The Lost Weekend.....Day 2

Saturday, 26 September

The Mathäser (Geißstraße 12) was closed when we tracked it down last year, it does not open on a Sunday, so what is regarded by some sources as the finest ‘pub’ in Stuttgart was found with the aid of technology, last year Hector managed with a map… It was closed, again. A sign on the door said there was illness. Those who recall the splendid days and nights spent in the München version of the Mathäser will share the frustration. And so we went to the Paulaner house (Calwer Straße 45) which was the headquarters last year when the Bon Accord did manage to have a Travel Club trip to Stuttgart’s Oktoberfest. Paulaner Oktoberfestbier at 11.40 is a good start to the day. Hector took an hour to eat a plate of pasta with turkey, Robin had a couple of wiener wurst, Jonathan had already partaken of a hearty breakfast at the Ibis.

By mid afternoon we were back at the Fest and into the Schwaben Brau Zelt. This was where we began last year, the tent was quite different this year or was it simply because it was daylight? The steins were the most impressive ever encountered, shear artistry, the bier was not shabby.We realised that if we were going to make the Grandls Hofbräu-Zelt we could not hang about. We found a reserved table with some attractive young ladies already in place. The biers were brought and the evening of musical recitals and cultural exchange was underway. Robin fuelled by his sausages was in good form. Around 21.00 it was time to break the seal. We never saw Robin again.

A withdrawal to the U-bahn station at the site was strategically sensible. Jonathan and Hector waited for Robin, we had his ticket. No Robin. He phoned but did not speak. Hector phoned, no answer. Communication!!!

Robin eventually told us he was already on the tram and speeding into town where her went straight to bed and had a good night’s sleep. Jonathan and Hector went for a curry at the Indian Palace just round from the Mathäser. The curry was bland...when Hector retires to Traben-Trarbach and opens up my Thursday night only Curry Night... Back to the Paulaner House, some of the same staff were still on. This was clearly a day of endurance...Hector and Jonathan had put in as hard a shift at they had.