Let the beer flow....Oktoberfest begins today!

Oktoberfest 2009 officially begins today at noon, with the Mayor tapping the first keg and proclaiming it so. I must say, the city has been in a state of anticipation in these weeks leading up to the fest: dirndl and lederhosen shops popping up everywhere, heart-shaped gingerbread cookies** appearing in the stalls at the Viktualienmarkt, flag poles being erected in the middle of the pedestrian through-ways to channel foot traffic. Last night until early this morning, there were rowdy revelers in the streets in my neighborhood and this morning I counted 4 pairs of lederhosen being sported about while Bailey and I took Bailey our walk to the park and then to the neighborhood bakery. There is just something inexplicably beguiling to me about a man clad in those traditional short leather pants and a crisp white shirt....

Don't judge...

The city is decked out in sky blue and white, the colors of the Bavarian flag...and everyone is joining in including this Wurst shop:

this beverage store:

and this apothecary:

Mother Nature has stopped the rain for the onset of the fest, the chestnut trees in the biergartens are dropping their leaves and spiny fruit, and the city is ready. Time to bring it! This is our first fall here and so our first Fest. Our tickets are for the last day, 10/4, but I will post pictures from the weeks to come as our city is visited by the world.

**with regard to the cookies...apparently you buy one for your sweetie and they wear it around their neck at the Fest...they have sayings on them like...."Wiesn Prinz" or "Gruss aus Munchen" or terms of endearment like the one my friend C got from her hub that said "My little Mouse" or something funny to that effect...my question though, is wouldn't you, after a mass of beer or two want to eat it? Are they edible? And, are they any good?! Hmmmm...