"Jean B." schrieb :
> Michael Kuettner wrote:
>
>> I lived there until I was 8 years old.
>> Then we moved to another city. But I spent my summer holidays
>> in my old home.
>> It was just 500 metres away from the cathedral. When you've heard
>> Bach's Toccata in this building, you're changed forever.
>> Those accoustics ...
>
> I'm sure it would give me chills....
>
Here's a picture of it. It looks like this since 1438.
<http://www.kath-kirche-graz.org/cms/content/view/full/98>

>> Luckily, most cities in my country have old towns (the centers).
>> Everything later than 1500 is considered "modern" ;-)
>
> I really wish I had lived in Europe for awhile. The history, the
> architecture, etc. would have been just thrilling for me.
>>
>> Should I tell the story of how my "Garum" exploded ? ;-)
>>
>
> Uh, yes. Please do.
>
OK. First the disclaimer :
Don't try this at home, kids !

One fine springday in Italy, I caught 2 kilos of small fish and put them
in an earthenware jug. I put in some herbs and filled up with salt water.
Next I formed a lid from clay and stuck a metal pipe in it in a 45 deg
angle, so that gases could escape and no rain come in.
I put the lid on the pot, smeared more clay to seal the jug and put it in
a sunny place in the garden (garum needs 2 years to "ripen").
One fine springday in the following year, my neighbours were gardening
(the story is what they told me, I wasn't in Italy on that day).
Suddenly thy heard a <WHOOOMPHH> and a piece of pipe sailed into
their garden.
When examining it, they saw a very dead mouse stuck in it.
Next they noticed a certain <ahem> aroma of fish. Looking into our
garden, they saw bits of fish everywhere.
Five minutes after that happened, the first cats arrived. Followed
by more and more as they got the scent. The garden looked like it was
wearing a fur-coat. They devoured every last bit of fish and licked
the grass, shards and bushes clean.
Summary : My experiment seems to have been a success; at least the feral
cats thought so ;-)

Cheers,

Michael Kuettner