Sunny, sunny Oktoberfest

The weather forecast for Munich was delightfully sunny on Saturday - almost 23 degrees! It was so nice for Germany, and mid autumn! However, the weather forecast for Sunday was going to be wet, cold and rainy. We had heard a lot about the whole atmosphere at Oktoberfest, and so had to go on Saturday and check it all out. We arrived, and it was quite busy already. It was incredible to finally be there! We got Kara and Dan their first Bratwurst, and then walked all around

the venue. There were tons of big beer tents, where we wouldn't have been able to get into because of being so late. However, there were lots of different food stalls, and shops and such, as well as tons and tons of amusement park rides. We didn't go on any amusement rides - although they did look super fun. I think at night, they would be even more fun! Stepphen and Kerstin had suggested Baumkucken, this kind of rolled

cinnamon sugar roll thing - and it was great! I deinitely had to get my favourite German snack food too - the chocolate covered grapes and strawberries! It was kind of nice introducing Dan and Kara to so many good German things - it felt like the most German thing we had done in our entire time living here!

The Hacker Beer Haus!

After our nice walk around Munich, Oktobefest and such, we headed back to the hotel, so Kara could change into the new dirndl she had bought. We headed out for the Hacker Beer Haus, where Hilter became famous. It is THE beer hall in Frankurt - and basically the brick and mortar version of the one at Oktoberfest. We arrived, and there was no line, just a blob of people. It was so unGerman! I tried to get noticed, so we could get in - but all of a sudden, they opened the doors to the second floor suddenly opened

and I ran in. It was basically a free for all - you just ran and tried to find seats on these big long tables for space enough for your party. We found one right at the back, in the dark, but we did eventually move to about middle of this great big hall, on these big tables, with an Ooompa Oompa band at one end.

It was such good fun, and a good example for me of what Oktoberfest would be like the next day. The food was really nice, and there were all sorts of singing. We got really good at the Prost song, and there were lots of Italian football songs! I was so glad we had our dinrls, because we had such a great Munich experience because of it!

All around Munich

We finally did something incredibly German - after living here for almost two years, it felt good to finally make it to Bavaria and Oktoberfest! We headed down on Friday night and got to stay in a hotel for a change! Daddy had sorted it out for us, and we even got a free snack and one of those cute German gingerbread cookies for free ( but sadly they taste horrible!). In the morning, we had breakfast ( with waffles and omlettes!) at the hotel and waited for Kara and Dan to arrive for America.

It was really exciting that they were going to be in Europe finally! While we waited for them, we decided that because it was so sunny, we should really wear our dirndls. We saw so many people in Munich in Dirndls, not just at Oktoberfest, but all over the city.

So we went back and changed, and once Kara and Dan arrived, we headed into the city. Most cities in Germany look very, very similar. But still, there always is an area which is super pretty. The town hall in Munich is really exceptionally pretty! Since Kara's dirndl didn't work out, we did get her a new one, even finding a place open on a national holiday!

Our little Godbaby!

Saturday night, neither Joshua or Cassio was very well ( both got sick EVERYWHERE) but generally, Cassio is such a chilled baby. He is so much fun to play with and he really is the only baby of our couple friends that we have, so we were super excited and really honoured to be asked to be his Godparents. Sinead and Abel went to Mass while we looked after Cassio in the car. He slept, and then he needed to get up and move to the pram, and I couldn't get him out of the car seat! I guess this was good practice for us in the future! We got the pram

set up, and got him to the church all by ourselves! We felt really quite pleased with ourselves! Haha! The priest made sure the Christening was nice and short, and very personal and done with just the families and us. It was so nice that Abel's parents could come all the way to see it! I really got quite emotional about it - even though Cassio wasn't phased by it at all! He didn't cry at all when he had the water put on his head! It was all done and

over in about 15 minutes, and then we wandered over to this cute tapas place that they had picked out for a little reception kind of thing. It was super sunny and warm, so we sat outside in the garden. It was such a lovely way to end such a lovely weekend - with a celebration of our new Godson!

Another visit to Trinity College

It's so nice to walk around Dublin, and super easy. I find it a super lovely city, full of shops from home, and restaurants and places I remember from each of the times I have been there. The very first time I visited Dublin, I visited Mikaly, who was studying at Trinity College.

I had spent some time around there, seeing the Student Union and such. So when we walked past it again on our way home, I insisted we go in and see it! I love how pretty it is - and how classic and beautiful it is while in the middle of the city, surrounded by all the shops and restaurants! I think it would be a great place to go to Uni!

All aboard a Famine Ship!

Sinead did such a good job finding us all something touristy to do while Abel's parents were with us. They are so lovely and so it was great to spend time with them! We visited the famine ship that they have docked along the river. I know so little about Irish history but I do know that they had a really big problem with famine, and a lot of people left to America to escape it. The tour guide was really good and we got to learn a lot about some of the people that headed to America from Ireland.

Our sunny walk in Dublin

Not so long ago, Abel and Sinead decided that while Abels parents were visiting from America, and their son Cassio was turning one, they would get him Christened, and they asked us to be godparents! It was just so exciting, and that night, right away we booked our tickets! It wasn't too long to wait, and then on a Friday night, we were flying to Dublin! Dublin is one of my favourite places to go - mainly to see Abel and Sinead, but it feels a lot like home, and it is so easy to get there.

The airport is a breeze, and Sinead picked us up. We stayed up really late chatting and having such a good chat. In the morning, it was really relaxed and we hung out at the house, playing with Cassio before heading into town. We walked around the most gigantic Primark I have ever seen in my life, and went and had sushi along the river. Abel's parents stopped at the place next door and then we joined them for some 50's style American milkshakes. It really wasn't too cold and just perfect weather for a lovely walk around the town!