Servus and welcome to Munich, Germany!
The Oktoberfest in the Bavarian state capital is famous the world over.
So what happens when it's impossible to host in 2020?
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, city officials were forced to cancel the Oktoberfest this year.
The locals are still celebrating but on a much smaller scale this year.
Over 50 restaurants and taverns in Munich came together this year
to plan an alternative to the Oktoberfest.
They call it the 'WirtshausWiesn' or 'Tavern Wiesn'."
Visitors can head to individual venues across the city to drink their bigs beers,
to dance and to eat typical Oktoberfest food all while observing social distancing and wearing face masks.
And many people are still wearing their Dirndl or Lederhosen, and this year, a mask too!
But, as a big fan of the Oktoberfest myself, I'm wondering if this year can really measure up to the real thing.
So let's go check it out!
So I'm headed to get an Oktoberfest beer at one of Munich's most famous breweries, the Hofbräuhaus.
This year they will tap their first keg at exactly 12 noon in the brewery, not in a beer tent.
As always, the specially-brewed Oktoberfest beer is on tap. But are people missing the traditional event...
So the beer is great as always and the people are super nice.
But I must say, what I am missing about the regular Oktoberfest
is sitting at a big table full of people that you haven't met before.
Everyone here had to reserve their tables ahead of time due to the pandemic.
So, I am missing a litle bit of that 'making-friends-by-the-end-of-the-day' feeling of the regular Oktoberfest.
Next up, I'm headed to Munich's famous Marienplatz
to get a taste of my favorite Oktoberfest food at a nearly 150-year-old restaurant called 'The Ratskeller'.
This is one of the many locations which are trying to keep the spirit
and traditions of Oktoberfest alive this year.
I order a 'Schweinshaxe'. The oven roasted pork knuckle is a true Oktoberfest classic.
That's really good. This is definitely my favorite Oktoberfest food, and it's a little taste of the festival.
But, I have to say, the setting is really nice and I'm super glad to have this, but I do miss the feeling
of being in the tents, surrounded by people and cheer 'Ein Prosit' every hour.
But, I will take this as an alternative.
Maybe I will feel the Oktoberfest spirit a little more
if I can find some more people in their Dirndls and Lederhosen. Let's go check it out.
I'm happily surprised to see how many people are dressed up this year,
even with no Oktoberfest taking place.
I'm wondering, why is it important to them?
It's tradition, and we like to be part of tradition that we don't have at home — we don't have that in the UK.
So things certainly look a little bit different in Munich this year, but I have to say,
I really admire the people here for being able to carry on their traditions safely.
It's been so much fun, and I hope that we can revisit the world's most famous beer festival again next year.
Servus and bye bye!