Duerstein & Wine Sampling

After the monestary we went to have lunch and then to the medieval town of Duerstein.


restaurant where we had lunch



3 course meal!



chicken with noodles



Austrian specialty Aepfelstrudel!



inside the restaurant (Andrew always manages to pop into my pix somehow!?)



After lunch we went for a walk in Duerstein, Austria's oldest town. Too bad we didn't go to the ruined castle on the hill



beautiful scenes on the Danube


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the medieval town



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After the walk we went to the Weingut Nastl brewery to sample some wine.



We had Kamptal Veltliner, bittmannsberg, Riesling Ladner, Sauvignon Balnc and Kamptal Cuvee



after we sampled the wine we went to visit the vineyards



the grapes are so sweet! :P



Finally, we went to the cellar where all the wine is stored



in the cellar



the black cellar mold only grows at the right temperature and humidity



the red wines are still stored in wooden barrels



the white wines are stored in stainless steel containers



The sampling room. We sampled some 2002 Eiswein and it was so sweet and yummy! :P I think it might be cheaper than in Vancouver so I bought a bottle. I'll save it for the New Year's! :)

Melk Monestary

Today there's another day-long trip to Melk and Duerstein. The weather was really nice and was even a little hot. We went to the 900yr old Benedictine monestary in Melk first, which also has a Catholic private school.


Melk monestary



the entrance



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story bells in the garden



the pavillioin



inside the pavilion



ceiling frescos



the cafe



in the garden



beautiful view from the garden



pond and ? (forget what it's called XP)



more scenes from the garden



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finally taking the tour into the monestary



the courtyard



fountain in the courtyard



the corridor



hallway



beautiful staircase



paintings of Maria Teresia and her husband (forgot his name...)



exhibition rooms



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reusable coffin!



paintings of Jesus' life



the treasure chest with 14 individual locks that can only be opened with 1 key



the key. the lock was so heavy i couldn't even turn the key!



a model of the monestary



in the main room of the monestary



ceiling frescos with illusionary techniques that makes the ceiling looks taller!



the church



the library



the balcony



views of the town from the balcony



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the library with ancient books written in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Devided into 4 sections: theology, philosophy, medicine, and law.



ceiling frescos



i want a globe like this!



the only staircase that leads to other library rooms



inside the church



ceiling frescos



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spiral staircase



beautiful view from the arch



wooden clock



leaving the monestary