Where in the world am I? (#19)

By
Michael
– December 7, 2011Posted in: Europe, Germany, Photography, Where In the World?

I can’t believe it, but it’s been a whole month since the last installment of my “Where in the world am I?” photo challenges! This time I chose a wintery scene from my past adventures to showcase. Do you know where it was taken?

Like in weeks past, I’ll give no clues up front, but will periodically tweet and post clues on my Facebook and Google+ pages to help you out. So, if you don’t already follow me on Twitter, click HERE.

  • Leave your guess here on my blog only (not on Facebook or Twitter) by Friday, December 9th at noon (PDT).
  • I’ll be giving out hints via Twitter & Facebook throughout the day on Wednesday and Thursday.
  • One guess per hint (i.e.: with each hint, you can leave a new guess).
  • One winner will be randomly selected from those who answer correctly and will be featured on my Facebook Fan Page, Twitter and Google+ Page with his/her name, blog (if applicable), twitter, as well as a brief bio.
  • Anyone can participate!

Here are the clues I’ve given so far:

Clue #1: There’s a cross at the top of that mountain peak (that I climbed 10 years before I took this photo!) 

Clue #2: This village is famous for its woodcarving.

Clue #3: It was miraculously spared the plague in the 1630s.

Clue #4: Every decade, over 7,000 people take part in a spectacular event here.

Clue #5: Many buildings and homes feature trompe-l’œil frescoes of fairy tales and religious scenes.

The answer and winner of this week’s challenge:

I knew people would start getting this right after I posted the fourth clue. The answer is Oberammergau, Germany. Five people answered correctly but after randomly selecting a winner, congratulations are due to Mary at The World Is A Book!

Oberammergau is world-famous for hosting the Passion Play, a seven-hour production depicting the life and death of Jesus Christ. Every decade since 1643 the town’s residents have produced the play, honoring a vow they made to God if he spared them from the bubonic plague. Today the play is staged every ten years, in the final year of each decade – that is, the year whose numeral ends with a zero. (The next performances will be in 2020.)

Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to see the play either time I was in Oberammergau (in summer of 1995 and again in the winter of 2005) but I did get to climb to the top of the Kofel, the 4403 foot- (1342 meter) high peak at the center of this photo. From the top are spectacular views overlooking the sprawling Bavarian countryside.

This week’s winner lives by the same words as me, first spoken by St. Augustine: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” Mary was born in the Philippines, grew up in Guam, and currently lives in San Diego, California. Together with her husband and two kids, she’s traveled to four continents and 30+ countries!  Be sure to check out Mary’s blog at theworldisabook.com , become a fan of her Facebook and Google+ Pages and follow her on Twitter too!

Shout outs to Natasha, Lisa, Dick and Daniël for knowing the right answer too!

 

Here was last week’s photo, correctly identified by everyone who participated in the challenge (a StruxTravel first!) Congratulations to Anne-Sophie at Sophie’s World, Candice Michelle at Travel Wisconsin, Laura Hirsh at Skin Care and Body Work, Kimberley at Crystal’s Corner, Anthony Gonzalez, Amy Miller, Ryan Meashaw, and Cathy Sweeney at Traveling With Sweeney. Great job guys!

The answer was the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. Built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of gun magnate William Winchester, construction on the mansion continued for 38 years straight, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from 1884 until her death in 1922. It’s reported that a psychic told her that if she ever stopped construction, the ghosts of those who had died by the guns manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms company would haunt her. Click HERE to learn more about it!


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Michael Figueiredo is a freelance travel writer based in Los Angeles, California. When he’s not gallivanting around the world, he’s enjoying the laid-back lifestyle and perfect weather of Southern California. So far he’s visited thirty-six countries and territories on five continents. His goal is to see at least one new country every year!  . Read more from this author

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