Donau Walzer: Passau 1

The bus dropped us off at the Viking Legend tour boat around 1:00 PM, our home for the next week. We were told that we were the first voyage for the boat this season, so our staterooms were ready for us and we could board immediately. The concierge, David offered to take my rucksack, and I told him to take my mom's. He kindly said that he would take both of our bags. Mom and I were curious to see how big our room was and were pleasantly surprised at its roominess and the full length sliding glass doors on our A level cabin. She was ready to go out and explore the town, but I had to nap first. What a bummer! It was very difficult, but I let her go out on her own and I laid down to try and rest. When I awoke later, I searched the boat for her, but she was nowhere to be found. No surprise, she was probably still out in Passau exploring. So, I grabbed my camera and a map and went out to see the sights of Passau.

The first thing I spied was a lovely iron door sconce in the coat of arms of Passau. How cool is this mermaid door handle? A Ferrari roared by and I caught it with my camera. A German couple at a café. Childrens' lederhosen and dirndels for sale at a souvenier shop. A view across the Danube with another tour boat and the Veste Oberhaus . A view up an alley offers a glimpse of St. Stephen's Cathedral. Spring flowers in a windowbox. Passau town hall or Rathaus. Flood markings on the tower of the Rathaus. A shot of the Veste Oberhaus where the date of 1499 can be clearly seen. A closeup of the figures on the side of the Rathaus. A view up an alley; note the religious bas-relief on the building. Two photos of the small bridge over the Danube in lower Passau. The view back up the Danube. A man stands and paddles his yellow kayak on the Danube river. An irresistable spitz puppy dog. Over the water is Austria. Another small church with much painted decoration. More of the Veste Oberhaus. A woman holds her minipinscher; isn't it the cutest??? The view across the Inn River of the Mariahilf Pilgrimage Church. A young family makes their way up the walk along the Inn. More of the Mariahilf Church. The Shaiblingsturm, a midieval tower, guards the Inn River. It was not at all uncommon for buildings to have paintings of religious or important people on them; this inset is of a king. This chihuahua/minpin mix was so tiny, I thought it was a rat! But isn't it the sweetest?

I looked at my watch and it had gotten very late! I rushed back the the boat and reconnected with my mom. She had walked all the way up to St. Stephen's and went inside! But we will do that tomorrow on the guided tour!

Donau Walzer: Munich to Passau

Mom and I were so excited to land in Munich and for our Viking ‘Danube Waltz’ Cruise to begin. But first, we had to take a bus from Munich to Passau to meet our boat, the Viking Legend. We got our bags and wandered past customs without being stopped; heard folks calling out to us “Ladies!”. They were the Viking people in red jackets. After waiting a few moments we were on the Viking bus and heading out for a half hour drive to Passau. I sanpped a photo of a Luftansa jet past our seatmates across from us.

Rather quickly, we passed over a canal we did not know the name of; but how stunning is this landscape? Plus, it is already spring here! Look at the leaves! Wow! A motorcyclist! Look how green the hills are! The forsythia are in bloom!

We could see this tower of white smoke from miles away and wondered what it was. Also, note the solar farms. When we got closer, we could see that it was a steam cooler from a nuclear plant.

We also notices Orthodox Catholic churches with onion domes dotted the landscape. Someone rides a large white horse. Old contrasts with new as an onion dome church looms up behind a solar farm. Down the road, we could see the foothills of the Alps. Another onion dome church. Another onion dome church. A twin tower gothic church. Another onion dome church. An onion dome and a Gothic spire church. Cyclists were everywhere! There was industry along the Danube as well. An onion dome on the river.

A larger onion dome church in Passau. A tour boat named after Sissi, Empress Elizabeth of Austria cruises in Passau. Colorful houses line the Danube in Passau. We have arrived!

I have returned from my voyage!

I am completely exhausted but we had a wonderful trip! The weather was Spring-like, Viking was amazing and the sights were stunning. I will post my hundreds of photos over the near future. Sit back and enjoy!

This was my dessert at the Le Meridien Hotel in Budapest; a chestnut marcaron. The hotel was the height of luxury as the marble bathroom floors were heated.