The moment I saw downtown Leavenworth, I was in love! Back in the early 90's, I'd lived in Bavaria (a province in southern Germany) for 2 1/2 years... and Leavenworth felt as if I had stepped right back in time! Everything was perfect!... the ornately carved wooden balconies, the charming paintings on the buildings, the 'onion' tower on the church, the mountains in the background, even the maypole! I wandered around in absolute bliss!
Yes, there are buildings painted just like this!
Lederhosen, mountain goats... and traditional fachwerk
Fachwerk (also Timber Framing or Half-timbering) is the method of creating framed structures where timber is ample but building stone (and the skills to work it) are limited. The spaces between the timbers were often filled in with wattle-and-daub and then plastered over.
The white and blue checkered flag (lower left) is the symbol of Bavaria.
The traditional 'zwiebelturm' or 'onion tower' is a church tower crowned by a round bulb-shaped roof.
The Maibaum or Maypole is traditional for May Day celebrations. ... The detailed scenes on its top are specific to each city.
Most of the paintings were either places I'd been or other things that had been a big part of my life in Germany.
Deutschland (aka Germany) ... Mittenwald
Lederhosen ... and traditional music
Zugspitze (a mountain I have stood on the top of)... and Partenkirchen
For lunch, I went into King Ludwig's Restaurant (my German hero) and had Kasespaetzle (my favorite German food).
Käsespätzle (egg noodles with carmalized onions and LOTS of cheese)... I have this very same poster hanging in my home!
I took a walk through the Waterfront Park along the Wenatchee River to try to contain my excitement.
A lovely path... lined with plenty of historic information
The Wenatchee River... The air was completely filled with pollen!
I set up my tent in the Alpine Campground at the edge of town.
