Breathtaking Bavaria!

We finally lost favor with the weather gods, but our trip into the Bavarian countryside was still spectacular. Our first stop was Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a picturesque ski area and the site of the 1936 Winter Olympics where Jesse Owens became a household name.

We were greeted at the Gasthof Fraundorfer (pub) to a typical Bavarian feast with the long tables, big steins of beer, local cuisine and , of course, the ump-pa-pa band.

Enroute to our destination we stopped for a tour of King Ludwig II’s castle.  After the tour, we hiked down the hill from the castle, so we didn’t feel guilty having a second mug of beer at the Gasthof!

King Ludwig II's Castle

Fun at the Gasthof Fraundorfer

Olympic ski jump 1936 style!

Our experience in Oberammagau borders on surreal.  The day that was the main motivation for our  trip to Europe was cool  and cloudy.  Dressed in layers and carrying blankets we arrived in Oberammagau, and were ready for an experience of a lifetime.

The entire village is involved in the production of the play.  After a wonderful lunch in a cozy “gasthof” we got to our seats for the 2:30 start.  The play was performed in German, but we had a book with the English text.  The acting was so powerful, (with no mics used),  the language barrier wasn’t a problem.  This is the ultimate “community theater” with hundreds of people of all ages on stage at times. 

The first act ended at 5:00.  We walked back to our “pub” through the busy streets of the city, with all the shops filled with wood carving and souveniers.  After another wonderful Bavarian dinner and stroll though the shops we took our seats at 8:00 for the second act.

Evening in the open air theater provided a compelling back drop for the last hours of the passion of Christ.  The 4700 attendees sat quietly huddled in blankets and were rewarded with an unbelievable experience.  From the scourging, to the carrying of the cross and the cruxifiction and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the dignity and reality of this event was sobering and spiritual.  At 10:30, we left the theater ans had a very quiet trip back to our hotel.

Passion Play Theater

View of the stage from our seats (Sorry, no cameras allowed during the performance!)

Village shops are all decorated with religious murals.

Local sculptor works on a wood carving