Oktoberfest 2020

 

Proposed Trip Logo

Courtesy of Barbus, here's a suggestion for a logo for our trip.

Thoughts? Other ideas?

Just for fun I picked a 11 day excursion to see what the airfare looked like end of March first of April.  I know they can't go out much further than that.  I found a TAP Portugal flight from ORD to LIS (1.5 hour layover) to TXL for $204.00.  It was a bout a 13 hour flight.  The return out of MUC to LIS (5 hour layover) to ORD was $277.00.  It is a 17 hour flight!  Includes no seat selection but does allow for one carry on and a personal item.  Total of $481.00   I will say Delta and American and their partners are no way close to these numbers.   What the heck, they look like jets (Well kinda they are Airbus) and the seating looks the same.  I always sit in the back as I would be the last to hit the water. 

a day late.

Bier Immersion 2021 - Part 1

Ok, the first draft of next year's Bier Immersian 2021 trip has come a little quicker than I thought. If you are reading this before the previous post, please read that one first to set the stage.

I am suggesting the following bier immersion for our trip. This includes five different locations and bier styles prior to the culmination of the trip in München. We will start in the north and work our way south, visiting these cities and sampling their bier (remember, this is just a suggested itinerary. add value if you can):

Berlin: Berliner Weiße

Berliner Weiße is a light and sour wheat beer, which is sweetened by a shot of himbeer (raspberry) or waldmeister (woodruff-flavored) syrup giving it a candy-colored red or green color.

Leipzig: Gose

This unusual beer is spiced with coriander seeds and - unlike any other German beer - it is brewed with lightly salty water and features a sourness.

Dusseldorf: Altbier

A German style brown ale, “Alt” means old, and the name refers to the pre-lager brewing method of using warm top-fermenting yeast like British pale ales.

Cologne: Kölsch

Kölsch, meaning "of Cologne", locals are proud of their beer which is brewed exclusively in the Cologne region.

Bamberg: Rauchbier

The secret of this beer’s mild smoked flavor is the century-old process of drying malt over an open fire made from beech wood logs.

München: Helles, Weisbier, Dopplebock

Let the discussion begin.............

Oktoberfest 2021

What? Oktoberfest 2021? Even though this year's 'Fest has been cancelled, it would not have even started yet. Are you guys crazy?

Well, yes, we are probably crazy. But nonetheless, it is never too early to start planning an Oktoberfest trip. We have already begun informal discussions, and next year's trip is going to be a bit different.

We are discussing a trip that celebrates the different bier of Germany, not just München. We expect to start our sojourn somewhere in northern Germany, and work our way south sampling the different biers in different regions. This "pre-trip", if you will, will culminate with a traditional visit to Oktoberfest in München. Details of the bier immersion trip will start flowing shortly. Items to be discussed include, where do we go, how long are we there, how do we get from Point-A to Point-B, and so on. Current thoughts are 4-5 different cities, and 7-10 days of bier immersion.

Please stayed tuned in the next few days for the first draft of Bier Immersion 2021. Your input is extremely important. Where do we want to go? How long do we want to stay? Is it only bier focused or should we also immerse ourselves in culture? So much to decide. Maybe I should go have a cold one to get started.

If you are so inclined, you can also provide your input to the first draft prior to publication. Let me know your thoughts.

Prost !

Wurst Kase

British Airway Cancelled my London/Munich/London

It is official for me now.  BA cancelled my trip from London to Munich and the return.  I went to the BA manage your flight web page and could only request a voucher.  I called the help line and talked to a pleasant chap located in Germany who refunded my money to my credit card.

Painless, the US carriers could take a lesson on customer service from those folks at BA!

Just waiting for American to cancel my flight to London and the fight not to get a voucher!!

Oktoberfest Trip Website update with latest news.

Dang.  Next year will be tough with the wedding. 

Oktoberfest Trip Officially Cancelled

I'll Probably Be Cancelling

Delta just cancelled one of my flights.

Western Swing?

John, Keith and David

I just looked at an email form SWAirlines on a big fare sale.  Flights out of CVG to Albuquerque for example is around $300 round trip .  Bags fly free!!


OUT of MDW (Chicago) $238 dollars to Albuquerque  round trip in September

Just some data points if we do a western swing trip.  Of course David it would be an eastern swing, but he has always leaned the wrong way!  Ha Ha

Doesn't look hopeful

 Source: Rick Steves' Europe Group

Current betting odds on the trip????

Never thought we'd be in a position like this. 

I'd say we are at 60% chance of going... 

Never loose another Golf Club again!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUqWj3w4NC0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93LSDlll4sg

German Travel Ban Extended

Paulaner Girl brought this to my attention...

German Travel Ban Extended

It's now out to August 31st.  Cutting it close.  Of course,  if Americans behave, follow prudent guidelines,  we don't spread the virus,  and our infection/mortality rate goes down,  then we are in good shape!

Look at this.  I finally  can have a bier with my buddies.  Chappy's has opened!  They have six foot distance taped on the top of the bar.  We took four chairs.  They took one away.    Six foot down there was a two chair section.  Six foot from those two chairs another set of chairs and the pattern continued around the bar.  The bar was busy with most places taken. 

This is the first day for the opening of bars and restaurants in Ohio. By the way the bier tasted great!  Just to let the team know, Keith was complaining about being retired and John was happy that the COVID-19 cure might be nicotine based.  That is what I learned tonight.

Argh.. Delta cancels then changes flights

I was the next victim of flight changes due to the 'rona. Delta cancelled some flights, but were kind enough to rebook me. However, apparently their rebooking system sucks. They rebooked connecting flights that depart before the first flight even arrives.

Oh well, got everything worked out and even going the day earlier as we all discussed. Probably all for naught though, will we actually go?

Prost.

Will Oktoberfest 2021 be extended by a week?

Guys have no fear, make room for a beer!

https://www.oktoberfesttours.travel/2020/05/14/will-oktoberfest-2021-be-extended/

Pre Mother's Day Beer Call

A really nice Hazy IPA from Mikkeller Brewing here in San Diego.  Cheers.

Tasting Courtesy of Flying Dan

Socially distanced of course. Well, kinda, Flying Dan and Granddaughter Jenna were doing alot of kissing.