Day 8 (5) -- Melk to Vienna -- Wachau Valley

A chilly morning arrival with snow all around welcomed us to Melk, home of Melk Abbey, a Benedictine order established in 1089. With its extensive library beginning in the 13th century, it is home to countless early manuscripts.

Melk Abbey from the Danube approach

The bus dropped us off at the entrance, which is opposite the cliffside. 

Approaching the entrance to the Abbey

A walk down the left side building takes one through beautiful public rooms, exiting on a veranda that overlooks the river.

One of the beautiful ceilings in the public rooms

The view of Melk from the Abbey veranda

Then the visitor makes a 180° turn to the right to enter the main library.

From there, we exited the room and descended down a spiral staircase, which opened up into the chapel.

St. John the Baptist Altar

A glass sarcophagus with the skeleton of a catacomb saint lies on the St. John the Baptist altar, which is along the right side of the chapel. It is a gift to the monastery from Maria Theresa (1717-1780) and first displayed here in 1762. The saint is unknown.

After the chapel tour, we walked back to the boat via the town of Melk. Things were quiet in the town as it was only around 11:30 a.m. when we passed through.

   In town looking up to the Abbey

Swan preparing for flight
(courtesy of CPF3)

It remained cold and snowing as we re-boarded the ship. The nearby swans swimming in the river did not seem to be affected, however. We then spent the next few hours gliding down the Danube through the Wachau Valley as we made our way to Vienna.

By late afternoon the sun came out and made it very pleasant to sit in the lounge watching the river side go by.

One of the sights to see was a castle ruin on the outskirts of Dürnstein, known as where Richard the LionHeart was imprisoned as he returned from the Crusades, along with the blue Dürnstein Abbey tower in the city.

Cruising past Durnstein with its castle ruins (upon the hill, center)

We arrived late afternoon for our visit to Vienna. That evening we attended a "concert" of Strauss/Mozart music--an optional offering by the cruise line. With tight seating on hard chairs, and an orchestra of 15 or so, if ever offered this pricey opportunity, I recommend you pass.

Our docking spot on the Danube in Vienna
(most of the city is behind the viewer)

Day 7 (4) -- Passau

After dark in Regensburg (night 3), the cruise pulled away from the dock and headed for Passau. River levels were fine and we arrived in Passau in early morning around 8:30 a.m., tying up to another boat with "prime" docking space (which Viking advertises in their brochures).  It wasn't as close as they bragged, but it wasn't too bad. It was a little over a 1/2 mile walk from the boat to the cathedral.

Aerial map of Passau (courtesy of Google Maps)

But it was still winter (not like the above).

Coming into dock at Passau--we will tie up to the boat in the photo, and walk across
the top deck and down again to get to land. Note the cathedral in the background (round domes).

Off we went on a walking tour of the city, ducking in one building to admire the ceiling, then more walking to arrive at Cafe Simon for their gingerbread demonstration.

Building ceiling

outside Cafe Simon looking towards the local Catholic Church

We headed over to St. Stefan's Cathedral. This one is different from many others in Europes in that the interior is done not in Gothic, but in a later Baroque style, as it was not begun until the 1600's. Said to hold the world's largest cathedral organ, they do not play it after November 1st, so we were not able to hear it.

A view of St. Stefan's interior

Tourists taking their photos, too.

The cherub's leg dropping from the ceiling painting is actually three-dimensional.

 There were three KrisKindl markets in Passau. We visited them all. Then it was back to the boat as it departed that evening for our next destination.

Day 6 (3) - Nuremberg to Regensburg

Late the previous day we left port heading through multiple canals and locks. It was definitely winter.

The front deck the first night.

That morning we were dropped off at Kelheim, where a uniquely shaped war memorial building is located.
But we were just boarding the buses to get a jump on the day at Regensburg. A walking tour of the city, showing the first bridge across the river, along with the cathedral, and then off to visit more Christmas markets!

Grabbing the bus at Kelheim

                      

Regensburg Cathedral

A view of the main Christmas market

Enjoying a Gluwein

On the old bridge looking back at Regensburg

We stayed until after dinner, then it was on to Passau!