Oktoberfest was different this year

And why was the Oktoberfest different to previous years? Smoking wasn't allowed in the beer tents for the first time. And it was great! You could actually see your hand in front of your face...and breathe...and didn't smell of smoke when you got home. In a hall with several thousand people that's a big change. The photos below are from the next-to-last day at the fest. There was an extension of one day (yesterday) and then the doors finally got closed for another year. Mike and I took Lucy on a few rides, and when I went to see my English teacher friends for a beer in one of the tents, the two of them went to the Mouse Circus and the Flea Circus, and then on a few more rides. We were secretly pleased that Lucy decided to wear her dirndl. She looks such a little lady in it. No doubt it'll be too small next year. But if you look back at the photos from when this blog began, it's the very dirndl she wore on her first day at school. The fourth photo was taken from the big ferris wheel. It was a gorgeous day and the mountains were clearly visible in the distance.