Oberammergau

Heart and cross vent in the barn next to our guesthouse.
[There were horses and donkeys and curly haired cattle inside - and a large manure pile outside]

 

We arrived at the city of the Passion Play *  to find no one home at our guesthouse and these travelers too weary to make their foreign phone work. We decided that food and drink would help brain function and found a place to get warm and dry.

Our return trip to the guesthouse and two more tries sat the phone worked and we were in touch with the host who provided directions for accessing our room. We dumped our things and headed back to the winding streets of this lovely little Alpine town.

We found the church. It is another painted beauty, but the temperature inside is FRIGID. It is colder inside than out and I plan to overdress for services. The altars and other structural details appear to be marble, but all are painted wood. Amazing. [Later, when I stopped for Friday evening Mass, I found bicycles leaning against the metal fence and cars parked alongside the church, but the doors locked. The bells began ringing and ringing overhead, as I walked though the graveyard/churchyard, good intentions thwarted. There would be other opportunities for Mass.]

Church of St. Peter and St. Paul by moonlight. I thought I took more photos, but I do not find them.

Our walks were cautious, ice/snow/slush on the ground keeping us at a slow pace. So we window shopped and admired the wood carvings (for which the town is famous) and followed the Christmas lights leading us to the market.




Squirrel with pine cone

Peddler

Death?

Christmas lights

It was a smaller and quaint version of the others we have seen. Some items were familiar, but many were unique to this place, the artist working behind the display as we discussed their work and wares.




Moon over Oberammergau

Early in the day we spied St. Nicholas walking along with tiny angels. They stopped at the manger and sang carols.

People gathered around fires burning in round grates and warmed their hands on metal torches placed here and there. Some were town folk and they called to each other, children presenting themselves before friends and neighbors to be recognized. Some were travelers like us.

DH warms his hands at a torch.

I especially liked the woman who called to a friend walking her dogs. The first woman leaned out of her stall with dog treats for the pups. What a thoughtful lovely thing!

These wanderers have found a warm place to stop and lay our heads. We will be happy to spend Christmas in this place.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberammergau

Miscellaneous photos:

Everyone decorates for Christmas. Some have amazing window displays all year long (more to follow).