Spring Travel Journal Part 3 - Schenna and Meran

Dominic's Birthday Flowers, 10" x 7" watercolours and watercolour pencils

Blog 25


During our stay in Schenna, it rained a lot. However, on Dominic’s birthday, we enjoyed lots of sunshine. Ingo and I walked to the heart of Schenna to the church hill with breathtaking views of the mountains and apple orchards.

 

 

Later, we all drove to the spectacular Partschins waterfall. Part of our group hiked up the mountain to the top of the waterfall. Ingo’s aunt and I wanted to drive up. We were up three-quarters of the steep road when the car stopped in a curve in the middle of the road. Luckily, a biker helped us to start and turn the car around.

 

 

 

Our meeting point was the Jausenstation (restaurant, Austrian German) Dursterhof. We were in awe of the complex containing the restaurant and several houses. The owner and his sons built them into the rocks of the mountain. They are still working on an underground market area. 

 

In the sun, with a breathtaking view of mountains and villages, we shared one of their famous raspberry specialties, the raspberry yogurt torte, and a delicious Kaiserschmarrn (Austrian sugared torn pancake).

 

At night, we went to the restaurant, Moesl in Mera. We received a cartwheel-size pizza each that could have fed a family. I am not sure whether the locals eat so much or whether they want to impress visitors. The leftovers were still enough for the next dinner. 

It rained so hard the following day that Ingo’s cousin offered us a dumpling cooking session. We made mouthwatering spinach and red beet dumplings that we will make again in Canada.

In the afternoon, we visited the Villa Freischütz in Meran. In the former home of the merchant family Fromm, we glimpsed into their lives and collections.

Image: Cushion from the villa (Dress nicely and laugh, then you are pretty.)

 

Despite the rainy weather, I painted the Meraner Röschen (a rose without thorns) from the living room window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the rainy weather continued the next day, I went to Meran with Ingo’s aunt, where arcades called Laubengänge kept us dry. I could not miss a stop at an art and crafts store where I bought the Italian watercolour pad I used for my painting during our stay.

In the afternoon, Ingo's cousin and I visited the Protestant Christuskirche (Christ Church). The church has beautiful stained glass windows and a statue of Christ outside of the church tower made from Laas marble. The church is also the venue for concerts and art exhibitions. The current one displayed the fascinating impact of Luther on the development of the German language.