Oktoberfest!!

No smart titles on this one. This is Oktoberfest, a one of a kind occasion, not to be messed with. The largest and most popular beer festival in the world. It had been a dream since the day I saw it on TV for the first time. So its obvious that it was very high on my to-do list when I embarked on a 3-month trip to Europe.
By the time we got tickets to Munich, Oktoberfest was about to end which meant that we could get there only on the last weekend. The scale of the event and the build-up meant that expectations were sky-high when we got there.
It was raining when we got off at the train station in Munich which meant that we were soaked by the time we got to the venue. Thankfully we got there by 10 am, so getting a place in one of the tents was easier. What was our tent called again? Damn, cant remember the name. These long tongue-twisting German names! Anyway, we settled in quickly enough and got down to business. Eight mugs of beer, holding a litre each, were promptly brought to our table. And it got better when we were told that it was Paulaner beer, specially brewed for Oktoberfest! The beer was accompanied by the quintessential Oktoberfest snack, the Pretzel. Freshly baked and salted, it was the perfect accompaniment for the beer. The beer was so good, that the beer back in Toulouse tastes like piss now!
Meanwhile hunger pangs set in and it was time to order food. This reminded me of the delicacies I had seen on TV and I promptly ordered the full roast chicken. It disappeared off the plate quickly enough but frankly, I've had better chicken. More beer was being ordered and somewhere between my second and third litre, I decided to go for Schweinhaxen, the German style pork knuckles, another Oktoberfest special. And again it was ordinary. Some of my friends ordered Frankfurter sausages with mash potatoes which were good enough. But the day was saved by the Apple Strudel. Just sweet enough, creamy enough, it deserves all the superlatives.
Meanwhile most of us were on our fourth litre and some of us were truly sloshed. Dancing on the benches, taking random pictures, singing loudly with German strangers, it was all happening. A while later though, the party reached an anticlimax. One of my friends passed out after his fourth mug and promptly slumped on the table. That did it and a waitress asked us to leave the hall immediately. And thats how our Oktoberfest ended.
My verdict on the event? The best beer in the world, great party atmosphere, ball of a time! Food is a disappointment, but that shouldn't stop you from going to the biggest party in the world!

Marseilles and my faux pas

One week after my arrival in Europe, me and my friends make our first weekend trip - to Marseilles. It's the Provence Alpes-Cote D'azur, the French Riviera. Most of all we would be getting our first sight of the Mediterranean sea and I am predictably excited!! The thought of all that fresh catch coming out of blue waters and me devouring it has whetted my appetite already.
We walk though the busy streets of the city to it's famous Vieux Port where all the yachts are docked. A leisurely stroll onward leads us to a boulangerie where we have a mind blowing Calzone(folded Pizza). But there is one dish that I want to have in Marseilles the most. It's the Bouillabaise, a stew cooked with an assortment of fish from the Mediterranean. But I'm still coming to terms with high prices in Europe and the Euro 20 price on a single portion of the stew makes me back out. Shame?? I know. I'll do better next time, I promise.
But wait a minute, that's not the faux pas. After an awesome stroll on the Marseille coast and chilling out at a seaside cafe, its time for dinner. So we head back to the Vieux Port which is lined with affordable cafes. We pick one which offers a decently priced meal with 1 entree + 1 main course + 1 wine/beer and 1 dessert. And then comes the faux pas. I order fish for entree and main course and red wine on the side. My friend quickly pounces on the error and I am the punching bag for the rest of the meal.
However the trip to Marseille was a great one. Mediterranean Europe is what I wanted to see and that is what I got. Wondering what comes next?? It's Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany!!

Many sorries for the hiatus

First things first, sorry for not having updated the blog in such a long while. But you know what, I couldnt help it. I was preparing, preparing for something big. I was preparing to come to Europe!!
Yes, you got that right! I'm in Europe, Toulouse to be specific for a period of three months on a student exchange program. This can only mean one thing. I am gonna travel the length and breadth of Europe in search of the best grub and the best poison.
So be prepared coz for the next three months, you're gonna be hit by one mouth-watering story after another. France, Italy, Germany, England, Spain, Portugal. It's all gonna be there.
So, watch this space for more.