To Europe! Face-Off: Most Memorable Festivals

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• stormygirl on Jun 10, 10 at 02:33 PM

  We went to Pamplona 4 years ago and are heading to Oktoberfest this year!! I won't be able to cast my vote until after I've experienced both. Very excited!!

• Pawan on Jun 11, 10 at 02:48 AM

  The Oktoberfest is a safe, drink, eat n make merry event. Would love to go back to Munich!!

• marylynn35 on Jun 11, 10 at 04:00 PM

  We have been to both - love Munich and Pamplona. However, we would prefer to return to the Running of the Bulls. My husband ran when he was 60 years old; and everytime it comes up in conversation, we wish we could return just for the festivities.

• Freesuperman on Jun 12, 10 at 03:24 AM

  The course covers 924 yards.

• Zermatt2 on Jun 14, 10 at 07:50 AM

  This one is hard for me to answer because I've been to the Oktoberfest in Muenchen at least 6, perhaps 7 or 8, times, but I have never been to the Running of the Bulls. I love the "fest"....one of the best times I've ever had. There are some 14 beer tents sponsored by the breweries in Munich, each holding something like 6000 to 8000 people and an Oompah band. You go in a tent and sit down at a big wooden table with people you don't even know, and then you drink beer, eat chicken and radishes, and lock arms and sing with these people to the oompah band drinking songs! It's great fun. That broasted chicken is some of the best food I have ever eaten....so good. About those rides, in my younger days, I actually did go on one of those rides after a couple of pints of beer. It was one of those swings that spins around horizontally and then goes vertically. After spinning around for awhile, the ride slowed down and stopped, and I thought the ride was over. However, after it briefly stopped, it went backwards! I didn't get sick, and it was fun, even after the 2 pints of beer....but I wouldn't recommend it now that I'm a bit older! The "fest" is really, really crowded, especially at night....but it's great.
  
  Just a quick plug...if you go to the Oktoberfest in Munich, consider going to Andechs Monastery outside of Munich. Take he S5 train to Herrsching (about half an hour). There actually are 2 S5 trains....one makes it's last station just one station short of Herrsching, so you have to hop on the next S5 that comes by. Once in Herrsching, you can either walk up to the monstery (a good walk up a hill.....might take an hour), or you can get there in 5 to 10 minutes via bus. The monks there brew their own beer, which is quite good. And, the scenery is wonderful....the monastery itself, and overlooking the fields below it are really nice, especially in the fall.
  Having said that, I would love to go to Pamplona, but I wouldn't run in it. One of these years, I'll have to go.

• lincasanova on Jun 20, 10 at 06:37 AM

  Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain. Art, music, fireworks, and world famous noise concerts ( Mascletá) everyday at 2 pm from March 1st until March 19th, the last day of the festivities.
  
  Come the week leading up to the final day ( date never changes.. March 19th) to see how these monuments ( Fallas) are actually put together. The efforts of a year working on the design and intricate manufacturing come to a head a few days before the climax of the festival.
  
  Celebrating San José, March 19, the carpenter's Saint, Valencia and the Comunidad's hundreds of local Fallas Clubs has created a festival that has something for everyone. Parades, falleros in historic garb, fireworks and art in the street.. give it a try one year.
  
  Hotel room prices are lower until the last two or three days. There is plenty to do and see without staying until the end when prices rise and crowds thicken.
  
  All the efigies are burned the night of the 19th when the crowds might be too much for some. TV coverage of the last night burning is excellent also for those who cannot come.
  
  To see the winners of past contests of the "best fallas" in the several participating categories go to www.fallas.com or www.fallasfrom valencia.com which will also have the mascletás, parades and fireworks live on their website as will the local TV station Canal Nou.
  
  Hope to see you here one day! Mark your calendars for the week before March 19th!