Operation: Oktoberfest

We were asked to join three other couples in Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest. Despite what you might have heard or imagined about the beerfest, it is extremely organized fair-like event and tickets for seating inside one of the festival tents are rare, especially with 2010 being the 200 anniversary. With the promise of yummy Bavarian food, steins of beer, traditional German folk songs and fun friends, we eagerly accepted this once-in-a-lifetime invite.

Our cohorts are an American couple living near us in Baku, another American couple who live in Beijing and another couple, she's Swiss, he's Dutch. Quite the eclectic bunch, makes for good times....which explains how an otherwise sane, normal person goes from, "I'll just wear a sweater and jeans" to a dirndl - that's the traditional dress for German women. And yes, men dress up too. Their outfits are called lederhosen. Old, young, short, tall, almost everyone is dressed up to celebrate. In the middle of the day, people are riding their bikes or taking the subway, looking like they stepped out of a cheesey movie.

(The Baku Bunch: Max, Adriana, Brooke, Kyle)

Our reservations allowed us to enter the Schottenhamel tent at 6 p.m., along with 6,000 of our closest friends. The crowd is subdued for the first hour or so. Everyone is eating a variety of sausages, potato dumplings and huge pretzels.

(Kyle with gigantic pretzel & Bavarian flag)

As the food is washed down, the mouths are freed up to start singing along with the band. Most of the songs are in German, but the tent goes crazy when "West Virginia, Mountain Mama...take me home" is played. The band really ups the ante with "La Bamba" and "Sweet Home Alabama." Apparently these songs cross all international borders, because everyone is yelling out the chorus. By now, no one is left sitting. We are dancing on the wooden benches and the tables shake from the vibrations, spilling drinks and rattling the silverware. You're so close to the other patrons that your butt is always rubbing up against someone else's. By the end of the evening, which comes at 10 p.m. when the tents officially close, everyone is hugging their neighbor, arms draped over necks of strangers who are now friends. The last song is played, everyone links arms, sways back and forth and belts out lyrics to now familiar music. Camaraderie is felt all around.

(Brooke & lederhosen covered butts)

The whole event was thrilling. The excitement in the air was contagious and you couldn't help but love every minute of Oktoberfest. We had so much fun, I solemnly asked, "What do I do with my dirndl now?"......Halloween costume?

(Our tent at 10 p.m.)