So! Brazilian Oktoberfest! Just as official as in Germany! The reason for this? Apart from the wide spread European heritage (including a lot of Italian influence as well as German), there are still a lot of German communities on mainland Brazil. In the early 20th century, Brazil was trying to find its feet again as an independent country so many Europeans were forced to leave or be executed. But for quite a few of the German communities they convinced the Brazilians that they should be allowed to stay because of the positive influence they could, would and had had on Brazilian education. So many German traditions are still upheld here, apparently some more so than in Germany itself! Although I've no idea what I'm afraid so this claim seems pointless ;)
We bought return coach tickets for R$35 (about £12-ish), set off at half past five in the evening, arrived by eight/half eightish and were in the actual event by 9pm. I made it my mission to buy a flower crown and a tankard and fortunately it didn't take long. We found amazing flower crowns for R$15 (well mine was) and then later on inside we bought tankards and kind of over the shoulder lanyards to attach them to.
For some reason although I was going to Oktoberfest I wasn't feeling the drinking part too much. Or maybe it's just because I'm not a true beer drinker, as I've only ever drunken it (and sort of liked it) while being here. Like when I went to Italy and I would happily drink Cappuccinos but as soon as I went back to England I couldn't stand them. Funny how being abroad has that effect... We did however enjoy some Brahma beer on the way there and then sample pints of German beer (no idea what the brand actually was) and then Brahma Lager (which was a little too watery and creamy for my liking - the marketing people didn't lie when they said "extra cremoso" ("extra creamy").
The Oktoberfest crowd was an interesting one. Interesting in that it was extremely European (of course, it's a beer festival), most men had beer bellies and it wasn't quite the chilled atmosphere - I at least - had gotten used to in the last (woah!) nearly three months!! I think in some ways I did feel kind of comfortable because I'm used to a heavy drinking culture, but at the same time I didn't really identify with the crowd. The urge to get drunk wasn't there, at all. Which makes me sound like a drunkard ha! But you know when the energy from a crowd kind of pumps you up and you kind of want to start joining in? Well it just wasn't really there last night... Must be getting old ;)
One thing that was irritating, was the heat and the humidity! It was sooooooooooooo muggy and we didn't even attempt to dance with the crowd near the front of the stage. It was overcast for most of Saturday and so I thought it would rain later on, so I packed my raincoat into my rucksack: such a tourist/English girl! The only time I put my hoodie on was when I slept for a whole of one hour on the way back, and even then it was too much: 24C at half past seven in the morning! What?!
When we arrived just after 9pm the party was getting started. It peaked at about half one/two AM and then gradually died, although it was at least half full still by 4am. You could tell it was getting empty when you found space to maneouvre and could see other tables through the random groups of people dotted around. By two AM lots of people had had enough, especially children and teens, who quite rightly put their heads down on the tables and napped until their parents were ready to leave.
Oktoberfest was definitely something for everyone, students, families everyone! The music was jolly and the people were jolly so it was a wonderful experience. I was happy to sit for most of it and just soak up the atmosphere. It was one of those moments when you're quietly happy and blissful with the place life has lead you to :)
I got back home at 8am on Sunday, showered straight away and then had a nap. I was supposed to wake up for 10am breakfast with someone but for the first time ever I slept through my alarm and on until nearly 1pm... Oops!
If I ever go again, then in hindsight I would tell myself to literally take just money, phone, camera, keys and maybe a light jacket? Because October here means it is getting warmer here, and although it did rain for a tiny bit around 3am, it was nothing that warranted a coat: so don't panic! And most of the event is undercover as well, so you definitely needn't worry about getting cold.
I was expecting the event to be under huge marquees outside. Nope! It was all held in a huge exhibition hall in the city centre so: do. not. worry! You can buy stuff there if you're desperate :)
Another thing I would tell myself is too have a siesta! Either on the coach there (although you risk pictures of you sleeping being uploaded to a strangers Facebook, etc) or a couple of hours before you leave. Or! Take a massive group. I think with two of us we were so delirious we kind of ran out of things to do in the end so it might have been good to have more minds tossing around ideas.
OVERALL though, as my first ever Oktoberfest it has been: incredible!! I love road trip and considering we had to get a coach there, I'd say it classifies! ;)
It was wild, crazy and exciting! And I'm half tempted to look into going to one in Germany in the next couple of years :D
Definitely definitely definitely recommend this to anyone whether you're travelling, studying or working here! Go! The experience is very much worth it!!
*Instead of putting a backing track, there are clips with me commentating on different aspects of Oktoberfest, but it came out really quietly so you may need to turn the volume up a bit. Although be careful 15 second in because it may suddenly blast out. You've been warned ;)
We bought return coach tickets for R$35 (about £12-ish), set off at half past five in the evening, arrived by eight/half eightish and were in the actual event by 9pm. I made it my mission to buy a flower crown and a tankard and fortunately it didn't take long. We found amazing flower crowns for R$15 (well mine was) and then later on inside we bought tankards and kind of over the shoulder lanyards to attach them to.
For some reason although I was going to Oktoberfest I wasn't feeling the drinking part too much. Or maybe it's just because I'm not a true beer drinker, as I've only ever drunken it (and sort of liked it) while being here. Like when I went to Italy and I would happily drink Cappuccinos but as soon as I went back to England I couldn't stand them. Funny how being abroad has that effect... We did however enjoy some Brahma beer on the way there and then sample pints of German beer (no idea what the brand actually was) and then Brahma Lager (which was a little too watery and creamy for my liking - the marketing people didn't lie when they said "extra cremoso" ("extra creamy").
The Oktoberfest crowd was an interesting one. Interesting in that it was extremely European (of course, it's a beer festival), most men had beer bellies and it wasn't quite the chilled atmosphere - I at least - had gotten used to in the last (woah!) nearly three months!! I think in some ways I did feel kind of comfortable because I'm used to a heavy drinking culture, but at the same time I didn't really identify with the crowd. The urge to get drunk wasn't there, at all. Which makes me sound like a drunkard ha! But you know when the energy from a crowd kind of pumps you up and you kind of want to start joining in? Well it just wasn't really there last night... Must be getting old ;)
One thing that was irritating, was the heat and the humidity! It was sooooooooooooo muggy and we didn't even attempt to dance with the crowd near the front of the stage. It was overcast for most of Saturday and so I thought it would rain later on, so I packed my raincoat into my rucksack: such a tourist/English girl! The only time I put my hoodie on was when I slept for a whole of one hour on the way back, and even then it was too much: 24C at half past seven in the morning! What?!
When we arrived just after 9pm the party was getting started. It peaked at about half one/two AM and then gradually died, although it was at least half full still by 4am. You could tell it was getting empty when you found space to maneouvre and could see other tables through the random groups of people dotted around. By two AM lots of people had had enough, especially children and teens, who quite rightly put their heads down on the tables and napped until their parents were ready to leave.
Oktoberfest was definitely something for everyone, students, families everyone! The music was jolly and the people were jolly so it was a wonderful experience. I was happy to sit for most of it and just soak up the atmosphere. It was one of those moments when you're quietly happy and blissful with the place life has lead you to :)
I got back home at 8am on Sunday, showered straight away and then had a nap. I was supposed to wake up for 10am breakfast with someone but for the first time ever I slept through my alarm and on until nearly 1pm... Oops!
If I ever go again, then in hindsight I would tell myself to literally take just money, phone, camera, keys and maybe a light jacket? Because October here means it is getting warmer here, and although it did rain for a tiny bit around 3am, it was nothing that warranted a coat: so don't panic! And most of the event is undercover as well, so you definitely needn't worry about getting cold.
I was expecting the event to be under huge marquees outside. Nope! It was all held in a huge exhibition hall in the city centre so: do. not. worry! You can buy stuff there if you're desperate :)
Another thing I would tell myself is too have a siesta! Either on the coach there (although you risk pictures of you sleeping being uploaded to a strangers Facebook, etc) or a couple of hours before you leave. Or! Take a massive group. I think with two of us we were so delirious we kind of ran out of things to do in the end so it might have been good to have more minds tossing around ideas.
OVERALL though, as my first ever Oktoberfest it has been: incredible!! I love road trip and considering we had to get a coach there, I'd say it classifies! ;)
It was wild, crazy and exciting! And I'm half tempted to look into going to one in Germany in the next couple of years :D
Definitely definitely definitely recommend this to anyone whether you're travelling, studying or working here! Go! The experience is very much worth it!!
*Instead of putting a backing track, there are clips with me commentating on different aspects of Oktoberfest, but it came out really quietly so you may need to turn the volume up a bit. Although be careful 15 second in because it may suddenly blast out. You've been warned ;)