I loved Munich and Oktoberfest. That much should be obvious from my previous posts.
Some things even surprised me. Beer, weisswurst and a pretzel for brekkers was a pleasant surprise.
One of the Oktoberfest-related things that surprised me the most was the music. Modern German drinking songs aren't German at all. Think "Country Roads," and "Sweet Home Alabama."
But, this is the song that stuck in my head: Hey Baby (as performed by Bruce Channel), popularised by the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. (Thanks to Daniel Williamson -- one of the cooks at work -- for directing his smart phone to find this song and for listening to my Okt. fest stories so many times he can repeat them verbatim).
I loved the heart-breaking joy that accompanies each favorite tune. For example, in the Oktoberfest 'tents,' each refrain of 'Hey Baby,' is met with a loud Ooo Ahh.
Everyone uses the "ooo, ahh" refrain to insert a little personalised gesture. Finger points, hip wiggles, facial expressions of surprise... you name it, these nutty Germans (and Aussies and Kiwis and Brits and Russians and South Americans and North Americans) will convey it with a two-count gesture.
Traveling is such fun.
(ooo, ahh) Proust
Nancy
