Tuesday 11 October 2011

Day #199 - The one with the ode

An Ode to Germany
Written by Shayne McKay Singleton and Jacob Lee Singleton
11 October, 2011 *

*(Yes, that is how they write dates here)

Germany, oh Germany, we love you so,
and now from London, you're just a stone's throw.
This ode to you is well deserved,
our time spent last weekend must truly be preserved.
When we booked our tickets to your historic Oktoberfest,
we knew a good time would be our quest.
We pictured small, quaint tents with sweet song and dance,
we had visions of drinking beer in a field where sheep prance.
What we found was quite different, please forgive our shock,
when we walked in and found sights deserving of a gawk!
With eyes the size of saucers and smiles on our face,
we embarked upon the madness and jumped into the drunken race.
Day one was sheer madness as we met up with the group,
we crammed into a table just inside the Lowenbrau coop.
It was here we spent eight hours drinking, laughing, and making friends,
however, the lady's bathroom situation was a little worse than the mens (not by much!)
After 45 minutes each time to the loo,
Marge and Shayne's patience really started to stew.
When an emergency arose, together they did band,
Marge helped Shayne pee in public between a stroller and pretzel stand.
Day one ended in a heroic round of Glee (quite literally),
we stood up on table tops and set our voices free.
Hey Jude, Man Eater, and Sweet Caroline filled the air,
but Country Roads was the hit, who knew Germans had a cowboy flair?
Day two was quite different as we had a reservation,
at a tent table is where we found our self-depravation,
On the balcony we sat, it was real estate with a view,
with 10,000 others we 'cheers-ed' on cue.
With a round of birthday song we celebrated Jake P. and Marge,
they even got on stage to conduct the band and crowd at large.
After seven hours of beer at our VIP table,
we ventured down to floor-level to see if we were capable.
We climbed up on tables and benches so high,
a few hours in the "true" Oktoberfest we could not deny.
When they finally kicked us out, we reluctantly took our leave,
AMAZINGLY no one even claimed the need to heave!
In a dizzy blur of people, songs, and lederhosen pride,
We bid our adu with a bumper car ride.
The following morning we woke up with a start,
on our way out of Munich we shouted, "Gute Fahrt!"
Down the Romantic Road we wound and curved,
through tiny little towns and bumped and swerved.
After two short hours we entered our fairy tale,
Neushwanstein castle we knew would prevail,
Being at Disney's inspiration was a dream come true,
meandering through Ludwig's halls, we felt part of a lucky few.
Of course we couldn't make it through without a massive faux pas,
taking pictures in every room, the "NO PHOTOS" sign we never saw.
Good thing our day of fairy tales didn't stink,
because our entire hotel room was a sparkling purple and pink.
In Fussen we dined on our favorite German fare,
Duck, sausage, kraut, and spaetzle were certainly not rare.
The following morning we headed back north,
it was only with GPS that we were able to go forth.
The sites on our agenda were off the beaten track,
at one point our car was in a pasture and a bull at our back.
With this little bit of effort and small charging bull fright,
we found the Wieskirche, an international pilgrimage site.
Next on our list was a date with the Monks,
we journeyed through forests, detours, and pastures that stunk.
When we finally arrived, it was well worth the wait,
Kloster Andechs was part of our fate.
The working monastery was a spiritual place,
a cathedral and brewery...you should have seen Jake's face!
After our final German beer a tear slipped our eye,
one cannot leave Germany without a good cry.
This ode goes out to the people, beauty, and food,
the beer, the culture, the overall mood.
Germany is more than a place, but an experience all around,
it is where a piece of our hearts will always be found.

Lessons Learned: 1) Jake P. likes girls with tattoos, 2) The beer at Oktoberfest is made stronger for the celebration (what a SILLY idea!), 3) We both secretly want a pair of Lederhosen.

The Jakes at our table at the Lowenbrau beer tent.
Things might have gotten weird  :)
Marge and I, of course, had to purchase cookie necklaces (a very traditional Oktoberfest custom). When we bought them the guy said ours meant, "Pretty lady in a good way!"  Later that night we were told by a German speaker that the cookies we had been wearing around all day meant, "Whore!" Cool. 
Without him knowing, we put a fork with pork knuckle into the back pocket of Jake P.'s lederhosen.  Very German don't you think?
Ben and Jake leading the singing charge!
The singing continued outside the tent. 
Ben, Shayne, Margaret, Mike, and Jake outside the tent on the first night.
The view of the band and crowd from our balcony seats  on day two.
Our centerpiece...LOVE the blue cabbage.
All of the liters from our table!  WOW!
The birthday boy and girl!
Cheers!  Look who's winning the drinking race!  Or perhaps Jake just lapped me.
On the balcony over looking the carnival.
Our gang!
Marge and Jake conducting the crowd on stage. It was SO cool!
Jake and I up on stage!
PROST!
Ohhhh...the fun continues!
Bumper cars post beer tent - GREAT idea!
Another bridge photo for Mike Braund - enjoy!
Jake and Ludwig - very royal!
View from the castle.
The throne room - note, this photo was highly illegal.
It's like DISNEYLAND!!!!
It's a dream come true!
It will never get old!
Just one more!
This is a Haribo gummy stand.  Kristyn and Kristy, this one's for you!
Gute Fahrt!!!
Lighting a candle for Memaw and Papa.
In Fussen on our last night.
View from Fussen - check out that reflection!
The bull that almost took out our car.
Inside the pilgrimage site with the choir singing.
A new style of Haribo's!
Sound it out people!
At the monastery!  
Check out this sign..."Do NOT play with your children with a ball, near a car, in front of your home!"
Beautiful sunset along our drive.
Oh Germany!
To view all of our photos from the trip, you can click on this link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/110342880975166520059?authkey=Gv1sRgCO6ovK636637FA

3 comments:

  1. Kiddos ... As I read your blogs and look at your photos I realize how abundantly God's answering my prayers that you live life to the fullest, bring joy to everything you encounter and have hearts of both humor and gratitude. Nothing could make me happier than to see the two of you in love with each other and life. Can't wait to see you soon ... I love you MORE!!

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  2. A haribo gummy bear stand?!?! UH-MAZING!!

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  3. Um...I just have to say, it's lucky for the Germans that the SDSC was not in full affect or all of the Haribos would have been gone and the amount of Glee serenades would have lasted into the wee hours of the morning. Plus, a broken heal bone, a briefcase and a "world cup" slide!

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