September 20: We left Switzerland and headed to Munich, stopping overnight at Lake Bodensee in southern Germany. Once in Munich we met up with our friend Carl just in time for the first day of Oktoberfest (which always lasts 3 weeks and spans the last 2 weekends of September and the first weekend on October; go figure). Oktoberfest was an aboslute kick to see. It is a massive 3 week beer party on a totally amazing scale. The fest is centered in a very large amusement park in Munich. Every day for the 3 weeks, people fill these beer drinking tents from morning til midnight. Each tent holds about 5000 people and there are 14 tents, each by a different beer maker. The tents fill up so you can't get into one unless you get there early in the day and there are big lines of people waiting to get in. They serve beer all day in liter mugs and they also serve food, huge pretzels, plus dinners. Everyone is jolly, many are very drunk. There is band in the center of each tent and periodically the band plays German beer-drinking songs, and everyone will stand up and join in. Needless to say, for those of you who know Carl, he was in his element. It's one of those events that has to be seen to be believed and the pictures here only give you a taste.