Fasching and Skipping Class (for Biergartens)

What is there to say about Fasching. It occurred more than a week ago, but I am still talking about it. Before I left for Ireland, Munich was already being decked out with clowns and banners and streamers. With Fasching comes a lot of costume balls, but one needs and invite to those things, so I obviously didn't participate. Instead, I think I got the better part of it. Walking to class put me in the Fasching mood immediately when I saw kids and their parents on the S-Bahn in costumes. The parents were drinking beer (legal to drink beer on the subway) and their kids were imitating them with a coke bottle - passing it around and talking in slurs. 

Then I got off the train and was immediately in another world - all adults in costumes drinking and partying as I was going to school.....argh

As I walked out of the Stachus station on my way to school. WHY SCHOOL!?

Once out of class, Erik and I headed straight for the festivities. He skipped the first hour and a half of class to go party...I should have as well. We started with two beers in Marienplatz. We realized that the Pfand (the money you pay for the beerstein...that you are supposed to bring back and get back) was only 1 Euro (I think?). We just walked away with our beersteins and walked through the garbed up, crowded streets of Munich. We met up with my friend Dave, and he had been there for quite some time. With our glasses, we never had to pay the Pfand again, so eventually saved the money...and got a beerstein! Erik was smart and left his book bag back at a locker in our school. I was still carrying mine around, and getting bumped was annoying but I couldn't complain...IT WAS FASCHING! So the night just went on - beer and people watching. One of the best costumes was a guy in full 1930s ski garb with wooden skies that he carried ALL NIGHT. Props to you sir! I have to say that I was in no costume, but no one really cared. 

The neue Rathaus with banners and outdoor bars. This is where we started

I really didn't capture much at all of Fasching, I'm just realizing

It's great because this is the sort of thing that Bavarians celebrate. It isn't the wonderful but extremely international Oktoberfest, yet it is still crazy and full of beer drinking. Starkbierfest is next week and celebrates the fasting of Lent by drinking the beer the monks used to drink, which is usually 7-9% alcohol. Damn!

So that was Fasching. This weekend was nice - stayed in Munich and hung out with friends. Then came yesterday, the first day above 60 degrees (it even got to 65!). Megan, Federico, Gian Luigi (sp?), and I went to Englischer Garten, which is bigger than Central Park. We started out at the river surfing spot and watched the surfers do their thing for god knows how long. It was awesome how some of the surfers could have kept going but they wiped out on purpose to share the spot. Here are some pictures:

We then walked to the Rotunda. Once on top, you had a slight view of the Munich skyline, especially Frauenkirche, the Neue Rathaus, and Alte Sankt Peter's. Erik met up with us and we headed to the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) and the Hofbräu Biergarten there. Food, beer, are a tempting combo. So tempting that as the hour of class drew nearer, we got less likely to go. After a few more beers, we laid on the lawn in front of the Rotunda and chilled. It's days like this that you can't wait for summer. 

Today was a normal day for class. I did, however, see the Alps for the first time from the train stop I get on at for class. My heart skipped a beat and I knew I would have to photograph them more as the weather clears up more and more. I leave you with pictures of Englischer Garten:

Buro a la derecha! - A Venezuelan card game?