Wachau and Melk Abby (even though Melk isn't in Wachau but STFU!)

This was not a school trip, and more like a 'sign up and go to Wachau valley trip' but it was good none the less. We started by going to Melk Abby (actually... I should start with the typical). It was a foggy morn, and I decided to go with my mates to Wachau (a region in Austria), where I had an unexpected amount of fun.

First we went to the abby of Melk, one of the monestaries of Austria. Melk was formerly a peaceful medieval monestary, donated by the Babenburgs, but which fell into the hands of the Habsburgs, and later by their Baroque art, which pretty much changed the monestary for the worst, but I digress. When we got there, we were released into the world of the modern monestary, which, incredibly suprisingly, was one of modern art. The first courtyard gave the distinct impression to me. The first thing I noticed was that it was really foggy, and quite cold (I feel really sorry for people who were not from the rocky mountains, cos they didn't really understand). At any rate, standing around, waiting for people to finish peeing or whatever in the first courtyard, I began to notice that apart from a strange fountain that needed to be cleaned with wierd koi in it (this is releveant), there was a lot of modern art around. For instance, about 8 bizzaro sculptures graced the inner sanctum of the courtyard, and (as our guide pointed out) each side of the courtyard had a very modern painting of one of the cardinal virtues. I learned later that this was because the Monks wanted a modern style, which I found very fascinating. Later on, we went into see the museum of the monestary, and it happened to also be in a modern, bizzaro style. Lesson of teh day: you go monks. Keep being new agey and modern.

We then went outside to the strange experience (I said it was foggy) of going out to the front of the monestary to find it completely surrounded in clouds. We couldn't even see the ground below us, for Melk abby is constructed atop a hill, and it seemed as if the entire monestary was floating in the heavens. The feeling was actually, quite spiritual. The best part was that next (of course, after the overly baroque) was the library.

The library of Melk is quite famed. For instance, there is a great 'infinity' symbol within that the the Laureates of the Nobel Lit. prize sit around and discuss literature every year. Also, within said infinity, are all the manuscripts of the pieces which famed the Laureates. I would say more importantly, and tangent to why I was at Melk Library, is its almost unprecidented collection of manuscripts from the middle ages. Of course, I am not good enough to see said collection, but it is apparently the namesake of Adso von Melk (who is the main character of Il Nomo Della Rosa by Umberto Eco... which if you didn't know is my favourite book by my favourite author ... my sick obssession with whom led directly to my visit at Milan The land where the men speak Italian (being the setting of Il Pendulo di Foucault). Anyway, it was the best libary ever.

Sadly, we left it to a THREE HOUR LUNCH which, apart from being one of the best lunches I've ever had, was something of which I took no pictures. Thus, I must move on. From here, we hiked through the town we were in (Dürnstein) to the castle Dürnstein, which was once where Richard the Lionhearted (Richard Löwenherz) was held captive. He was on his way back from the crusades, where he evidvently had offended by the current Austrian (actually Habsburg) emperor, Leopold V. His men recognized him trying to sneak back home through Habsburg lands, and he was trapped in the dungeons of the castle Dürnstein. He was ransomed back by his mother, which made the wall around Vienna that would later be the saving grace against multiple invasions, and less importantly, the Ringstrasse of modern Vienna. But I digress! The castle is now little more than Ruins, but the best ruins that I have ever frequented.

Then, we visited the town of Krems. Krems is the largest city of the Wachau valley, and is the oldest town (mentioned as a civitas) in the current area known as Austria. The city is still pretty much ordered in the medieval fashion, in stark contrast to Vienna's enlightenment (and later) views. The old city gate (the Steiner Tor) is still around, and is the emblem of the city, which dates back to the 15th century. Also, there are still several churches which were made in the romanesque and gothic times which were not baroquizised horribly, and old buildings still stand. All in all it was quite an enjoyable little town.

After that we went wine tasting, and it was quite decent, for Austrian wine. I guess this is about all I have to say about the trip, so, word out.

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