Our first couple of days on this trip were dedicated to travel across Germany and getting settled for a visit with the family of Pam's cousin in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. On Sunday, Pam's cousin graciously took us out on a day excursion to three locations on Bavaria, two of which are the subject of this post. Our first stop was a Benedictine monastery, Ettal Abbey. Ettal has been in the news because their boarding school is one of the institutions that has been a part of the current controversy of physical and sexual abuses during the current Pope's watch when he had oversight duties during his bishop years.
In this image, Pam seems to be turning to me saying "can you believe this place?" We were met by fresh snow and blue skies duing our stay in Bavaria. I'm not certain how anyone can not be impressed.
We were there because Pam's cousin was there as a concerned parent. The institution was working hard to navigate the controversy. Many alum of the boarding school attended that morning. The southern German media was there in full force interviewing school alumni and anyone who would take time with them. My German was serviceable enough to realize that the tone of the sermon that morning was one of reassurance using metaphors and biblical imagery to stress the abbey and school's tradition of good work, despite the current dramas. Even President Obama's "Yes We Can" was thrown in for good measure and crowd uplift.
Our next stop was an ice cream parlor in Oberammergau. We didn't have any ice cream, only coffees and a snack. I like this picture because it is a one stop answer to the question folks have been asking me. "Did you see any snow on your trip?"
Oberammergau looks pretty much like any other Bavarian small town, but there is a major difference. For almost 400 years this town has a tradition of performing a Passion Play every ten years since it survived the Black Plague. It is a five hour plus production with a three and half hour dinner break thrown in. Here is a YouTube clip that gives a better back story than I can.
Rehearsals for the play take place for many months before the performances begin in May. It seems that pretty much the entire village is involved in the production. Much of the town goes unshaven and unshorn so participants will have the proper biblical look. One of the participants was having quite a time trying to get this donkey to come in and rehearse his cues. Not a carrot or persuasion from Lisa and some random kids could help out very much.
