Sunshine in MemmingenSomewhat frustratingly for a Friday morning Edinburgh – Memmingen flight courtesy of Mr O’Leary, there was a delay. We could then not leave Memmingen until the 15.30 train which gave us time for a Bier today in the former Memmingen Tandoori. Oh how Hector misses the Fish Soup and the prospect of the tastes to come.
It was raining in Stuttgart
The rendezvous at the Bierfest was in the smaller Hofbräuzelt that we had managed to get into last year around the same time in the early evening. Robin had found Jonathan at the Ibis, Howard and Tracey finally left their palatial suite but they were all too late to join Steve and Hector at the rendezvous – they could not get in.
Standing on the inside looking out
Meanwhile Hector and Steve were on their second table having moved to guarantee space for the slow coaches. Our first ten minutes was not comfortable. The entire population of Deutschland had apparently descended upon this tent. With an official kick-off of 17.00 we could not work out why the young assembly had gotten so far so soon. They were all smoking for Baden-Württemberg too: how we appreciate the outright ban in Bayern! We felt out of sorts.
Ten minutes or so later we were on the bench and only slightly in despair.
Hector and Steve were soon in the zone
By the time the rest joined us at our still maintained space, the party was well under way. The echtes air guitars were provided by Tracey. The photo taken of Hector is out of focus, I await another to post.
Robin announced that he thought the Hofbräu Bier was not worth staying for. Jonathan declared that after his days at the München Oktoberfest this was mouthwash. The four latecomers left early. Steve and Hector stayed on.
Eventually we went into the city for a Curry at Rita’s Garden. The taxi driver could not find it. Hector could not find it. In the end Steve and Hector could not find each other. We went home, separately.
After all, tomorrow is another day
There was a Curry-Heute
Hector and Steve then met up with the rest at the former Mathäser, a Bier Haus that has been closed on our last two Stuttgart trips. Today it was open: it is no longer the Mathäser, but we did drink Löwenbräu. The Platzhirsch (Geissstrasse 12)provided an array of oup, but nobody had the Pumpkin.
Won’t you go out with me in the rain?
It took a long time before we set out on the U11 to the Cansatter Wasen, again. The rain was pouring down. The day was not gemutlicht. Everyone was already inside.
We wandered around three of the main tents, could not even gain access to a fourth before we settled upon a small tent selling Dinkel Acker. This Bier was pronounced to be more favourable. However we all knew what the fallback was going to be.
In Stuttgart steht ein Andechshaus
We were made very welcome at the Andechshaus and were led to believe that the Helles and the Doppelbock Dunkel were available vom Fass. Only the former was on tap.
Mein Host invited Howard and Jonathan behind the bar to pour a Bier.
We came for the waters
A most surprising evening unfolded
Tracey kept complaining about the excellent music emanating from the jukebox. Steve and Hector debated whether I can really tell a Gibson from a Fender Strat or Telecaster. Then a familiar guitar sound was heard. It sounded like Roine Stolte. There are no vocals declared Hector, it must be this week’s Flower Kings release… then the vocals started… this was some twenty minutes into the epic… it is him! No, it’s Transatlantic : the vocals of Neale Morse gave this away. The jukebox was checked out: what a selection. Jonathan will no doubt have bought every Transatlantic CD by now (Marillion’s bass player). Spock’s Beard was also listed. Tracey was in agony. Robin hummed an old Slim Whitman tune. Howard was not wearing the Hilpoltstein t-shirt so he does not get quoted.
Ten minutes later the track ended. We needed Doppelbock, bottles sufficed.
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