Everbody knows the Oktoberfest?

Yes, the German Oktoberfest is known around the whole World. But I took a look on some websites about it and I found some real strange Ideas about food on the Oktoberfest. So here some information about how it really is:

You do eat Weisswurst, Roasted Duck and Roasted Chicken, Potato Salad and of course bavarian people cannot live without soft Pretzels (Bretzel in German). Some websites state, that French Fried Potatoes or Currywurst has something to do with the big party - that's wrong. Also Sauerbraten, Schnitzel, Gulasch, Rouladen, Cabbage and many more things are irrelevant for the Oktoberfest. The drink is very clear: It's Weissbier - brewed in or around Munich.

Maybe you are in the great position to work with a company being situated in or around Munich? If you are, ask your colleagues in Germany when they are going to the Oktoberfest. Every company or department goes there and usually it starts early - sometimes even in the morning. So be prepared for a very long day and do not try to keep up with those Bavarians in drinking beer - you won't make it (Believe me, I've been living and working in Munich for some years and in September our UK-based people always had to attend REALLY important meetings. Surprisingly they often did not manage to find the way back to their hotel in the night after "the meeting").

Many tourists come to see the huge party in the city Munich, but most of them do not take themselves some time to discover the city and the area around Munich. Thats a shame, because it is nice to see. Castle Neuschwanstein ist not far away, the alps rise just a few kilometes south of munich and there are many more things to see. So if you go there, take yourself a couple of days (at least one to recover from your visit on the Oktoberfest) and look for interesting spots:

• Take a tour around the city. Buses are leaving from the main station which is easy to find.
• Go the Castle Neuschwanstein (http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/tourist/index.htm).
• The small city Hohenschwangau is very close to castle Neuschwanstein an it is worth having a look on it.
• You do not have a car and only little time? Take the S-Bahn (Local Train) to Starnberg and leave the train at the last station. You will find yourself in a beautiful scenery along a large lake, a fantastic view on the mountains and a lot of restaurants.
• You love bicycles? Rent one, ask for a map and ride along the river Isar. There is a trail, that will directly lead you to the mountains - through scenic views, nice and cosy villages, restaurants and more. Ask for the Isarradweg (Isar Bike Trail - www.isarradweg.de).