some pretty flowers. Here, I'm not sure about all of Europe, but in Germany there are fields of flowers and a "donation box". You drop some moolah and pick whatever you'd like. We managed to snag some beauties for our hotel room :)

Then it was off to bed; I could hardly sleep because of all of the excitement about the festival!

My First Ramstein Bazaar

So a few weekends ago, on the 20th, there was a bazaar held at the airbase near where we live. They apparently hold them several times a year but this was the first one I had ever gone to. I went with my friend Patty and we walked around for several hours marveling at all the neat stuff! I was able to get lots of Christmas gifts and a hand painted Italian roof tile for Rob and I. Sadly I can't post pictures of the gifts I bought until later on (after the holidays) but I was overwhelmed at all the neat stuff! I can't wait to go back. 
    

They bazaar was in the two? of the hangers there and they filled them with tables and booths by various vendors. They had furniture, wine, cheese, clothing, art, home decor and so much more. I didn't buy all that I wanted because I know I'll be going back. I figured splitting up the purchases was smarter and Patty said a lot of the same vendors were at each bazaar.

Here are some pictures from the trip and all the neat things we saw.
   

Um YES PLEASE. so much space for wine!

Love this caddy for a foyer! Coat hooks and umbrella space!!

Swear they had the nicest wood furniture! And GREAT prices.

GRANDFATHER CLOCKS GALORE.

Traditional beer steins?! So many designs to choose from.

Loved this handmade baskets. Again, great prices. They had huge ones too!
Would love one for couch blankets!

These hand paintings are on windows and window frames-
LOVED THEM.

I wanted to buy one of these, couldn't decide which one until later!!

ALSO- there was a guy there that sold and made furniture from wine barrels! I snagged a business card and will TOTALLY be buying furniture from this man!

This was a super cute table that was hallowed out and, WOULD BE
an AMAZING spot for blankets :D

This was one of the bars he made out of wine barrels. The other side had shelves
and slots for wine bottles.

Also- Amazing family name signs! See why I wanted to buy everything??

This was the hand painted Italian roof tile I chose and bought.
BEAUTIFUL.

More window pane art!

Maybe even some on cabinets? How gorgeous!

This old kitchen buffet was ADORABLE. Had bins for sugar, coffee,
flour and slots for eggs. It even had a bread storage bin.

Then I saw this sign, which seemed only fitting.

and pretty colored lights? I mean what didn't they have.

I also bought a knob for my little black end table I painted for the tv room! Finally found a neat one to fit the piece with great colors.

Once I got home I was able to find a perfect place to display the roof tile on our bookcase ;D

Then for lunch, since a bunch of groups and families from the airbase were selling food, Patty and I indulged in some fried pickles and bacon wrapped hot dogs. Both of which were AMAZING. #winning.
  

BACON WRAPPED HOTDOG and FRIED PICKLES. YES!
so sinful.

After our extravaganza we loaded up and trekked back to the car. (Totally wished the guys were home to help carry the bags this time for sure!)
  

That evening we ended the night going to her son's high school football game. It got a bit chilly out BUT they won the game. They were playing the local German team and, with the score being outrageously high at half time, they called it and spared the Germans anymore embarrassment. I know football isn't really popular here but mannn. The Baumholder football team isn't even good really so the major win was a nice change of pace!