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German musicians fell in love with the porteño ‘Oktoberfest’
Posted On 23 Oct 2018
Ecuadornews:
The ‘Oktoberfest’ began in 1810 with a love story in Germany. More than 10,000 kilometers away, two centuries later, in Guayaquil, the event still continues to unite hearts. Two of the European musicians, from the German Deluxe group, when they came to the Main Harbor to celebrate the beer festival, they met those who are now their wives.
But before falling in love with them they did it from Guayaquil. Paul Hunglinger and Franz Sommerauer arrived in the city when the pier was not transformed and they saw people washing clothes at the foot of the Guayas River, 20 years ago.
They have seen how Guayaquil has grown and how the boardwalk has been embellished along with the Las Peñas neighborhood.
The musical presentation they make in the Main Port is taken as a fun, because the trip for them is a vacation. A reason shared by the rest of the group (Norbert Heinz, Josef Moritz and Siegfried Wittmann).
This is confirmed by Franz Moser, general manager of Hilton Colón, who told newspaper EXPRESO that the profits of the musicians for 11 days of presentations in Guayaquil are equivalent to one in Germany. Therefore, they return because they are in love with the city and the friendship they have developed with him.
One of them has a holiday home in Ayangue, although he lives in Europe. In these two decades they have also toured Ecuador: they like Quito, Machala, Galápagos, Montañita and other national destinations.
But beyond the feelings surrounding the celebration in Guayaquil, there is also an economic gain for the country. For example, Juan Carlos Vásconez, marketing director of the company Cervecería Nacional, says that in the Main Port the ‘Oktoberfest’ is also a season of good beer sales. The company registers an increase of 8%.
At the Hilton Colón they have had to extend the days to serve everyone: it used to be a week and now it’s 11 days.
In total there are about 2,000 people who attend this hotel to celebrate the ‘Oktoberfest’. There they can enjoy the show and foreign drinks from the Cervecería Nacional and Latitud Cero.
On the party in Guayaquil, European musicians say that there is more dancing here. In Germany people relax more, drink and eat, but they do not have the courage of the people from Guayaquil, who joyfully dances typical European music.
At the German party everything is unique, for example, beer is served in liter jars. This is how these European musicians return every year attracted by the landscapes of Guayaquil and the warmth of its people. (I)
