Day 8
Friesach, Austria
Saturday, 18.6.2011
Today we started our day at 7:00, room checks, etc. as we will be leaving our, Joker Hotel, by the beach and journeying to Austria. We had a cold breakfast in the foyer after room checks and were supposed to be loaded on the bus at 8:00.
Continue your journey to the beautiful city of Sirnitz in the region of Carinthia!
The picturesque town of Sirnitz also known as the “Official People to People Town of Carinthia” invites you to spend an unforgettable day in the countryside. After a warm welcome together with town officials you will get to try a very special local treat.
We were welcomed here with a warm welcome. We we were greeted by an official of the city. She talked with us about the city, telling us a little of the history and then we had some strudel and something to drink. It was wonderful. She also presented us with a Plaque which was very nice. (Later we presented that Plaque to Bernhard, everyone signed it).
After our refreshments we met a young gentleman that got on the bus with us and took us up the mountain to an original grist mill. It still has original wooden parts and is run by water coming down the mountain. Actually quite interesting. The corn is ground by huge stone turning by the power of the water.
Then the ground product is sent down a shoot where it is separated into 3 parts; the very fine flower, a more rough ground sort of flower, and then another that is sent back to be ground again. They are preserving the history of the past.
After that we walked back to the farm for lunch. It was quite a walk down to the grist mill and of course back. We had a guide that directed us and sort of guided us through all this, he actually works in the city. This same young man has directed PTP trips before.
While we were waiting for lunch to be ready we played some games on a large grassy area; throwing boots in an attempt to get them through a tire hanging, getting a boot to stand up on a stump, and another that I have forgotten. (hopefully on the video or in pictures somewhere)
Lunch was prepared for us in this big barn. Tables were set up and we had a feast. Lunch consisted of flour (from the grist mill), mixed with eggs, bacon bits and cheese. I believe the call it (Fricka) and of course bread was served with the meal as well. Excellent!!! I goggled it but couldn't find any reference for the dish.
We had cinnamon-raising bread for desert. Wow! It was great as well.
After this we danced a little, two different dances – lots of fun – one was an individual dance and the other was a partner dance. Lots of fun as well.
Now a unique cultural experience waits for you! Learn more about the traditional life, e.g. folk dance lessons and farmer's Olympics! Afterward enjoy a delicious traditional meal.
Servicemarks: Please tell your group to wear comfortable shoes and in case of bad weather extra clothes.
Your destination today is the historic town of Friesach in the beautiful Austrian province of Carinthia! Friesach is over 800 years old and hods historical significance as one of the most powerful cities along the Vienna to Venice trade route.
Join in splendid evening of authentic Medieval games , including archery or chavelot, followed by an opulent banquet!
After our dancing was completed, maybe 2:00 or 2:30, it was a late lunch, we left Sirnitz and continued on the the historic town of Friesach.
Tonight we will be staying in a tent. It has started to rain. :( This is the first rain we have seen, but it is a chilly rain as well because of how high up we are. When we arrived in Friesach we set ourselves up in our tents, which actually were in this huge barn-like structure. Lights were low, and in the tents there really weren't any lights. Flashlights were at a premium as well as anyway to plug our electronics into, light sockets were few. There were 4- 6 or 8 per tent, but they were huge with cots and heavy feather blanket, very warm, it will be a good sleeping night tonight. Cold outside the blankets but warm under.
Unfortunately the bathrooms were outside and it was raining. Taking care of personal tasks during the night and before bed tasks should be interesting. One good thing is that they have heaters in them so it is warm in there when you go out. It never really stopped raining and grew colder and colder through the night. (There was also thunder and lightning in the night as well.)
After getting things stowed away we headed to dinner, in the rain of course. It wasn't to far of a walk and we were back inside. We sat around tables that were set up in rows, opposite each other, with delegates on both sides of the table. Dinner consisted of fried chicken (legs and thighs), pork ribs and potatoes. They were cut in hind-quarters style. It was probably the best meal yet, all you could eat, they kept bringing more. There was bread as well. Of course desert, strudel, oh my, with whipped cream on the side. Throughout dinner and at the end we had entertainment on the stage and around us.
A couple of ladies and lords were elected and crowned as Ladies and Lords, knights were knighted. David and ______, Alex and Elizabeth. They were given a certificate as well. Scotty went into the torture ring that spun around, and Hannah and Curtis put on this neck lock apparatus. (see video)
After dinner we headed outside to the courtyard to so medieval games; archery, something like horseshoes, and nut smashing. After the competitions and winners were announced we headed downstairs for a disco dance. We were supposed to do a campfire but to nasty, rainy – cold – etc. After gobs of fun dancing we headed back to our home for the night. It was about 9:15. Everyone hung around, sort of got ready for bed...visited....and before you know it the time arrived for bed.
Alex stood guard at the door and sort of helped people in and out of the barn to the bathrooms. That was actually quite helpful as the door outside was very big and difficult to open and close. Plus you needed an umbrella because it was storming quite hard outside.
Sleep tight, should tonight, thunder..... Wake up 8:15 Tomorrow I believe, a little later.
Tonight, you will sleep at the foot of a medieval castle wall. Dress warmly and enjoy your unique accommodations in one of several pavilion tents.
Austria
An electric mix of Hungarian, Italian, and German influences, Austria (“Osterreich”) is a complex country, sophisticated and urbane yet respectful of rural culture and traditions. While the modern republic of Austria is relatively small, its magnificent landscape and rich cultural heritage, epitomized by the city of Vienna, have ensured that the country maintains a significant profile within Europe. This cultural importance owes much to its illustrious past as part of the mighty Habsburg Empire. The Habsburgs, whose name once virtually symbolized Austria, rose from medieval obscurity to become lords of almost half of Europe. Their state – and with it Austria-Hungariaon Empire – collapsed in 1918 in the Wake of WWI. But every town, city, and hamlet in the land bears the stamp of their former grandeur in the form of flamboyant palaces, splendidly appointed baroque churches, genteel spas, and meticulously manicured country parks.
Vienna is the principal focus of interest in Austria, because of its astonishing richness of architecture, world-famous museums, and a musical tradition that outshines most other European capitals. Salzburg too, with its many sights associated with Mozart – including his birthplace – is an essential destination for anyone with an interest in the life and music of the composer. The Habsburgs considered the city of Innsbruck, set in the spectacular mountain province of Tyrol, especially attractive, thus ensuring a particularly rich array of buildings in the old part of town.
Modern Austria is a federation of nine individual provinces: Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Burgenland, Styria, Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and the city of Vienna. Three-quarters of the land is Alpine, and skiing and mountaineering are not only major tourist attractions but an integral part of the country's culture. However, Austria's landscape is a varied one, and vineyards, castles, and lakeside villages also rank among the touring highlights. The River Danube, as it winds across Europe, flows for about 350 kilometers (217 miles) through the northern part of Austria. For many years the polluted river was a major embarrassment, bu a determined cleaning operation is already showing the fruits of success.
Food and Drink
Austria
Austrian cuisine is German in essence, but modified by Italian, Magyar, Slavic, and Parisian influences. The traditional menu centers around meat dishes, of which the “Wiener Schnitzel” (veal fried in breadcrumbs) is the best known. A Viennese classic is “Tafelspitz”, boiled beef often served with a slice of liver and seasoned with horseradish sauce. Other favorites include beef goulash and “Schopsernes”, a mutton stew, often preceded by “Frittatensuppe” (a soup containing pieces of pancake). In the provinces, one may try “Bauernschmaus”, a mixed meat plate with dumplings and “Sauerkraut”, (pickled cabbage), or “Trioler Gerostl”, small pieces of boiled veal fried with egg and potatoes. The level of formality exercised in grand old Viennese restaurants may baffle visitors from Anglo-Saxon lands. This contrasts with the informality of “Beisein”, modestly priced establishments that often feature wooden benches and a single hot dish to accompany the wine or beer, and the jolly informality of “Heurigen”, the traditional wine taverns of the Vienna area.
Carinthia
Austria's southernmost province, Carinthia (“Karnten”), enjoys a mild climate moderated by the Mediterranean winds. It promotes itself as the “Austrian Riviera” o account of its many lakes (notably Worther See, Millstatter See and Weiber See). The Carinthian lake region offers some of the prettiest Alpine scenery in Austria, although the mountains here are not high enough for serious skiing. The chief attractions of the province lie close to Klagenfurt, the provincial capital. They include the historic towns of St. Veit and Gurk, the pilgrimage center of maria Saal, the Hochosterwitz Castle, the elegant resort of Velden, and Europa-Park on Worther Lake.
Friesach
Friesach, Carinthia's oldest town, is without doubt a total work of art that is extremely well worth seeing. In the High Middle Ages, the town achieved a European dimension as a religious and cultural center. Both the town itself and the surrounding “Hemma Region” contain countless historically unique architectural monuments, embedded in an idyllic and unspoiled landscape that invites the visitor to stay a while.
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