CHEERS TO OKTOBERFEST!

Last weekend we went to Munich for the opening of Oktoberfest. It was one of the most fun holidays we have had for ages..... still recovering though. We spent the whole weekend doing cheesy Bavarian things like eating pretzels, drinking giant beers, eating 1/2 chickens and hanging out in huge beer gardens.

COMRADES UNITE!

This weekend was the Fete de l'Humanitie which is a festival run by the Communist Party of France. Its a cross between the Royal Melbourne Show (no animals unfortunately), the Big Day Out, Octoberfest and what I imagine a giant gathering of crazy commies would be like. It is held every year at a giant park outside of Paris, where all the communist parties from around France (there is a lot!) and the world unite to discuss commie things. They also put on music (good stuff too: Iggy Pop, John Butler Trio, La Rumeur, Razorlight etc.) and have all these stalls where you can get food and wine at commie (read: crazily cheap) prices, while you discuss all things commie. What more could you ask for?? "Dancing?" I hear you ask... well of course! Nearly all the tents have some sort of band or DJ in them, ranging from reggae, cuban rhythmns, techno, death metal to some old commie frenchies butchering golden oldies.

It's so fun you just can't imagine. After having your fill of commie propoganda and wine (there are signs everywhere saying things about Karl Marx, Che Guevera and the battle of the classes) you watch some music then head back for more wine/propoganda. Then you make your way down the long corridor of tents where you dance from place to place to bar to place with your mates while avoiding over-eager members of the Young Communist Party. Awesome. Never seen the Frenchies so relaxed either...

THE MASSES RETURN

Today is la rentrée, which is basically the start of the new school/work year in France (always the first week of September). This is when Paris re-starts after the hibernation of the summer (or summer masquerading as winter this year). Everyone is back at work after a long absence (typically 4 weeks - seriously the lab completely emptied out, and no-one blinks an eye.... they think its weird if you don't take at least a few weeks off) and there is a lot of kissing, holiday stories etc. The metro is busy again and there are lots more cars on the road. For me, I am still struggling with the concept that the new year doesn't start in January....