250 years old - Ottobeuren Basilica

Today a large celebration in the basilica to commemorate it's completion in 1766 after 55 years of squabbling and building. The adjoining abbey was founded in 764 and during the 12th & 13th centuries became increasingly important with closer contacts to Rome. Since secularisation in 1802 it has belonged to the state of Bavaria.

So to commemorate, my offering - makes a change from tractors.

In addition today was also the annual Regional market Sunday. Lots of handcrafts and many of the shops opened including the butchers we use- Fischbach. Angie had shot off there this morning at 10:00 to get four of their famous "Finger Haxn" - mini pork knuckle roasts that they always sell on this day at their hot snacks counter at the shop. Later learnt they had roasted 140 and were sold out in one hour. Of course they had other roasts and burger type things and did a good trade in their Spätzle (egg/flour/water) dishes. I was very unchristian and sent Bliper Nogbad photos of the Haxn together with the huge pot of gravy that came with them - as a former resident of Munich, Haxn were once part of his staple diet.

In a large magazine published by the town this week to allow the businesses in the town to describe themselves on full or half page format, Fischbach had taken the full page and filled it with a superb text advocating less consumption of meat but then good quality, regional products, once or twice a week and otherwise more vegetable, flour, noodle/pasta, potato, milk and cheese dishes. The shop also has a selection of organic veg, eggs, local cheese and fish. As they wrote : food is more than just having a full stomach. Well done the Fischbachs.

Oh and by the way there were several dozen oldtimer tractors on display. A selection of photos and videos of what went on can be seen on Flickr. I don't want to upset the tractor fans, do we?