Boog's Blog

16 May Krems

Pictures posted ( see http://www.flickr.com/photos/boogskbqb/ ) from the
Wachau valley, read wine valley similar to Napa except, as Libby pointed
out, has a great river. One of the most beautiful rides to date.

Durnstein where Richard Lion was held captive and the old university town of
Krems. Including some really fine artisanal teddy bears in a beer stube.

Brought to you by Tip Top Tea (The Tea of Record). Friday's special is our
Nibelungen Blend. Eases tinnitus and is carried by sacking crews on pillages
to all nooks and crannies of the world.

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A much more impressive river than Napa valley, as well…

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15 May

The silverado trail with onion domes and apricot orchards for added beauty. Very small local wine making villages.

Durnstein is where Richard Coeur was imprisoned after the third (???) crusade. Some of the castle remains. More in the QB pics.

The ride today was if anything too short and too full of of perfect everything. After 40 km we felt we had not started a day's ride.

Wachau wine.jpg

from a church.jpg

from durnstein.jpg

Richard lionheart.jpg

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Abby Road?

D.

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May 14, 2008  Day in Melk.

Massive touristing day. The Krewe charged up the cobbledpath to sack the old and famous abbey at Melk. After pausing to pay the 7.50 Euro admission (per sacker), the charge was renewed into one of the corridors (photos) and into the museum. A number of valuable religious paintings and objects were lying around waiting to be pillaged, except for the plastic cases and alarms.

Photo of library not great, but gives some idea of the Baroque splendor. After another fine sack, the Krewe found themselves in the abbey church in time for a short midday service–a chance to hear the organ. A stroll around the abbey park brought the Krewe back to their respective centers and they returned to the hotel in triumph to gloat over the treasure seized from the abbey at great cost (4 postcards).

Brought to you by Tip Top Tea (The Tea of Record).  Our Baroque Blend No. 16 is angelically floral and contains small particles of guilt.

Dinner at the Hotel zur Post again. White asparagus and "ravioli" (looked more like large tagliatelli).  Pics.   Had two different local Wachau wines, both red, one very good the other just ok.

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14 May

Visit to Abby cannot be missed. Check it out online. A baroque beauty and education in the reformation, counter reformation, baroque enlightenment.

Timing was excellent as we got to sit through a short service which included a few good organ pieces. Good sound as to be expected. They provided sheet music but thought it best not to sing. Libby would have been perfect. German not Latin.

The gardens, with their own admission price, have to pay for the Abby, have many old roses but not yet in bloom. Mid May.

The path is in large measure a peaceful forest garden with Gregorian chant musak. Quite soothing. Also art pieces with German opera and another section with psalm speaking stones.

view from Abby towards Wachau.jpg

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14 May

Pictures of Grein and Melk now loaded on flickr.  Some, especially the food, added here. 

Today we will tour the abby – it is large.  The tour books suggest leaving at least 2 hours for the inside and one for the gardens, let alone drinking and eating with the monks.

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May 13, 2008 Arrival in Melk

After an annoyingly wind-in-the-face ride, the hearty Sacking Krewe arrived
in Melk, home of the famous Benedictine Monastery started in the 11th
century. Like many other buildings here, it was Baroqued during that period
(photos). The onions on top are decorated like pastry.

Brought to you by Tip Top Tea (The Tea of Record). This week's special is
the Bike-in-the-Wind blend, a hearty blend for those days when the wind is
always in your face.

Dinner notes (photos): Sharon had "pikeperch" a mysteriously named fish that
tastes and resembles plaice or maybe cod, if there were any cod left.
Accompanied by a glass of Most, the cider from the Mostviertel region. Very
sneaky liquid. Strong coffee was needed for dessert. Jeff had a "Wachau
Turkey Stew" but without the schlag (well, a little was snuck into the
bottom of the pot). This dish had turkey, spaetzle, and some fruit
(including a slicce of banana (?).

Hmmm… just tried to upload the pictures from Enns and Melk, along with the
dinner pics. Nope, flickr did not want them today. Strange, this happens
from time to time with the program Flock

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13 May

Austria appears to be a long birthday party. Cake, ice cream, strudel, ice cream deserts, and of course beer.

Maybe more ice cram eating than smoking and there is a lot of smoking.

This Gasthaus in grein, family owned and managed like seemingly all, is a very friendly one with an excellent shower.

The bread of Austria looks a lot like the bread of Bavaria but it is very different. Has the consistancy of wonder bread. Looks good, tastes ok but like good German bread.

The cathedral is big. See Wikipedia for details or wait for visit pics tomorrow.

Will try to update flickr pics later tonite my time. Maybe even a dinner pic.

across the river.jpg

more beauty.jpg

melk.jpg

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So- has the very good Gasthaus been there since 1468 or 1563 (impressive
either way, but a 100 years is still a long time by our colonial
standards).
Libby

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