Germany

With work comes some great opportunities. One of which was a chance for me to go to the Southern part of Germany. Bavaria is perhaps one of my most favorite places to go. Mountains, trees, iconic Germany homes, snow, skiing and I can go on and on. The last time I was in Germany was back in 2003 to go skiing with a friend for a week. This time wasn't going to be as fun but still it is a week in Bavaria. I spent most of my time in Oberammagau, Germany, which is famous for the Passion Play which is put on once every 10 years. This is a big deal and this year was the year they put it on. I wasn't able to go only because well they end the play in October. It's just too cold to continue to do it. Speaking of cold, when I rolled into town it was freezing cold. My body just isn't used to the cold as the last 6 1/2 years I've lived in some pretty warm locations. While I was there it snowed a lot! I only wish Amy and the kids were there to be able to enjoy a pretty cool little town and play in the snow. I was able to take a little trip to see the Neuschwanstein Castle. You'll see the pictures. It was cool, however that was not my first time seeing the place. I was then able to spend 2 days in Munich. This is perhaps my most favorite city besides Seattle, of course. I must have walked over 10 miles around the city just looking and enjoying the atmosphere. They are in Christmas overdrive mode! Very neat to see. Pictures posted below. I will post more later when I have some time.

Taken at the Nymphenburg Schloss Castle gardens. There was a part where about 20 trees were all decorated. The night prior it snowed very heavily and gave a fresh coat of snow on the Christmas trees.

Nymphenburg Schloss Castle. This is a huge castle on the western part of Munich. There were lots of huge swans in the lake. What the picture doesn't capture very nicely is that it was f...f...f...freezing cold!

Swan that thought I had food for it. This was taken at the Nymphenburg Schloss Castle.

Downtown old Munich. This was taken at an open market much like Pike Place Market in Seattle. The big item for sale were wreaths and Christmas decorations.

This was taken when I was walking around Munich. It was pouring snow when I took the picture. Not to mention windy and very cold. Within the city there are several trees that the stores and home decorate. It's pretty neat to see how they decorate. Especially when I live in a city where Christmas isn't celebrated.

Marienplatz, Munich. This is the famed Glockenspiel. Just outside there is a huge courtyard that has tons of these little shacks that sell decorations, food, and warm wine which made the places where they sell the wine smell pretty bad. On the other hand however they also sold freshly candied nuts, which made the air smell awesome. You didn't want to leave those areas.

Another shot of the Marienplatz along with a huge tree that was cut from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. On the far left are the towers from the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche). You can also see some of the Glockenspiel between the towers and the tree.

Just outside my hotel in Oberammagau. During the snowstorm of snowstorms. I thought it was interesting with the snow and the red. Kind of Christmasy.

The main church in Oberammagau. I was walking around at night and saw this shot. It was really foggy out. It had kind of a cool shadow.

Another shot in Oberammagau. Again it was super foggy and dark but I was able to get a picture of the trees and the stream that runs right between them. I looked better in B/W as it was kind of grainy due to kicking up the ISO setting to get some more light.