Melk - A Town on the Danube

Melk is an Austrian town in the Wachau Valley around 50 miles west of Vienna known for the 11th Century abbey above the town. It is renowned for having one of the largest monastic libraries in the world. It is a Benedictine monastery which follows the concept of staying in one place and shaping it sustainably. It is written as Stift Melk on maps in German. The Baroque garden pavillion is a special feature of the Abbey Garden which was opened in the year 2000. It hosts special events like International Baroque Music days. The Wachau region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been settled since prehistoric times.

Lower Austria

Lower Austria is one of the nine states of Austria, with capital Sankt Polten, and sits in the northeastern corner of Austria. Its German name is Niederosterreich. Its population is around 1.7m. It has rivers, mountains, lakes and natural caves. It borders Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

The Hofburg Imperial Palace

Construction began in 1275 in the reign of King Ottakar, and decades later, when the Habsburgs came to power, they made it expanded and beautiful. From 1533 numerous generations of Habsburgs made their own additions. They ruled territories of Austria, Hungary and Spain. The Habsburg Monarchy collapsed at the end of World War I with the fall of Austro-Hungarian Empire. The House of Habsburg takes its name from a castle (Schloss) in Switzerland. Many statues adorn the grounds of the Hofburg palace.

What is a Type F Plug?

Type F plugs are two pronged plugs common in Germany, Austria and Netherlands, as well as Spain, Greece and Portugal. Also known as Schuko, it was invented by engineer/entrepreneur Albert Büttner in Germany in 1925. They are not used in France.

Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University is in Middletown Connecticut. Its values include boldness, rigor and practical idealism. Wilbur Fisk was its first President in 1831. Its name comes from John Wesley the founder of Methodism. Its initial focus was on the liberal arts.

Kharif Crops

Kharif crops are also known as monsoon or autumn crops. 

"Kharif" means autumn in Arabic, and "autumn" is when the crops are harvested (sowing happens in the monsoon). Monsoon happens around June to November in India, depending on the area. The crops are generally harvested from the third week of September to October.

Rice is the major Kharif crop of India.

POPS and POPOS

POPS are privately owned public spaces, and POPOS are privately owned public open spaces. They are prevalent in London, New York and San Francisco.