Travel Series... Oktoberfest 2011 Munich, Germany. Time for my big boy draws.......

OktoberFest 2011

In the spirit of the season and because I'm not cooking until my next R&R I have decided to share my trip to Munich Germany for Oktoberfest 2011 with you. I hope that you enjoy it enough to decide on this as an excursion for you and some friends or family.

For as far back as I can remember I dreamed about going to Oktoberfest. Am I a beer drinker? Undoubtably I am! Do I love the outfits of the bar maidens (St. Pauli Girls)? Unashamedly I do! Do I consider Germany to be a player on the culinary map of Good Eats? Unabashedly I know that it is! But I must say that the driving force behind this "Bucket List"venture for me was my desire to take in German culture (and of course to have a tankard of beer, a plate of Crispy Roasted Pork Shank and have these brought to me by that aforementioned St. Pauli Girl.....

About That Beer

Crispy Skin Pork Shank w/ Boiled Potato

About That St. Pauli Girl Crew...

I was in Dubai at the time that I decided to fulfill the dream of mine and it was with much deliberation before I finally was given the courage to go it alone by my X. When I arrived at Munich International Airport it was about 10:00 p.m. Keitha (my X) was kind enough to do research for me and had plotted out the route on the train system that seemed easy enough to follow so I figured I'd try. When I went through customs suddenly it hit me, I was all alone and the train system by myself seemed a bit , umm shall I say too daring for me. Funny that I had just survived 3 years all over Iraq and here I am scared to take a train in Munich??? Go figure.... Needless to say I hired a taxi. About those taxis, man I forgot that Mercedes Benz is German... All of the cabs in Munich were Benz's and I seemed to get one with all of the bells and whistles including seats with a massaging unit built in and my driver actually gave me a welcome to Munich beer... Talk about smitten..... The ride was about 45 minutes through the country side and city blocks before making it to my hotel room. Finally there, I unpacked and got my bearings together before grabbing a late night meal at a local pub. What happened next was both funny and a reoccurring theme for my stay for the entire time. I walked in and the place was empty so I chose an area of the bar that would allow for the best vantage point for people watching. The only problem was it was an area that was meant for about 15 people. After wolfing down a Shawarma  (Munich is flowered with these Middle Eastern gold mines. OMG Good Freakin' Eats) I had nothing better to do so I ordered a tankard of beer.

XXXXX Not Your American Brewed Beer XXXXX

RELATED STORY TIME: I called my brother Bernard to tell him that I was in Germany. He was stationed in Italy and Germany while in the Air Force years ago and shared this story with me. When he first arrived to Germany he went to a pub. Upon bellying up to the bar and being the impatient drinker that all Crawford's tend to be, he immediately asked for 3 beers. The bartender, being responsible, asked him if anyone was joining him. Bernard then said no but relayed to him that he just didn't want to wait for service with the bar being so busy. The barhop then assured him that he would just get them to him as he needed them but Bernard insisted so the bartender shared this advice, "This is how this will go for you!" "You will drink the first one, spill half of the second one and walk the fuch away from the last one!"  Bernard laughed and told him to "Just serve me my 3 damn beers!" He stopped the story there and changed the subject and gave me places that he thought I'd like to see and then we talked about the German women during Oktoberfest (different blog). We were just about to hang up when I asked him; "So what the hell happened?" He laughed and said I drank the first one, spilled half of the second one because I was drunk as shit and stumbled the fuch away from the last one!" "Man those damn Germans drink Malt Liquor!" We fell out laughing and away I went to one up him. (It didn't turn out well for me either, this is not your weak ass American brewed beer)

Let It Be Lowenbrau

Back to the first night and the pub: As I was sitting there people watching about 20 Swede's came in and of course needed the table that I was occupying. Not wanting to make a scene I simply got up and moved to a nearby table so they could stay together. As I moved two of the gents asked me where I was from so I told them America, Washington D.C. and went to take my seat. This group would have none of that and made me come back to sit with the group and drink as much as we could. An hour or so later I stood up ready to head back to my room. I was quickly told that we had several more bars to hit and that I was their guest of honor so I put on my big boy pants and tagged along. Let's just say I got back to my room at 6:00 a.m. still drunk with a headache from laughing all night long. Those guys were the perfect welcome. What was even better and more touching is that they wouldn't let me spend a dime of my money, I'd swear that we spent 5 K that night. 

More Beer

Note to Oktoberfest Travelers: When choosing your hotel be sure you know where you are staying and what you are there to do. I was there to drink and eat but mostly drink. I chose a hotel that had everything I needed. It had a full kitchen and a full bar, I'd gladly stay there again. The thing was when drinking on the eve of the start of Oktoberfest, until the wee hours of the morning; it might be wise to find a room that doesn't face the parade route.... Talk about racket! Here  am still drunk and all I can hear is horns, the clopping of horse hooves and crowds of people gathering outside my damn window. I did what anyone else would have done, I woke the hell up, downed a beer for breakfast, opened my window and joined the fray. When In Munich do as the Romans do...........

Later that day I decided to actually go to the Festival to see what all of the fuss was all about. I wasn't surprised as there were thousands of folks there and plenty to do. Rides, Food and of course BEER...

As the picture below will show you I was a novelty act for a few hours as the only African American there. I was told later that only tourists and newbies dared make it to the opening week let alone opening day. I didn't care, I was welcomed by all that I met. I went to huge beer houses and in each you sit family style. Everywhere I went, a family would insist that I was seated with them. They were so proud and eager to tell me their take on the Fest and all that I was eating or drinking. I've never been so welcomed in my life. Great times......

Beer House

Novelty Act (Notice the 2nd camera man) 

It is a Festival after all.

On day 2 I decided to walk around the city. Of course I could have taken a cab but I assure you the best way to get the true pulse of a city is to get up close and personal with the people of the city and what better way to do that than to walk. Walking leads you to adventure after adventure. I'd walk towards a huge statue or maybe even a beautiful building and as I was getting closer I see something else in the distance that called my name so I'd walk to it instead. I was absolutely going with the flow. I remember asking a couple if they could suggest great food and sites. Their answer was simple but profound; they said walk and take it all in... What seemed like a blow off turned out to be the theme of the rest of my time there and great freakin' advice! I did the most random things, took the most random pictures and went to places that I wouldn't normally frequent and it opened an entirely different world for travel.

On my 3rd day I decided to head to the oldest beer house in Munich, Hofbrauhaus. This place is always busy, the food is great, the family atmosphere is inviting and the beer is flowing and potent. It

also happens to be in an area that has awesome shops and other things to do. I drank, ate, shopped, met people and swapped stories.

Secret Garden

The rest of my time at Oktoberfest consisted of much of the same. I walked, met folks, drank, ate and did everything you can think of. When I go again I will definitely go with a friend or two just so I have someone to compare stories with. I will also throw myself in the wind without caution to let the mood take me were it will, I'm a big boy now I can handle it right????

Travel Series... St. Maarten not so much but I'm Feeling St. Martin......

Sun Daab, Shades, Bose Portable & M. Franks 

Room With A View L'Esplande Hotel

Just so you know, I like to get my travel on from time to time. On this occasion I decided to have a go at St. Martin and some of the surrounding islands for a week or so. I chose this place by simply Googling "Great Hotels in The Caribbean" and the sister Hotel to the one I chose came up. I looked at the website and hit on the link to that hotel and fell in love immediately.

When I choose a place to visit I'm not ashamed to say that my digs play a major role in whether or not I'm coming for respite. It may seem shallow but my room has to be something that makes me want to come in the first place. I know that some of you will say, "I'm going to be out and about anyway, so why should I care about where I'm staying!" For me I normally will choose to stay for at least 8 days just so I can enjoy the amenities of a great hotel room. I also tend to cook when I go out so I need a place with a kitchen. Now couple of  quick side notes (uhmm) lists.

Top 5 reasons I get a room with a full kitchen:

5) It saves money! - Think no tips, no tax. Just a simple trip to the local grocery store or market...
4) It adds to your creativity! - When you give yourself the time to wake up when you want instead of   waking up to make it to breakfast it makes for time to skip sitting down and allows to more inventive things like going off the beaten path.
3) It makes you feel more at home! - I love being away but while I am away I do want to feel as if I have all of the comforts of home and then some. That means I need a place to cook.
2) I am a Chef!  - How in the hell can I teach anyone a thing about Thai cooking unless I went to Thailand to see how they actually cook? Chefs are quirky folks and tradition is just that for a reason. Staples are normally born out of availability & abundance.
1) It's my preference! - For my money this is what I like the most.

Top 5 reasons I'm willing to pay a bit more for my stay.

5) It's my preference! - "Doing me" is a big part of why I vacation in the first place.
4) I am a dreamer! - For me staying somewhere that is dreamlike is an escape all on its' own.
3) I don't do Southwest Airlines for a reason! - By no means am I stuck up but SWA does nothing for me at all. At the very least I need assigned seats and those uniforms look like I came for an oil change and not a hop across the pond. That being said I feel the same about my hotel. I don't go to exotic places to stay in that countries version of The Comfort Inn. I'm not judging IJS.
2) Location, Location, Location! - If you want to stay where the party is then you will pay. By the same token if you want seclusion you will pay as well. Staying in a convenient place will have you pay for that convenience.
1) I love to get my drink on! - Your boy get's nice on a regular when I travel. I'm never the sloppy, obnoxious drunkard. I tend to talk a bit much and engage a bit more but I can guarantee that I will be "nice" on more than a few occasions. The next day is all about enjoying the room as I recover. I just can't with a marginal spot. I have actually checked out and moved across the street to better digs before.

When Hotel L'Esplanade chose me to stay (it figuratively had me at hello) it was due to the room and the food in close proximity to it that made it a lock for me. It's on the French side of the Island and has plenty of world class restaurants in which to sink your teeth into. As you walk around you will find shops, stores and restaurants that will suit you every need, not to mention a nice beachfront in order to lay out, read or just nap in the sun.

 When you travel from the airport you will travel through the Dutch side to get to the French side. Along the way there are plenty of sights to behold. Driving to the French side from the airport is a practice in patience. Driving along you will pass resort after resort in order to get to L'Esplanade. I swear I saw what appeared to be an oasis followed by slums and then paradise again, only to pass it up on order to finally arrive (45 minute drive) to the hotel. Once I pulled onto the hotel grounds I knew that the website undersold this magnificent slice of heaven. When you get to the lobby you will be hit with your first hint that Island life is laid back. I had to wait for the hotel clerk to come upstairs as she shouted, "Be up in a few minutes!" It seemed like 30 minutes to me but who cares I was already captivated just by the views around me and the actual time was more like 3 minutes but..... 

Lobby 

L'Esplanade 

When I was finally taken to my digs I felt more than at home. From the key (not a card), to the kitchen to the bedroom and the bathroom this place is luxurious. There are two levels and each has a deck, one with patio furniture and one with chairs so you can take in a book. Both overlook the ocean and the view is breathtaking. This place is in deed magical. For more on the hotel simply go to the website above.

View from the balcony 

Lobby Area 

RainFall Shower

Tall Canopy Bed 

On my first day I had take a stroll on the beach, I had been looking at it from my balcony, as I ate a quick snack, for the entire morning. The walk along the street gave me reasons to stop, take pictures and scope out restaurants, bars and hangouts for later use. The walk from L'Esplanade to its' sister Hotel Diva is less than 10 minutes and littered with shops, food, bars and views. There are also the very popular BBQ spots called Lolo's but honestly I wasn't impressed at all. The service is marginal at best and the quality was less than so. If you want to know the places to avoid just see where the average tourist are flocking to and go in the opposite direction. And in case you haven't guessed it by now I don't do plastic tables, place settings and eating utensils. These places are the very definition of
Lowbrow........

Breakfast with a Wrench (Screwdriver with Bombay Sapphire & Fresh Lime) 

Grand Case Beach 

Pathway To Gastro-Heaven

On day two I wanted to branch out a bit so I took a trip to St. Barths to see what all of the fuss was about. The cost was a bit much @ $160.00 for all that was included but I would risk the money just to see if it is worth a planned trip for next year. St. Barths is considered to be the Caribbean version of the French Rivera and it did not disappoint one bit. There are shops for cigars, clothes, food, wine and anything else you would need. In fact the only thing that I was bothered by was the fact that the boat ride was 1.5 hours each way and the excursion only gives you 1.5 hours to venture out on the island. Meanwhile they forget to tell you that the stores in St. Barths close down at 13:00 for lunch, which is smack dab in the middle of the tour. They also failed to mention that all of the 5 star restaurants open only in the evenings. Oh yeah and you arrive on the Island at 12:30 so good luck getting anything but pictures in that half hour... That part sucked but it does draw you to make a second, longer stay. While I was there I was able to walk around and was fortunate enough to have Beef Kabob w/ Frites from a place right on the water. Yummy.....

St. Barts 

Beef Kabobs & Frites

Street Music

My third day was all about staying close to home and relaxing so I chose Loterie Farms. This is an old plantation that dates back to the 1700's and is a mere 5 minute drive from the hotel. As I said earlier I love to get my drink on and nothing is a better fix than laying poolside to get it back together. I won't spoil it by telling you a lot about it but trust that it has something for everyone DJ included and the Cabanas fit 10 at 100 Euros about 12 bucks per person.

Cabana Time

Pool Shot

All rested up I decided it was time to see more sights so Anguilla it was. Anguilla is a party so it seemed to fit the bill. Trust me, this is so worth it. There's a 20 minute ride to the ferry and then a 10 minute ferry ride to Anguilla. The beaches here are lively and to die for. I actually met 5 people there oddly enough all of us were from DC.

Much too busy to take more shots than this one...

My last several days were spent menu planning as I wanted to cook and add it to the blog. After all it is why I got a full kitchen. "But what had happened was!!!" As I said there are at least 10 top quality restaurants on the French side and all of them are in walking distance from the hotel. Plenty of French, Dutch, Italian and Creole just every cuisine is at your disposal. I went to Spiga which is an excellent choice if you are thinking Italian while you are in Grand Case. The pasta is fresh as is the seafood and the selection of vino is wonderful. Do yourself a favor and be sure to get the Tiramisu, it is incredible. While on the French side you may as well "do as the Romans do" and dine French.

I must have walked past this place 50 times during my stay and as much as it beckoned me to come hither I just took my time. It was like I knew that once I made the leap it would be a life (or at least vacation) altering experience. Le Pressoir is by far the most charming restaurant in Grand Case. As you walk up on it you can't helped but feel whisked away to a creole porch in New Orleans. The building can only be described as meticulously rustic. There are antique trinkets strewn all around with classic furniture and plates. Suddenly when you look up there are modern elements thrown in that make it all come together. This place begs for a quiet but meaningful chat. The waiter comes out and is so descriptive about each facet of every meal that you almost want to take him with you to be a tour guide.  Life could be so sweet if everyone had such a passion for awakening senses that lay dormant. Finally when the food comes out, not only is it visually appealing; your olfactory glands kick into hyperdrive and the taste is only to be described as "take me now!" I mean everything (Evuuuryyyy Thingggggg) is incredible. In fact this place was so good that I came back three times. I know what I love!!!!!

Grilled Filet with Camembert Cheese

Grilled Dover Sole & Wild Mushrooms 

OMG

My Fav Creme Brule'e 

The Press that would inspire the restaurant 

I strongly recommend St. Martin (The French Side) for so many reasons, none more important than the other but the collection makes it a solid must go. Food, beaches, people, activities, luxury and views are all a part of why this has to be on your bucket list. It's has a laid back feel but not so stuffy that a party won't break out at the tap of a drum. For my money this has got to be an annual trip. I went to the Dutch side and no disrespect but I needed a shower after walking around for an hour. I guess it has its' own charm if you think jeans with a tuxedo T shirt is stylish. To each his or her own, maybe next year I'll give it a shot, then again maybe I'll belly up to another Lolo's while I'm at it? NOT.............

Shirt @ St. Barts 

Pool @ L'Esplanade