Munich Germany

For our first trip of the school year Emily and I and a group of teachers headed north to the largest beer drinking event in world. It just so happen that this year was the 200th Oktoberfest celebration. Let the chaos begin!

THE CREW

The Canadian couple: Bernie and Marie


Allie "Beer me" Keen & Kaycee "I'll have another" Shingler


Andy "The driving Machine" Abell

*Not Pictured: Emily "Shotgun so I don't throw up" Abell

After making a stop in a nearby store so the girls could fancy up in a customary dress called a Dirndl. The lederhosen was all out of my size unfortunately.


Let the games begin....unfortunately the weather didn't get the memo.


After waiting in the rain like cattle for an hour hoping to get into one of the packed beer tents we decided to head into the heart of Munich to a brew house.

Dry and warm at the Augustiner. PROST! (cheers)

After coming back from the bathroom this German guy named Marc was in my seat so I sat down anyway.

It turns out I talked him into trading a nice pair of Banana Republic jeans for his Lederhosen right in the middle of the restaurant.

Did I mention the beer is strong in Germany.

Feeling like a new man.

Vee ar German's now ya!

Not only did Marc and I trade pants, but also women. From the looks of it Marc's girlfriend wasn't impressed with me.

The trade was only short lived as Marc justified that his Lederhosen cost him 300 Euros. I told him the trade was fair because Banana Republic jeans are so hot right now.

Combining tables with Italian means things are about to get out of hand.

These guys were cops from Como, Italy so really we're like neighbors. This was after we got kicked out of our original table for being too...how can I put this nicely... "disruptive".

8:30 am Sunday morning waiting for the Paulaner beer tent to open so we can make sure to get a table. (note: details are a little foggy from the last picture till now)

Allie trying to absorb some beer with a huge pretzel.

Dirndl girls.

I don't know if it was the hat or beer that caused that look.

Birds eye of our beer tent.

Next stop... the Hippodrom tent.

After our fill or beer we went on a food hunt around the grounds.

THE GRAND FINALE!!!

"With a great amount of beer, comes a great amount of sleepiness"

I like how the one guy trying to help is actually sitting on his friend in the fetal position.

Who would have thought a Viking helping a Tree Hugger.

Working on his Lederhosen tan line.

I call this one "The battle of Drunker Hill"

After laughing our faces off from the war scene we had just witnessed. We decided to test our stomachs with a few carnival rides.

Festival grounds from above.

Over 6 million people visit Oktoberfest during a three week period.

New City Hall in Marienplatz

Emily and Kaycee cruising the markets.

Leaving Marienplatz and heading home.

The Autobahn: where a van going 120 kmh looks like it is standing still when passed by cars going 200 kmh.

Monte Tamaro Switzerland

Being involved in the high school as a 9th grade advisor and dorm parent does wear on me a bit, but there are also some great perks. For example, going up to Monte Tamaro and feeding my adrenaline crave.

At the top of the gondola awaits a 400 meter zip line and an alpine race track.

Walker (US), Max, Anton, Nikita (Russian), Francesco and Giovanni (Italian) gearing up for the alpine race track.


The ascent.

Looking back down near the top of the track.

Francesco and Giovanni trying not to disgrace their machismo status with a girlish scream.

Next event zip line.

After pushing Elsa ("The Madagascan Princess") down the zip line and listening her scream the entire way Ryan willing jumped up next.

Trying to motivate 25 9th graders up a mountain for an hour is like herding cats.

Our destination at the top of Monte Campana looking towards Monte Tamaro.

My advisor group left to right: Cecilia (Mexico), Alina, Vika (Russia), Francesco (Italy), Kathy (Russia), Giovanni (Italy), Giacomo (Switz.) and Walker (US). They think they are pretty cool, and sometimes they are.

The entire 9th grade.

Fontana, Switzerland

As I am a huge advocate of spontaneity, I accepted a spur of the moment invitation for a bike ride with another teacher at the High School. Being that the 60+ year old British guy named Paul is a avid outdoorsman I was a bit weary for what I just got myself into. Nonetheless, seeing new things is always worth whatever it takes.

Stating at 1200 meters in the tiny village of Fontana.


Passing an alp, which is by definition is -an area of pasture above the valley bottom, but below the mountain peaks. Maybe I should submit this picture to Webster for a visual. Also included in this scene is the constant sound of cow bells ringing as the herd moves through the pasture.

An update villa.

All of the old houses up in the mountains are made entirely of stone including the roof.

Paul setting the pace with 30+ years on me

The scenery just gets better the higher you go.

The 10 year old Trek still getting the job done.

At the top of the road we jumped in a pig pen for fun.

Getting ready to burn up the breaks on the way down.

It kind of looks like Paul is resistant to pictures, but he is actually just checking the time.

It's no wonder why the cheese tastes so good here....happy cows means happy cheese. Or is it good cows means good cheese??

Panoramic at the top ( 2100 meters)

So those cows I was talking about earlier...yeah try riding through the entire herd of 60 of them.

Not the least bit intimidated by little ol' me. Did I mention half of them had horns?

Back to the new apartment.

A view of our top floor of our two story apartment. More room for visitors!

Our patio with an even better view than last year.

Life is great!