20 & 21 Sept - Oberammergau

Here's a pension where we stayed.  It is off the main road in Oberammergau within walking distance of everything.

Our room has the open door on the balcony on the 2nd floor to the left of the sign. 
While wandering through the town, Walt was envious of all the wood piles.

We visited the museum in the afternoon.  Oberammergau is a famous wood-carving center.  The museum featured lots of artists carvings.  We particularly liked these miniature carvings in nutshells.

The next day (Tuesday) we were scheduled to see the play in the afternoon and evening.  In the morning we visited the town and stopped at the the Holzschnitzerei (wood carver shop).  He carved out of many different woods:  pine, whose aroma lasts for 20 years; maple, hard enough to carve fine detail; larch for many things; and cherry for its beautiful color.

We were not allowed to take pictures of the performance.  About 2000 out of 4000 residents participated in the play.  Military personnel who participated were given a dispensation to grow long hair and beards.  All ages were in the play, from 90-year-olds to 3-month-olds.  The stage was wide enough for a 50 voice chorus to stand in a line across it.  In the crowd scenes there were several hundred people on stage.  This is part of the stage in front of us:

This is looking from our seats to the back of the theater.  Near us was a paramedic.  And another was up farther.  They wore flourescent orange jackets and trousers.  For the night performance there were torches and bonfires on stage.  We had at least 3 firefighters back stage in bunker gear just in case.

The afternoon performance was from 2:30 to 5:15 p.m.  Then we had a dinner break and came back at 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. to conclude the Passionspiel.  It was a very stirring performance.  There were stationary tableaus interspersed as well as narration and choruses.  It was the story from Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday through the Resurrection.