LINZ, AUSTRIA ......AND SALZBURG, AUSTRIA

Linz, Austria

Linz, Austria

Linz, Austria

"walking tour"

Cathedral in Linz, Austria

St. Peter's Cemetery- fascinating!
Salzburg

Salsburg shopping area- only this type of sign permitted
No golden arches!

This is a view out our coach window on our way to Salzburg
Just a bit of beauty!

We are in front of "Baroque Trinity Column"
In Linz, Austria main square
(completed in 1723)

Taken out our coach window on the way to Salzburg
Solar Panel "Farm"

This cute Austrian school boy was intently listening to his teacher
until he noticed me taking photos.
Then he turned towards the camera and smiled!

Inside the cathedral
Salzburg

Beautiful detail in the architecture!
Salzburg

Main shopping street in Salzburg

It is Saturday morning here (11:30 am) in Pasau, Germany. I am still a day behind in my posting. They keep you so busy on this ship! We are having a marvelous time and seeing such beautiful scenery, cathedrals, buildings and lots of local color. We have met great people on board from all over, mostly retired: NY policeman, doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, a butcher, (no candlestick maker!)

Now about our tours yesterday in Linz and then on to Salzburg. Oh yes, I probably will cut down on posting quite so many photos, and limit myself to a good sampling.

Linz, Austria is the capital of upper Austria and the 3rd largest city in Austria. Linz is home to a large steel and chemical manufacturing plant. Sounds not so pleasant, but it is really quite a lovely city, especially in the old, historic part. The main sights are the Plague Column in the center of town, St Mary's Cathedral, the Brucker House concert hall, the Lentos Art Museum on the banks of the Danube, and Linz Castle. The Linz Castle is first documented in 799!!! It was rebuilt in 1477.

After our walking tour of Linz, we boarded a coach bus for about a 2 hour ride to Salzburg. The countryside of Austria is so beautiful.....rolling green hills and well kept farms. The views out our bus windows (and we sat right in the front) reminded me of a postcard that you would see of the Austrian countryside!!!

Salzburg.....what an amazing destination! I can see why this city is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is primo! Do you all remember that Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and the "home" of the Sound of Music? We had a lovely walking tour seeing many of the sights of the town.......fabulous city!!

We hope this post finds you all well....off to have some delicious lunch (on board) as we just left the town of Passau, Germany on our way to Vilshofen, Germany. We both send our love.......

Tired Post

After an early walking tour of Durnstein, a cruise on up to Melk, and a tour of the famous Melk Abbey, we are tired tonight so will create a better report tomorrow. We love you, Gene & Jo

MELK and DURNSTEIN, AUSTRIA

Approaching the courtyard to the Melk Abbey


The Melk Abbey Courtyard

Outside the Abbey

Who is that cute couple?

Inside the very ornate baroque Abbey

Inside the Melk Abbey

Melk, Austria

After visiting the Abbey we walked back through town

Photo taken at dusk on our walk back to the ship

I took this photo for Emma!

No swimming for me!

(The temp outside is really cold - 10 degrees Celsius (about 42 F )

Durnstein, Austria

So charming!

Narrow street in Durnstein

Another beautiful building in Durnstein

No chaining to this post for you!

(This is a place where people that had wronged their community were punished.)

Apricot harvest is big in the spring - There are many stores selling every product imaginable

made out of apricots!

Stroll in Durnstein among the beautiful autumn leaves

Part of the rampart of the old wall in Durnstein

castle on the hill where King Richard the lion-hearted was detained We are beginning our walking tour of Durnstein

HOPEFULLY THESE PICTURES WILL TELL A THOUSAND WORDS!

Again, it is a late night...almost 11:30 pm. I have been trying to get better from a cold/allergies. Crazy...with the sinus headache so bad yesterday. However, we did stop at the pharmacy in Melk in Durnstein and picked up some medicine for me. I am quite a bit better today. Thank goodness! I don't want to miss a thing!!!

This cruise and tour has been SO FABULOUS! We are seeing and experiencing so much. The Melk Abbey was is one of the most important buildings of baroque architecture in Europe! Wow, it is so ornate! Since 1089 the Abbey has been a Benedictine monastery, founded by Leopold II. Our cruise director in fact attended school there. They presently have 9oo students.

Durnstein is such a charming town that we both thoroughly enjoyed. The Kuenringer Castle ruins you saw in a photo is where the English King Richard the Lionhearted was held prisoner in 1192.

Well.....this is going to be the end of my post for now. The Internet shut down and I lost some of this post......look below this writing for a few more photos??????? love you all

view of the blue church
Durnstein, Austria

Our very young captain showing us the ropes

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Which vinegar would you like? Vienna Marketplace

Statue of "Macho Man" at Schonbrunn Palace

Near Schonbrunn Palace

Top of Schonbrunn Palace featuring a "horizontal" clock with roman numerals

Gardens, fountains and hilltop memorial at Schonbrunn Palace

Back view of the Schonbrunn Palace facing the Hilltop memorial

Gilded gold Coronation coach for the Hopsburg Royalty at the coach museum

Roadway/Walkway from palace to carriage museum

Our maid's towel friend for today in our room make-up

Naschmarkt food market more than two blocks long with two aisles and shops both sides

Looking for food in all the right places!

Fresh coconut halves

(I took this photo for you, Rich!)

The famous Lipizzaner horses of the Spanish Riding School going to train

Who is telling the truth about this great adventure at this Vienna Toy Store?

Bus tour of Vienna - more fabulous baroque architecture-Parliament!!

Saint Stephens Church - Vienna

Inside Saint Stephens Church - Vienna

Another beautiful church in Vienna - taken out our tour bus window

Strauss-Mozart Concert - with Opera Singers

(and a few bald heads!)

Concert Venue at Musikverein in Vienna Tues night

A modernistic cylindrical building in Vienna

Viewing the 2nd lock from the bow of the ship

(This was just before docking in Vienna)

VIENNA, AUSTRIA ...............this has been a VISUAL FEAST! Vienna is the capital of Austria with 1.7 million people. We learned from our tour guide that there are 86,000 university students in the city!!! This is a city of MANY beautiful buildings & churches with very ornate architecture (Baroque Style). Last night we attending a concert that was definitely a feast for the ears... music of Mozart and Strauss! This morning we traveled by "coach" (bus) to the city center and then walked the pedestrian streets with our guide to St. Stephens Cathedral and the surrounding shopping districts. In the afternoon, we traveled by coach again to the Schonbrunn Palace, one of the most famous palaces in all of Vienna. Spectacular......magnificent....amazing....grandeous...just a few of the adjectives describing this amazing city. We had a lovely dinner with some of our "buds"- Mary Ann and Peter from the U.K. Now we are in our room.....exhausted and hoping to get a good nights rest.....and get to bed before 12 midnight! We are seeing so much and loving it all.
Glad you're enjoying reading our posts and viewing our photos......sending lots of love

We are now sending this post at 8:30 am coming to Durnstein, Austria...stay tuned. xoxoxo