BAVARIAN LEAVENWORTH EXPEDITION!

On a recent trip Out West, I finally had the opportunity to visit a place that has been "on my radar" for several years.  Leavenworth, Washington, is a Bavarian-styled village in the Cascade Mountains, in central Washington State.

I first read about it when I looked at a website that shows the top festivals in the USA.  As you can imagine in a town famous for its festivals, the most popular street area/city park  is usually closed off to vehicle traffic during weekend festivals. (In the town of Leavenworth, it is Front Street that gets closed off to vehicles and parking.) Such was the occasion, when I arrived on Friday the thirteenth of May, in 2022, in a rainy downpour, with the annual Maifest on the Leavenworth events calendar.

Even on non-festival days, I had read that finding parking can be a challenge in the little village.  However, I kept driving around the streets that allowed cars, until I found an open parking space.  It had a meter with it, but that did not deter me, since I was raised in the town where the original Duncan parking meter was manufactured.  However, parking meters have changed substantially, since the days of their receiving, nickels, dimes, and quarters!  These parking meters took credit cards, which again did not deter me, since I had two different kinds available to use.  Sadly, I could not get either card to work, and neither could the couple trying to use the parking meter adjacent to mine. They said they would inquire at the establishment directly in front of us for assistance, and I said I would inquire at the establishment across the street for assistance with the meters.

Going across the street, I entered The Obertal Inn (www.obertal.com).  The personnel inside the Obertal Inn had some suggestions to resolve the parking meter issues, and they were very friendly; so, I decided as long as I was in the lobby, I would inquire about their room availability, since their rooms included a free parking space, and they were located just a block from Front Street. 

The price seemed reasonable, so I booked a room, and I was not disappointed!  It was newly remodeled, with new flooring, a fireplace, lap desk, microwave, refrigerator, and most importantly---a stocked coffee service!

The bedside table also had a rechareable, battery operated flashlight built into its front!  This was an amenity I had never seen in any hotel!

As soon as I could, I gathered the raingear I needed for protecting my electronics and clothing from the moisture, and headed out the door to do some photography!  I kept reminding myself of the photography instructors I have studied under over the years, that say gray skies are better for photographs because they reduce the stark shadows caused by bright sunlight.  (Also, wet streets can produce some interesting reflections.) 

In the center of Front Street, there was a blue and white striped maypole, as well as a taller, more permanent-looking maypole in the market area:

Maypoles have been erected for centuries in various European folk festivals, and are used as the centerpiece for a maypole dance, with each participant holding on to one of the long streamers,  hanging from the top.  Their use in Maifest activities were to be a sign that the happy season of warmth and comfort had returned. 

For those who had rather do indoor activities when it is raining, Leavenworth has a Nutcracker Museum!   It contains hundreds of nutcrackers, some of them centuries old!

 

There is also a nutcracker statue in the main city square:

 

While I was taking photos in the main city square, I noticed a tourist with a selfie stick and iphone getting a video, so I asked him if he would take my photo, with my signature gesture to show gratitude to God.  He seemed happy to oblige, and told me he was very interested in the Old World-style architecture, because he was from a German-themed town in another state---Frankenmuth, Michigan.  I told him I had fond memories of my visit to his town!

No need for sun umbrellas to be open on May 13, 2022!

Leavenworth, Washington is a popular site for rock climbers, and mountaineers (both of which my son enjoys), so I felt compelled to take a photo of this rock climbing mural that was on the front of one of the buildings:

In order to get a respite from the showers, I dashed into the bookstore  (along with many others) to peruse the printed materials available.   They had the usual items carried by bookstores, including books about the local area.  The book shown calling Leavenworth a "miracle town", is accurate, when you learn about this area's economic history.  There is also a video, called "Miracle Town: The Movie---The True Story of a Little Town That Refused to Die".

In the bookstore, I read about the river walking path and went to look for it.  Leavenworth is located on the Wenatchee River, and this riverside location, nestled between steep, tree-covered slopes, made it an ideal area for cutting down timber, sliding it down the hill and into the river, where it floated to lumber markets throughout the area, back in the olden days.   However, when the train that serviced the area rerouted closer to the town of Wenatchee (about 25 miles away), it initiated an economic decline for the small community of Leavenworth. 

By the 1950's, Leavenworth was almost a ghost town.  However, in the 1960's one of the local business owners made a visit to the Danish-themed town of Solvang, California.  Seeing the Solvang success,  and envisioning a Bavarian-style theme for their village of Leavenworth, (especially since it was surrounded by the Cascade Mountains that reminded people of the Alps), they remodeled their establishment to reflect a Bavarian theme.  Gradually other businesses did the same., even a few nation-wide franchises!  It is not often that a big franchise like Starbucks, will forego their familiar, easily-recognized logo, to facilitate a sign with Bavarian font!  No green and white mermaids on this Starbucks!  Rather, characters dressed in traditional clothing of the Alps!

When I got hungry around suppertime, I picked up  a salad, and went back to my room to put my legs up for a while and rest.!  In the meantime, I could see from my hotel room, that  the rain had stopped, and there was even a little blue sky peaking through!

Having been an Instagram follower of Bavarian Leavenworth for quite some time, I knew I wanted to return at twilight to do some photography, because so many of the stores have special lighting that highlights their architecture. 

The gazebo is shown in many of the Instagram posts, especially the photos taken during the Christmas holiday season.  And, rightly so, as it is a pleasing focal point, any time of the year!

The photo below shows a  different view of the gazebo, taken from the street above the park. If you would like to know about the numerous special events that take place in this park, visit the town's website at www.Leavenworth.org

The photo below that shows the snow-peaked mountains in the background exemplifies why a Bavarian theme seemed appropriate for Leavenworth. 

Twinkle lights in May, on an Alpine-style building.

Old world architecture, sometimes called "Elizabethan" is evident throughout the town.  The Elizabethan,  black and white, half-timbered style of  buildings are prominent along Front Street.

After the two camera batteries I had both ran out of power, I decided it was time to go back to my room, and recharge both my electronics and my body!

The next day the sun was out, the flags were flying, my body and electronics were recharged, and I was ready to continue my expedition in Washington State!

The historic St. Joseph Catholic Church was located very close to my hotel.  It was built in 1902, but not in this location, having been moved here in 1992.  Catholic churches are often associated with a "place of refuge", and this one is still being used as a refuge, albeit, a lodging refuge.  Visit the website www.pensionanna.com for information on overnight stays in this historic church building---(I am thinking sleeping there would be "heavenly"!)

The mural painted on the wall of St. Joseph Church, depicts Saint Joseph (father of our LORD Jesus), holding the infant.  So, I am using this painting as my visual aid for a First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) Bible memory verse that tells me how I am asked to love my LORD: "Love the LORD your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."  Deuteronomy 6:5

This trip to Bavarian Leavenworth in Washington State was good for my heart, soul, and strength, by giving me MILES OF SMILES!  Tricia

INAUGURATION EXPEDITION! (Addendum)

 My sister and I had the privilege of attending the 2005 Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C., and the photo below was taken, as we waited outside the U.S. Capitol, for the swearing in ceremony, which was held on a very cold and snowy, January 20.  One can see the top of the Capitol in the upper right hand corner of the photo.  Needless to say, we were quite a distance from the large platform that held the dignitaries, but there were electronic loud speakers around the lawn, that enabled us to hear what was being said, and we had binoculars!

Helpers were distributing pocket size copies of the US Constitution to people who were waiting out in the cold for the ceremony to begin:

I bought a sweatshirt because it was so cold!

souvenirs we bought

postmark of 2005

canvas bag

pen closeup

Souvenir from DC sports bar, where we met up with the government official, originally from Arkansas, who had secured special event tickets for us.  This official, early in his political career, had worked with Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt, from my home town of Harrison, Arkansas.  As luck would have it, my sister and I ran into the Congressman and his wife at the airport in Washington, D.C., and they graciously invited us to be his guest in the special VIP lounge available at the airport that weekend.  What a treat!

Our ability to have bleacher seats for the parade, and to have an invitation to attend one of the Inaugural balls was made possible because of a friend who was a government official, living in Washington, that I had known since my days at the University of Arkansas.  His name was Jim Burnett, from Clinton, Arkansas. At the time, he was serving as the Chairman of the U.S. Board of Transportation Safety.   I am very thankful to him, because this experience gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia

ADDENDUM:  Additional tips for attending a Presidential Inauguration are given in a blog I published on  January 9, 2009, which you can find in the Archives of this blog. 

INAUGURATION EXPEDITION!

If you are one of the 1.5 - 3 million people planning on attending the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America on January 20 of this year in Washington, D.C., I have a few tips for you based on my expedition to the last inauguration. My first tip is DRESS WARMLY! As you can see in the photo of my sister and me at the 2005 Inauguration in front of the Capitol's Inauguration outdoor stage, we were bundled up! It had snowed earlier and there were still bits and pieces of the white stuff on the grass, in spite of the thousands of footsteps melting it away. Not only is the ceremony outside, but when you consider all the time spent outdoors for security checks, walking from one venue to the next, waiting on public transportation, the parade, and activities on "The Hill", you will be out in the elements for many hours. There is a legend that the harsh weather is responsible for the death of a former president, after being in office for less than a month. President William Henry Harrison took the oath of office on an extremely cold, wet day. Nevertheless, he faced the weather without his overcoat and delivered the longest inaugural address in American history---it took at least two hours. He then rode through the streets in the Inaugural Parade. Thereafter, President Harrison became ill with a cold, which people at the time attributed to his Inauguration Day exposure. The cold worsened, rapidly turning into pneumonia and pleurisy. He died nine days after becoming ill---the first American President to die in office. Therefore, although he had the longest inauguration speech in American history, he had the the shortest term for any American president---only 30 days! So when your mama says "Child, put on your jacket before you go outside" you better heed her advice! My second tip is to contact your congressman regarding any special activities they are having for their constituents while in town for the ceremonies. My sister did that for us, and it resulted in us being invited to a lovely brunch held on "The Hill" in his office building. Although, the meal and getting to visit his office were quite nice, the best thing about it was what happened on the way there. Automobiles are not permitted near the building, so EVERYONE has a bit of a walk from the traffic barrier to the building entrance. That leads to my third tip: Be prepared to see some famous people! I happened to be right in front of the traffic barrier when a big, black van with blackened windows pulled up to the barrier, and big men in suits, dark sunglasses, and walkie-talkies jumped out from every door. I didn't know who they were protecting, but I got my camera ready, and Arnold Swartzeneager walked right in front of me! I was almost TOO CLOSE to get an in-focus photograph! And do you know what came out of my mouth when he walked in front of me? I said "Hi, Arnold!" like we were old buddies! I realized later, that was somewhat disrespectful, and I should have at least acknowledged his being a high-ranking politician and said, "Hello, Governor". But anyway, I got the shot, and it even got published in some area newspapers, with a "Photo by Tricia Turner" byline that, of course, thrilled me to no end. I made sure my California cousins knew I had a "close encounter" with their governor by sending them copies of the newspaper! My next tip is this: If you are going to an Inaugural Ball, you are going to have to leave the parade before it is over. My sister and I tried to "do it all", starting back to our hotel room at the end of the parade to change clothes in preparation for our planned experience as "Cinderella at the Ball". By the time we made it to the venue where our formal-attire event was being held, President and Laura Bush had already made their appearance, danced their dance, said their hellos, and moved on to the next ball. But we did get to hear the band, sample the food, and catch our breaths a little before heading back to our hotel room in the wee hours of the morning. For a listing of events that will help you prioritize your activities, go to the official website, which is www.pic2009.com . That stands for "Presidential Inauguration Committee-2009" . My final and most important tip for attending the Presidential Inauguration is to PRAY! As we were walking around on The Hill before the ceremony, a lady gave my sister and me, and many other people, a copy of the small book shown in photo above, called "Pray For Our Nation". Thousands of us had it to meditate on as we stood outside in front of the Capitol, waiting for the ceremonies to begin, and many were using that time, to do exactly what 2 Chronicles 7:14 commands: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." The eighty-eight page book had prayers for every imaginable aspect of our country's functioning, as well as prayers recorded from former U.S. Presidents. You can see many of these at www.prayforournation.com and get a copy of the book for yourself. I would like to end this entry on attending the Presidential Inauguration, by quoting this prayer spoken by our first U.S. President: "Direct my thoughts, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by the Holy Spirit....Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ." That is my prayer today for each of us, as well. Miles of smiles! Tricia