Oktoberfest 2007

This year was the first in a long time that I haven't chaperoned a Gunn High School choir trip -- for some reason, I just wasn't eager to go on a sea cruise (go figure). What to do instead? Fortunately for my chronic inability to plan ahead, an opportunity presented itself when my friend Bob Maggiora invited me along for his band's tour of Germany during Oktoberfest. "The Internationals", combined with the "Chico Bavarians", are touring for the festival season and performing at several cities. A perfect oppportunity -- a place I've never visited, live music, and beer. What could be better?

I'm writing this onboard Lufthansa flight 458 from San Francisco to Munich, leaving at 10:00PM and arriving at 6:00PM on the 21st; there are about 60 people total travelling in the group of which about 30 are performing members of the band. The rest are family & friends, polka groupies if you will. Here's a picture of about 1/2 the group at checkin:While I've met a few of the other band members, the only people I really know are Bob & Jan Maggiora, and their kids Steve, Andrew & Erica. Bob & I have travelled together on several choir trips (Australia, New York, Vancouver, Italy) and Jan came along on the Vancouver & Italy trips as well, not to mention that I've known Steve since he was a freshman at Gunn, and chaperoned him on 4 trips in high school. So this trip is a mix of the known & the unknown.

Anyway, the flight was fine although a little bumpy. Serving dinner was delayed about an hour because of turbulence; still, it was pretty good (chicken with rice). International travel is still lots better than domestic. We arrived at the Munich airport at 5:40 (about 20 minutes early) and were at the hotel by 7:00 or so.We're staying at the Munchen Hotel in Munich (Munchen, duh) and I am in room 144. If anybody needs to reach me it's at +49(89)620 39-0. I have no cell phone on this trip but I will be checking email.

After checking in we went to a restaurant nearby for dinner (all 60+ of us). Here's me with Steve, Andrew & their cousin:And here's a picture of the whole crew at the restaurant (the "Schinkenpeter")I'm really pooped and need to go to bed -- tomorrow we do some sightseeing, and the band may play a little music, but the big event this weekend will be the Oktoberfest parade on Sunday.

Gute Nacht und schöne Träume (as it says on the wrapper of the mint left on my pillow).