Cannstatter Volksfest

I finally talked Butch into going to the Fair!  Yay!  I wanted to go and see what they had for the "fair" items.  Turns out they are mostly leather goods, hats/gloves, slippers, some household goods.  NOTHING like the goods sections that they have at the Georgia National Fair.  They also don't have animals.  I think I read somewhere that every three years or so they have animals and things like that here.  Interesting.  It's quite large in scope and the MASSIVE things are the beer tents.  What is amazing is that they are NOT permanent buildings.  We saw them being built a few months back when we were taking a train by that area... or driving or something.  I remember looking at this seemingly small area and having these Huge tents being built on site. I think it was about 2 months prior to the actual event?  It's interesting that the are erected and, I assume, torn down when it's all over.  I'll let you know after this year if I take a train or a drive up to that area.

So, without further ado, here is my take on the Volksfest - aka Fair for Stuttgart (Oktoberfest?)

 For a Friday afternoon/evening it was pretty busy.  I had hoped to be here more towards noon, but Butch was golfing in the morning so we didn't get underway until about 3pm

 The quidicential cookie necklaces.. folks wear them, kids eat them.. I can't imagine as they have to be quite old... maybe just days, but they are hanging around for a long time before being purchased and worn - they ARE covered in plastic, so there is no concern about germs, just age and would they be that good???

 Pony ride without the medal "wheel"  I'm sure the ponies are much happier this way and you'll note that NOT all kids have their parents with them as they are doing the walk... you would NEVER see this in the states without a fear of liability and lawsuits.  You'll notice that there is NO gate around the actual horses and the "ring" - nope, wide open to the people walking the midway.  They are very trusting folks here, aren't they? 

 OK, so there was a tiny little fence that I can now see after looking at the pictures after the fact, but note that the two kids in front have NO ONE at their sides and the have reins on the ponies - so the kids are truly in "control" of the horse.  I LOVE THIS... don't get me wrong.  I think the states dumbs kids down too much and doesn't let them experience things..

So, more on the midway.. and the food... the interesting and DIFFERENT foods!!

 Yep, that is FISH, whole fish on a skewer to be served to you for your pleasure.  Now I don't know if they give you the skewer or not, but the fish was very fishy smelling :)

 THIS was udderly entertaining.  I got a kick out of how you would grab this like an udder to spread your condiment onto your braut or whatever you ordered... ha!

 Yep, that is a FULL bar in the middle of the midway - there were a few more, but I think this was the most detailed and full bar service look to it!

 This is one of the four or five beer tents at the fest... this is VERY early in the day... they will have bar maids carrying multiple liters of beer in mugs and half chickens to patrons late into the night... it gets ROWDY as the night goes on... and we didn't get tickets, so I just poked my head in to see it from the inside.  It's like I remember from Munich  - they will cram a TON of people in here.  Song and laughter will abound as the night progresses.  We did NOT participate.  I didn't feel like I missed anything. :)  I did that in my youth.  I'm good to be the old lady wandering the fair to see the sights

 I told Butch as we passed this - THIS was the ONE ride I would do... it was 6 Euro to ride.

 We did stop at the first Beer Garden when we came in and got a Bratwurst for Butch (I had a few bites) and a beer... I have to admit I backed tracked for this skewer!  It was chocolate covered strawberries... OMG it was GREAT!!!  No, it didn't go with the beer... I swigged the rest of the beer down and enjoyed the chocolate on the walk!!  MMMMM

THESE are the temporary tents in place.... check out the DETAILS on them!!

 Back in "village" area with a grandstand surrounded by a lot of cute little huts with food.  What was amazing to me was the QUALITY of the food that they served!!

 yes, that is salmon on that grill!

 Check out the grill behind... it's a hanging round grill - they put EVERYTHING on them!!

 We opted for pork skewers with the mushrooms.  There was a Knödel in there and they were DELICIOUS!  The skewers had just a little kick, but not bad!  We enjoyed a leisurely dinner listening to music and watching people go by.  I'm being encouraged to buy a dirndl for next year... I just see it as cultural appropriation... but, I guess in reality I *am* german to an extent, eh?  Maybe... I would feel awkward in the dress.. but maybe just the top and some jeans?  Yeah, I may be able to feel OK wearing that... maybe...

After dinner we started wandering our way back towards where we started this adventure.

LOVE the translation for SPOOK - SPUK comes out the same pronunciation here, so, yeah, OK.

Dessert was a ... well, I can't find the name of it...the simple term is "chimney cake" they were tasty... but i didn't finish mine as we were headed to the swing... it's now a flat cake in the fridge and I may nuke it a bit later and see if it's just as good after the fact and smooshed!

BACK to walking the midway through a very pretty pink sunset!

I wasn't kidding when I said my ONLY ride that I love to ride at the fair is the swings.  I love them - no matter what.  THIS one was higher than I have ever gone and FASTER too - wow!  The speed was awesome!

 Full moon coming up in the distance - just adding to the fun of the night!

AND then it's our turn!!  I tried to just put my phone away and ENJOY the ride for a lot of it, but it was too tempting to video quite a few times as the view was to die for!

 Do you see what looks to be little blue drones in the screen?  That is a fun little optical illusion that occured from those flashing lights that were on the bottom of the chairs.  Weird... they would reflect with what they really were - a series of LED lights in a circle... so all my pictures make it seem like there is a LOT of drones around the event... nope, no such luck - just weird reflections.

And with that, we made our way to the exit - with two lovely stops at the potty because you know what is my life without issues from the food and the beer?  Even with that little hiccup, SO totally worth it to have eaten everything and had a few small beers :)

We took the train back, only to discover the train we caught was one that would have a bit of a delay in Boblingen - the train we were on was one that was going back to the train barn after getting to Boblingen - that was a new one to us... BUT We lived... just took a small break and enjoyed the lovely evening - it wasn't too cold, so it was nice just sitting for another 15 minutes for our train.  

So, there you have it.. our trip to the fair this weekend.

Fair Adventures, the story

I love Fairs, I don’t know why, but I LOVE Fairs…. I love the idea of the nomad life, I like the idea of running away with the circus… I just like the whole thing… the songs, the sounds, the smells, the crowds (which for me is a first…I typically HATE crows)… but I love the Fair.

 

Ok, now that we have that established, I told the girls I would take them to the fair on “arm band night”.  What is that, you ask?  Well, it’s simple - $13 for ALL YOU CAN RIDE.  What?  Yep – slap on an arm band and have fun!!!  Bonus?  The kids are officially out of school for the fall break as of, you guessed it folks, LAST NIGHT.  Now me, I have to work today (Friday), but the girls get to sleep in and enjoy relaxing today.

 

Anyway, it all went sort of wrong for poor Liz and the girls – plural – became Angela and a friend.  The bonus?  The friends parents HATE the Fair and their work gives them free tickets.  Bonus!  So the three of us got in free, however let the money FLOW from that point forward!  Ha!  I get our arm bands and head over to get them put on and the guy sees me with two tickets and two kids and assumes the bands are for them.  Hee hee hee, no sir, that one is for ME!  Yep, I’m the OTHER kid in this here group!

 

We head off to the rides.  We hit the BIG Farris wheel, then the boat (love the boat – love sitting in the BACK of the boat and going completely weightless at the highest height!  Whoop!  I think I look like a fool walking around the fair with a perma-grin on.  The girls start to pull away from the mom.. which was the plan, but I’m enjoying the rides with them… sigh.  Oh, well, they go off and ride a spinny ride and I head to the swings… LOVE the swings!  I ride the swings and catch up with the girls as they are getting off their ride, THEY want to ride the swings… so I go back, go with them, get a picture…   embarrass them a bit. 

 

They stayed on for a second ride as there are NO lines for this one,  and I had off on my own.  I wandered from the south end of the midway to the north, making my way through all the car dealerships, shopping for cars, then through the outdoor things.  For once I skipped all the camper trailers… let’s be realistic folks, the travel trailer is NOT going to happen for me.  I’m happy with hotels and eating out, thank you very much!

 

I looked at the sheep being sheered for their showings, I wandered through farm equipment, drooled over the gazebo with a glider on one side and a picnic table on the other, I glide for a while, just chilling out, drinking some water from a church group (sweet of them!).  I end up talking to the builders, I find I can put TWO gliders in instead of a picnic table… and it screened… it’s looking nicer and nicer!  I have to admit, it was nice just sitting in there, gliding and enjoying my time….

 

Ok, back on the road, looking and wandering.  I didn’t find the chicks and the bunnies… bums me out, I enjoy that demonstration and seeing those critters.  I went through the beef display and the milk cow display… they have a REAL cow for this now, not a fake one.  Saweet!    By this time, I’m in FOOD heaven… the smells.. I’m shopping for dinner at this point.  I sit down on the shady side of the street and am thinking food when who would call but the girls – wanting – FOOD.  What timing.  After much discussion by text – they figure out where I am so that we can get a Turkey leg to gnaw on…. And between me, Angela and now TWO friends, we polish off a turkey leg, a hamburger (one friend) and a big plate of curly fries.  YUM!  The kids, fully sated, are ready to head back to the rides… I choose to head on over to see more critters and through all the sales stuff.  

 

I did find the Christmas tree setup for the telescoping flag pole we have… SO want one of those!!  It fits in a tiny box as well, so it’s a true bonus as it takes  up NO room, but it’s 16’ tall  Love it!!  I may talk Butch into going back to get it, or just convince him we can do this on our flag pole for the Christmas season…. I’m sure we can figure out how to make our own (yeah, right, in all our spare time, right?). 

 

Anyway, shopin’ and wanderin’ and I came across a vendor with the chemical heating pads – reusable.  LOVE those things.  So I’m chatting with the gal, she wanted to know where I got my Chevy bag. WAY on the other side of the midway at the other end.  For the price of a survey.  She commented she would never be able to make it over there and I told her if she talked REALLY nice to me, she could have mine (like I REALLY NEED another bag – for those of you unfamiliar, I have a bag fetish as well as a blanket fetish, oh and according to my kids a table cloth fetish as well!).  She offered me the vendors deal and it was a really good deal as I’ve said I’m in LOVE with these things.  I love that they are completely reusable as well as portable – just use, boil and reuse.  It’s at this point when we’re talking the prices of them that I remember I only have my ID, not my Credit card.  POOP!  Ah, well, I tell her I’ll have to come back when I come back the fair with the other child… BUT I’ll still trade her a plastic bag for my Chevy bag.  To which she is twitterpated and throws in two of the small hand warmer sized units J  Score!!

 

About now, it’s closer to 8:30, so I head back to the rides and manage to find the girls, walk with them a bit – they are outpacing me by a mile and my tootsies are screaming by now… AND I’m in my good walkin’ shoes.. but the plantar fasciitis is kickin’ today!  So, I let them run… and I head over to the “High Flyer” I have found a new “love” when it comes to rides.  That thing is UP THERE and doesn’t really rock back and forth like the yoyo … but it sure zips around!  Loved it!!  I also snuck in a ride on the boat again J  Another favorite of the fair!  Love the weightlessness of it all!  I get back in touch with the girls – BTW, now down to 4% battery… what’s UP with that????  My battery is sucking on this thing lately (down to 78% this morning too after being at 100% at 6:30)… sigh.

 

I find the girls, we head over to get funnel cake – yum! Then we head on out the gates at 9:30pm… whew!  LONG night.. but it’s not over, we head over to the other side of the freeway and sit in a parking lot and wait for the fireworks to start at 10pm – I wanted to be out of the fair lot before the fireworks started and the fair shut down J  Success – we watch the fireworks across the freeway, then head on to the house… tired, worn out, but everyone’s happy!  Well, except poor Liz who’s friends all bailed on going to the fair… and she was left behind because practice wasn’t over until 5:30pm.  Poor Liz – she’ll go another night with friends !

Photos from the fair

THIS is the look you get on the first ride and you keep asking said child to please look @ you and smile! Ha!


Our favorite - the yoyo swings



My NEW favorite... The High Flyer - sweet! It doesn't "rock" stays flat but WHAT a view!!


And me without a good camera. Der!!