Thanks for the Memories

With a return to the business and routine of life at home all that remains are memories and the gift of friendships created along the way.

We offer our gratitude to our travel guide Maria, her friend Jane, faithful bus driver Piotr, the many local tour guides who brought their communities to life, the people in stores and restaurants whose hospitality enhanced each day, our Spiritual Director Fr. Jan and is colleagues, Fr. Tony, Fr. Trevor and Fr. Andre and especially to each of our travel companions whose faith, love and laughter brightened each day.

Passion

When I was last in Germany, as a teenager, a young friend told me about Oberammergau and the Passion Play its citizen portrayed every ten years. He said that I really should return to see this drama.

Many years later this long held dream came true. Set on an outdoor stage over 2000 inhabitants of Oberammergau bring the story of Jesus' last days to life with great devotion. It seems that with the rise in tourism everyone in the community contributes to the air of hospitality.

With a ticket to this play, guests receive a pass to a designated restaurant for lunch preceding the first part of the play and supper separating the two performances.

Crafted with the careful addition of old-testament based tableaus highlighted by a choir featuring over 40 voices backed by a 60 piece orchestra, the five hours of on-stage drama pass with barely a notice.

It would seem that even the Creator decided to join the performance that evening offering His voice of thunder and visual effects of lightening while bathing incoming actors with His cleansing waters.

In an act truely worthy of note, actors did not return to the stage to receive the applause and appreciation of the audience, choosing to leave us all to thank the Creator for this gift of prayer.

A Royal Retreat

Known as the 'Mad King', King Ludwig II of Bavaria, commissioned the building of Neuschwanstein the red fronted castle often seen in photos depicting this area. Its presence dwarfs the older distinctive yellow Hohenschwangau.

Built originally in the 12th century by the Hiltepolt family this castle withstood the years to become the retreat for King Ludwig II. With elaborate furnishings and walls covered with paintings depicting its history this castle comes complete with a secret passage connecting the upper floor King's bedroom with the lower floor Queen's chamber. Imagine if the walls could talk what secrets they might reveal.

The gardens of this palace provided the perfect backdrop for a group photo marking the many memories and bond of friendship created on our journey.

A Night to Remember

Oh what a night! After a day of touring, a lengthy bus ride, and multiple stops to drop off fellow travelers at their assigned destinations around Oberammergau, we arrived at our lodgings for the next two nights, Gasthaus Fischer am See.

Within moments of our arrival a very familiar face appeared at the door. Gerhard, a friend since childhood had been waiting with his family. With just minutes to meet Dorothee, and four year old twins Emil and Linde, a waitress from the restaurant across the street beckoned us to follow. She lead us to my uncle (my mother's brother) and my aunt.

Because the hour was late Dorothee soon left with the children, but Peter and fellow traveler Fr. Andre joined us for dinner.

Magical hours of reminiscing and catching up ended much too soon. With invitations to meet again one day we parted company happy for this opportunity to spend some valuable time in each other's company.

A Little Creativity

A young man loved a young woman. The young woman's family would not allow the couple to marry unless the young man had a house to bring his new bride home to.

The young man, desperately in love, found his solution. An eight foot space between two buildings provided just enough room for a new home.

The two floor home is now an office but it remains the smallest building in Salzburg.
The building stands as proof that love will find a way.

Doe, a deer, a female deer

It seems that if you just listen you could hear that song made famous in "The Sound of Music".
Salzburg, translated literally as "Salt Castle", was home not only to the singing Von Trapp Family whose escape from the Nazis was made famous in the musical, but is also the birth place of Mozart.

The carefully manicured lawns and flowerbeds at Mirabell Garden accentuated by statues and water fountains are a delight to the eye. It is easy to imagine the Von Trapp children at play here.

The baroque architecture demonstraties craftsmanship and pride. Buildings in Altstadt with their attention to detail, painted in various muted shades are a tribute to centuries of respect for the history of this community.

Surrounded by mountains, some still snow-topped, it is easy to see how such richly beautiful surroundings could inspire creative genius.

Good Friends, Good Food, Good Times

After a day of touring we were treated to a traditional Austrian evening repast.

Having spent more than a week getting to know each other, this evening was a chance to solidify those friendships and to learn more about each other.

We were greeted with a violin and guitar duet. Our bellies were filled with soup, potatoes, kraut and various meats, topped off with a fine apple streudel. The young wine soon went to our heads.

Using the many vocal talents among us, our group soon filled the air with tradition and familiar songs from Canada, including Quebec, Ireland and even the Philippines.

Though the evening ended too early, the memories created will live with each of us for a long time.

City of Arts and Culture

Monuments marking lives of influence, churches honouring saints with lavish architectural detail, and castles built to amuse royalty fill the eye with wonder around every turn.

Today we toured Vienna.

Once the home of Vienna's Royalty, Hofburg Castle houses St. Augustine Church, the Austrian National Library, the Imperial Silver Collection and even a horse riding school. The magnificent Imperial Palace now houses the office of the president of Austria.

The Hapsburg family commissioned the building of Schonbrunn Castle to mimic the castle of Versaille. Original furnishings and wall sized paintings are on display. Many walls still display magnificent full length tapestries commissioned by the Hapsburgs or given to them as gifts. One chamber houses original works of art by members of the Hapsburg family. The opulent and lavish lifestyles of this first family of Vienna is reflected in the various treasures on display.

Outside the gardens display manicure lawns and well maintained flower beds. Fruit bearing orange trees mark attention to detail and an extravagance of care and maintenance.

St. Stephen's Church also known as Stephansdom was originally completed in 1160. Over many centuries the Church evolved to its current form displaying Romanesque Gothic architecture. Statues, emblems, towers and the mosaic tiled roof are landmarks in Vienna.

Having only hours to explore and appreciate this city we are left wanting more. Perhaps one day we will return to explore more of this city treasures.

Viennese Waltz Anyone?

The room filled with the music of Austrian composers Strauss, Mozart and Hadyn. Dancers brought certain pieces to life with brilliant displays of strength and grace, while a vocalists added their voices to the thrill of the evening.

Tonight we were treated to an evening of classical Viennese music by the 13 piece "Salonorchester Alt Wien". While musicians filled the air with sweet music to delight the ear and dancers enhanced the experience with a visual treat. Truely this was an experience for the soul.

Anyone Home?

The Stift Melk or Melk Abbey once housed 500 monks who taught local students, tended to the gardens and monestary needs and kept a large library of priceless manuscripts.

Today, 30 monks inhabit these walls, tending to 23 parishes, teaching over 800 high school aged students and tending to the Monestary site and library.

Anticipating robed men scurrying about the grounds carefully performing their assigned tasks in silence and in prayer, it is disappointing to note that because their numbers are few and their tasks so great, no monks were to be seen on our visit. Without visibility in the public how can we expect their numbers to grow? Will this Monastic way of life slowly become extinct?

A History of Pride

Prague, in the Czech Republic is an extraordinarily beautiful city.

Thousands of years ago people began to settle this area of the Vitara River. Now the cultural, political and economic centre of the Czech Republic, it is home to 1.3 million people.

Rich with a history the echos of which is etched into its walls and buildings, Praha, as it is known here, is proud of its heritage. The detail and workmanship in each fresco and statue reflects this pride.

In our fast paced world time is measured by the second and work by its product. As Prague was growing many of its buildings, that are in themselves works of art, may have taken longer to build than most of its builders lived. In our day and age it is hard to imagine anyone committing to such a project and devoting a life to a singular creation, but just think what could be created if one did.

Need I Say More?

A visit to the late Pope John Paul II's home town would not be complete without a trip to a local restaurant for Kremovka, the late Pope's favorite dessert. Need I say more?