MUNICH, GERMANY (OKTOBERFEST)

Next up is the famous beer drinking festival Oktoberfest, which is held in Munich Germany. This is the world’s largest festival that unfurls over the course of 16 days attracting over 6 million visitors. Despite what its name might suggest, this festival starts in September and ends in first week of October.

This is an epic event of pure gluttonous debauchery. In a typical year guests are served: 8 million litres of beer, half a million roast chickens, a quarter million sausages and forty five thousand pig knuckles!! The food and the drinks are served in 14 elaborate beer tents. Each tent is a different size, attracting different types of crowds. These halls are a great place to meet and mingle with people from all around the world.

Be warned: given the amount beer served ( at a minimum 6% alcohol ) you might come across Bierleichen ( beer corpses ) — people that have consumed too much alcohol and passed out. Don’t worry, there are plenty of staff/medics on hand to ensure no one get hurt.

Interestingly, over the years the “lost and found” has had some unique items turned in including: a Segway, an electric wheelchair, a dog, a gnome dressed in Bayern Munich football kit and most shocking (for me) frequently finding lost sets of dentures. How does that happen? Even with drink, I can’t image how you lose your teeth.