In the spirit of oppressive governments hosting the Olympic games we decided to visit Garmisch, the site of the 1936 winter games. There are a few original structures still here. These ski jumps have obviously been remade and enlarged. But the stadium at the base of the hill is original and really resembles the big Stadium Hitler built over in Nuernburg. This must have been the practice run.
We stayed at the cute little guest house with sheep grazing on the green slopes nearby.
This is right in front of the Zugspitze - Germany's highest peak. The gondola cables are behind us in the distance. We went up to the tip of the highest peak behind us.
This looking down from the gondola we rode. Quite the view - about 1/2 mile to the ground below the gondola. Abby was nervous for the second half of the trip on the way up. I even had a few butterflies especially as the gondola shakes a bit and jerks right as you get to the top getting into the lodge.
The views were amazing. We were lucky the fog burned off. Abby decided she wasn't afraid of heights any more and is leaning over the edge. They built this amazing three story restaurant/visitor's center/conference center right on top of the tallest peak. Very cool.
This is a little Protestant church in Garmisch. Wikipedia (a great source of info) told me it was home to one of the most well known works of one Johann Evangelist Holzer. Now it comes clear to me why the Holzers are so artistic.
Johann did the whole ceiling in a fresco style of painting. After finishing this work in the early 17 hundreds he was 31 years old (a young pup). He just got commissioned to do a huge mural for the archbishop of Cologne at the largest church in the area. He died before he could get started, isn't that always the way it is...
9 comments:
Amazing view. I don't consider myself afraid of heights but that gondola looks intimidating.
You guys do the coolest things there in Germany.
When were you there? I was just in Garmisch last weekend!!! I hope we weren't there at the same time, I'd be really sad that I didn't see you. Oh well, there was no way of knowing.
That is some AMAZING scenery. There's no way Paul would have made it up the Gondola. I agree with Jo, you are really making the most of your German adventure!
okay...i so wish i was there with you guys:) Mom is wanting to come back next year and check out some small small towns in northern germany where her ancestors were..:) maybe i'll see you next year:)
I feel like I am learning so much about Germany from you! Thanks for the cultural photos and for the family ones too. It is great to keep up with what you and your family are up to.
We think all of you ought to see this personally! We hereby invite you to stay with us. We have a guest room and you will have your own bathroom/shower. We bought the cheapest bed we could find at Ikea (raw wood and black plastic accents) - but the mattress is a pretty descent queen size.
That gondola is way too high for me! I hope that is enough to do you for your entire stay in Germany!!
Love, Mom H.
But, I LOVE the rest of the family pictures!!! So cute!!
Love again, Mom Holzer
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