2017-07-08

【Aiden in English】

        Viking River Cruises are quite the adult ones. They primarily offer formal meals, bars for recreation, libraries, and lounges, which are distinct from those on an ocean ship, targeting a younger age group. Therefore, this trip could not be complete without a large portion of alcohol.

        You know what? Wine isn't anything special. But wine is made from crushed grape juice, with a little added liquid. However, stupid sounding or not, there is a much more powerful force than adults stopping me from consuming tons of wine at a time: the law. Yet, I do have a sneaking suspicion that Austria doesn't have a legal drinking age.

        Today's shore excursion took us to three hot spots in Austria: the 11^th-century magnificent Melk Abbey, the 12^th-century picturesque Dürnstein, and the 15^th-century medieval wine brewery Krems. They had their unique highlights, each with its own symbolic sight. But Krems is set apart simply because of Gruner Veltliner and Grüner Veltliner right in the Wachau Valley. Austria is apparently quite famous for its wine due to the large production of grapes. It also has a lot of apricots, but that's a story for another time.

        Mom and I signed up for a wine-tasting tour, which makes no sense as I will likely not taste anything worthwhile. But Mom insisted. 'Taste the culture!' Fine. However, upon arrival and our first wine, the hosting company gave me a glass of grape juice produced at Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13. Since I have a general idea of what wine tastes like, the grape juice was comparable to actual wine, thanks to numerous accidental occasions where a drop somehow ended up in my mouth. It was way too undiluted and too sweet.

        Nevertheless, I walked through the winemaking process during a guided lesson, which included a 4D movie, viewing various kinds of grapes, and even pretending to drink alcohol. I am, however, surprised at the popularity of wine in a beer-drinking country. I guess booze is booze in any form you put it.

        The countryside, formerly dominated by medieval castles and ancient kings, is now controlled by the grapevines and farmers. Upon reaching a high point in the Wachau Valley, I saw the enormous amounts of grapes in production along the hillsides, utilizing terraced areas. Like the Chinese style, the farmers carved long steps into the hillsides and then grew grapes using the flat areas. Throughout the growth section, many grape bunches would have to be cut off the stems to create less competition for nutrients. After a few months, the fruits would be picked by hand, and those picked are the best.

        Instead of advertising the process, I will say that the grape juice tastes nice and is not something you should order when traveling halfway around the globe. And even though I thought the wine tasting wasn't meant for me, it was still a great 'taste of culture' in my flavor.

【紅霞譯】

        維京“海盜”河流遊輪客源基本是成年人，主要提供正式餐飲、休閒酒吧、圖書櫃和娛樂室，與針對年輕人的航海遊輪大不相同，因此這次出遊如果沒喝足了酒都不能算完美。

        你知道為何嗎？其實葡萄酒本身沒啥特別，簡單說來就是把葡萄榨成汁並兌點迷魂湯罷矣，對不？然而甭管聽起來幼稚與否，比起父母管教，法律更能有效地叫我遠離酗酒，可我敢打賭奧地利根本沒有飲酒年齡限制。

        今天我們的行程安排包括奧地利三條旅遊熱線：11世紀奪人心魂的梅爾克“牛奶”修道院、12世紀風景如畫的杜倫施坦“干石”鎮以及15世紀古老傳統的克雷姆斯“岩石峭壁“城釀酒廠，每個目的地以其標誌性景觀各顯特色，但克雷姆斯尤以瓦豪“蜿蜒”河谷綠化白葡萄酒和雷司令兩種葡萄酒而引人注目，奧地利之所以葡萄酒名聲遠揚顯然因為盛產葡萄，當地杏樹郁然成林，不過以後另找時間談論這方面話題。

        我和媽媽登記品酒，對於滴酒不沾的少年來說簡直枉費此行，但媽媽堅持己見，要我“感受文化”！好咧，剛邁進大門，招待單位就把第一杯酒遞了上來，我喝的是本地克雷姆斯釀酒廠13號葡萄園生產的葡萄果汁飲料，其實以前由於無數次偶然機會，濺出酒杯的酒滴恰好不偏不倚落到我的嘴邊，因此我對酒味大致有點感知，葡萄汁實際上類似葡萄酒，充其量未經酒精稀釋而令人感覺口味過甜。接下來我聆聽生產流程講座，包括觀看四維電影，一併介紹各類葡萄，感覺像喝過酒似的。然而，我對愛喝啤酒的國度如此迷戀葡萄酒心存驚奇，看來酒畢竟是酒，弄成什麼玩意都招人待見。

        一度中世紀城堡林立君主統治橫行的鄉村如今早已變成葡萄藤遍野農民當家作主的田園，我們爬上瓦豪河谷制高點，山坡丘陵上隨處可見葡萄累累，與中國相似，老農開墾出一道道梯田並種植了一片片葡萄。葡萄生長過程中，為了避免僧多粥少減少營養浪費，很多葡萄枝被生生剪掉，歷經幾個月成熟之後再手工採摘果實，由此收穫的葡萄才是上等極品。

        眼下先別去搭理廣告天花亂墜，我覺得這兒葡萄果汁味道不錯，但千里迢迢登門拜訪並非只圖喝上一口，雖說當初我也不是衝着品酒來的，但身臨其境“感受文化”確實令人受益匪淺。

        2000年，瓦豪文化景觀被聯合國科教文組織納入《世界遺產名錄》。

Today in History(歷史上的今天):

2017: Melk Abbey, Austria(奧地利梅爾克“牛奶”城修道院)

2016: The Channel Islands, UK(英國海峽群島)

2016: Guernsey, the Donkey Island in UK(英國格西“綠”島·倔驢之地)

2016: Guernsey over the English Channel, UK(英國英吉利海峽格西“綠”島)

2014 World Cup—BRA vs. DEU(巴西對德國世界盃足球賽)

Viking Ingvi @ Melk Pier

(維京·英格維““海盜·豐饒神””號遊輪停泊在梅爾克“牛奶”河碼頭)

Rossatz-Arnsdorf @ L & Durnstein @ R 

(左：羅薩茨—阿恩斯多夫“露水—鷹村” | 右：杜倫施坦)

Vine-Clad Aggsbach (藤蔓覆蓋的阿格斯巴赫“聖潔溪流”)

Vine Terrace in Dürnstein (杜倫施坦·葡萄梯田)

Tausendeimerberg or Hill of a Thousand Buckets in Spitz

(斯皮茨“尖嘴犬”·陶森德伊默貝格“千桶山”)

Vineyard w/ the Steep & Rocky Terraces in Loiben

(洛伊本“榮耀”鎮·呈陡峭岩石梯田狀的葡萄園)

French Monument to commemorate the victory of the Austro-Russian troops against the NapoleonDürnstein at the Battle of Dürnstein in 1805, Oberloiben

(上洛伊本鎮·法國紀念碑——紀念1805年在杜倫施坦戰役中奧俄軍隊對拿破崙軍隊的勝利)

Holy Trinity Column in Krems (克雷姆斯·三位一體聖柱)

Holy Trinity Column in Krems (克雷姆斯·三位一體聖柱)

Cartoonmuseum in Krems (克雷姆斯·動漫博物館)

Danube University Krems (克雷姆斯多瑙河“激流”大學)

Old Town of Krems (克雷姆斯·老城)

Pulverturm above Krems River (克雷姆斯河上火藥塔)

Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13 (克雷姆斯釀酒廠·十三號沙坑)

Vine-Clad in Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13

(克雷姆斯釀酒廠十三號沙坑·葡萄藤 07-08-2017)

Wachau Valley w/ World-Class White Wines

(瓦豪河谷·擁有世界頂級的白葡萄酒 07-08-2017)

Wine Maker in the "Tuscany of Austria" on the Danube, Krems 

(克雷姆斯·多瑙河“奧地利的托斯卡納”釀酒師 07-08-2017)

Exhibition Hall, Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13 

(克雷姆斯釀酒廠十三號沙坑·展覽廳 07-08-2017)

Exhibition Hall, Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13 

(克雷姆斯釀酒廠十三號沙坑·展覽廳 07-08-2017)

Bottle Cellar of Wine Treasure, Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13 

(克雷姆斯釀酒廠十三號沙坑·葡萄酒庫瓶窖 07-08-2017)

Wine Treasure, Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13 

(克雷姆斯釀酒廠十三號沙坑·葡萄酒庫存)

Stainless Steel Tank of Wine Celler, Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13 

(克雷姆斯釀酒廠十三號沙坑·酒窖不鏽鋼罐)

Oak Wine Barrel, Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13 

(克雷姆斯釀酒廠十三號沙坑·橡木酒桶)

綠化白葡萄、雷司令葡萄

Wine Art (葡萄酒藝術 07-08-2027)

Austrian Country Dinner @ Viking Ingvi

(“維京·英格維”號遊輪——奧地利鄉間晚餐 07-08-2017)

Wachau Label @ Viking Ingvi

(“維京·英格維”號河流遊輪——瓦豪麵包 07-08-2017)

Diary Time @ Library on Viking Ingvi

(維京·英格維號遊輪圖書館裡寫日記 07-08-2017)

Crosslinks(相關博文):

Austria(出遊奧地利)

Europe(歐洲掠影)

8th Grade(初中三年級)