September 30 Traveling Home

We were up bright and early and had to repack bags to meet airline standards.

Our flight was delayed an hour after we had boarded, due to overbooking the flight, the captain reported. So it was actually 11:45 am before we finally took off and 8 hours later  we landed in Chicago; however at Chicago, it was 1:40pm.

The airport was crazy at Chicago with many people going through customs and changing planes.

Here we had a real God blessing. One of our party forgot one of their bags in the train between terminals. A young man jumped out just before it left, shouting, “Someone left this bag! Whose is it?” We all looked around wondering. He dropped it on the ground and jumped back in the train just as it was pulling out.

Those near recognized it as belonging to someone in the group, but were not sure whose. We held it up and yelled, “Whose is this?” and it was claimed. It was a strange overwhelming kind of relief because there would have been panic when the loss was discovered. As it was, the item was returned before we even knew it was gone—and in the middle of all the chaos in the Chicago airport! I think we all realized that we had been blessed at that moment.

The rest of the trip was thankfully uneventful. We arrived in Minneapolis about 6pm (Central standard time) and for Paul and myself, finally arrived home at 8:30pm.

The trip had been fantastic; everything went well and we were thankful and grateful to God for the many blessings we received through it.

Sept 29 Eve in Frankfurt

This was our last evening together as a group. We gathered together to have time to share with each other and to say goodbyes. The wakeup call is at 5:45 am with bags out at 6:15 am, and the bus leaving at 7:15 am tomorrow morning.

Sept 29 afternoon Rothenburg

Rothenburg is a city which is a picture of medieval times. Used as the backdrop in many movies, including Walt Disney’s Pinocchio, the old part of the city of Rothenburg is picturesque and charming, with many shops and restaurants. It was fun to take time to wander the cobblestone streets.

The walled part of the city is still in place including the gates. Pictured below is one of the gates. The little door you see is called “the needle’s eye.” As you can see it is a very narrow space through which one person at a time could pass after the gates were closed. However, people would be allowed to pass only after an interrogation and would also receive a fine. And here is an interesting fact: the position of night watchman only stopped in 1920.

sept 29 am Leaving Oberammergau

We left Oberammergau about 8 in the morning with the sun peaking out behind the clouds. However, as we traveled on what is called “the Romantic Road”, it became increasingly cloudy and then rainy. We had a glimpse of the alps behind the cascading hills, but then the clouds and rain settled in, so we became our own cozy world within the bus. Every morning in the bus, one of the pastors led devotions, which gave all each day a wonderful start.

Sept 28 Passion Play in Oberammergau

Oberammergau, has since 1634 performed the Passion Play every 10 years involving over 2000 its residents (about half of them). This is an entire community effort as others are involved in offering hospitality to guests, like our group, who came with others from around the world to view the Passion Play.

Beginning at 2:30pm and ending at 10:30pm, there is a 3 hour dinner break. On this day, it was cold and windy in the afternoon, so we dressed warmly. Because the play is performed entirely in the German language, we followed the dialog in our English translation or just watched, for we knew the story.

Photographs are not allowed during the performance, so I have included an image that the Oberammergau Passion Play website has posted and a link (click for more pictures) for the rest of the site.

Viewing this play was an incredible experience for the entire community had to cooperate, not only in the production of the play, but also in the organization of it all and the hospitality required to host the 4700 people attending each performance.

It was also awesome to be a part of a promise made to God over 300 years ago when during the time of the Black Death plague, the people promised to portray the “Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ” every ten years. From that time on, not one person died from the Black Death. We were blessed through this promise and its fulfillment.

By the time we were back to our rooms, it was very late. I think we are somewhat overwhelmed by all we have seen and done.

Sept 28 am Linderhof Castle

We had an option to visit Linderhof Castle this morning, the smallest of the three that King Ludwig build and the only one that he finished in his short life of 40 years. The interior was extremely ornately painted and elaborately carved, covered with gold leaf. Most of the time this castle was used, however, King udwig was here alone with 4 of his trusted servants to wait on him. He must not have been too close to his servants either, for the dining room table was on an elevator system, so the servants would prepare his meal and when it was ready the prepared table would come up. When the table (and floor) had been lowered to the kitchen, identical inlaid floor panels slid together to form the floor. There were many ingenious ideas in this castle and around the grounds, on which he had a grotto, gazebos, numerous fountains, a water falls, a hunting lodge, a Moroccan type house, and other curiosities. Ah, what money can buy,
Our tour guide put it well: if you are rich one theoretically can do anything one wants to do. Most kings don’t. King Ludwig did.
For the photo of this castle, I walked up the hill to take it. When I examined it later, I noticed some people right in the middle in front of the castle. Guess who they were? I will see if I can include a close up following the castle picture.

Sept 27 Mountain Morning

It is early on Monday morning. An entire week has now passed with each day being filled with activities, places and stories. We have three days left here in Germany and then on Thursday we will fly home. Today we will go to Oberammergau, but on the way we will stop at Neuschwanstein and tour at least the grounds and for those who wish, the inside of the castle. There are at least 300 steps involved on the inside of the castle to see 6 of the rooms. From there we proceed to Oberammergau where our group will be split between pensionnes, guest homes, and some in a hotel. In all there are 5 different places, so that poses challenges.
The photo is from our breakfast at the ski lodge and convention center that we are at up in the mountains. This is one of 5 or 6 buffets of all different foods. Yes, we are being well fed.