Another big hit in Mittenwald was the little river running through the middle of main street. The little stream is purely for aestetics and runs cold and clear straight out of the mountains. The girls got the idea that it would be a great place for their Polly Pocket dolls to have swimming races. Cole of course was called on to officiate, and as mom and dad shopped, the kids threw the Polly Pockets into the stream and chased them down river. Although they marveled at the violin carvers working, I’m sure this will be their memory of Mittenwald.
Each piece of wood you see hanging is a future violin waiting to be carved. The wood is harvested in the winter (during the appropriate moon phase of course) and then air dryed for several years. The standing boards are a future cello.
A few of the local towns folk.
Here's the kids at the apartments playground.
Just outside of Mittenwald we hiked the Leutasch Spirit Gorge. What a beautiful hike. Most of the trail is man-made, clinging to the side of the gorge over a hundred feet up.
Another town we visited in the area was Oberammergau. Famous for wood carvers, brightly painted frescoes covering the homes and businesses, and the famous Passion Play. About half of the residents in this town of 5000 take part in the play. (To participate you must be born in Oberammergau or have lived there for at least 20 years.) They perform the 6 hour play for 100 days during the summer attracting over a half million people to this sleepy village.
Notice the big chandelier hanging in the middle of the town church.
Like the others, this a flat stucco facade. All the details are added with paint.
