Just a couple of things now that I am back (typing this from my room in the detox centre).
Robb, your POV of you on Hollenblitz is for me, the best ever, fun POV you have done, it made me laugh so much, just reliving it all and you captured the experience perfectly.
To TPR generally, the awesomeness of 'Sweet Caroline' was indeed the best 'Sweet Caroline' moment ever, as I did state, though my rendition of it in the cold light of the ward I am in, is rather cringe making, but hey, this happens!!! I apologise, but wait, when I'm back in the zone, I'm doing it all again
R&E scored full marks again by getting us the tent experience on the 2nd day of opening. Pretty much everyone (all 200,000 of them give or take another 500,000 or so) were happy drunks. One week later, when I met up with other friends for a tent experience, the alcohol was taking its toll, and it was by no means the great experience I had first time round. (fighting, blood, trauma, not cool stuff).
I really really really recommend the Oktoberfest experience to EVERYONE....(you certainly don't have to be drunk, be a drunk, need to get drunk....to get with it, and there were a sufficient number of non drinkers on our tour that I am sure will testify to that), but I would also caveat that by saying do it the way TPR did it, and go the first weekend of opening, because it gets messy one week in. (hell that place has another week to go, scary)
Oh and one final thing, which may seem rude and I really don't mean offense to an entire nation, but hey Italian people. What is your problem???? Every nation in the world is represented massively at Oktoberfest and we all mix it up, and had great fun but, even our perfect TPR night was nearly about to get a little messy with the table of Italian's next to us (all good in the end I hasten to add) but come Friday night, I and my none coaster friends ended up in a brawl situation, with a table of Italian's. I LOVE Italy, I LOVE their food, I learned to ski there, I love lots about Italy, but I sure as heck do not love there inability to drink copious amounts of beer and then lose the plot. Okay, lights out time and cheers again R&E- one of the BEST EVER trips for sure.
Steve - feeling a tad jaded- C