Today we are leaving Vienna for a day trip along the Danube River. We take a train from Vienna to a beautiful little town called Melk.

 

 

There is a huge Benedictine Abbey on the top of the hill here.  It is stunning!! The views from the Abbey are also stunning as it overlooks the Danube River.

 

We stroll through the Abbey. Some very cool info on the beginnings of this place. It was founded in 1089 when Leopold II gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from another abbey.

 

It contains an amazing library. We were not allowed to take photos inside, quite a disapointment. It was unbelievable. We had to exit the Abbey down this spiral staircase.

 

 

It goes all the way to the top of the towers and finishes with snakey railings.

 

 

We are now boarding the boat for a cruise down the Danube to
another town called Krems. We have heard that this is one of the nicest sections of the Danube. We see this lovely castle alongside the river. It isn’t in ruins, so we feel it being used even today.

 

There is agriculture along the river too. Narrow terraces line the river. Grapes we are thinking.

 

 

 

It is a very hot day and we see lots of people enjoying the river. A nice little beach here.

 

 

 

Another ruined castle towering over the Danube.

 

 

 

We drop off and pickup some passengers in a little place called Durnstein. It has this beautiful baroque tower and the ruins of a caslte high above it.

 

 

We arrive in Krems. One of the first things we see is this. I am posting this to Rob on Stu’s instructions!

 

 

It is Sunday and this town is almost closed tight. The streets are deserted and we find it difficult to find a place for a drink. We had planned to have dinner here before heading back to Vienna. Change of plans 🙂

 

A large goup of elder cyclists goes past us.

 

 

 

 

Once they are gone, the street is almost deserted.

 

 

 

We head to the train station to head back to Vienna. We will find dinner there. We are reminded that Sundays many many businesses close. Even in Vienna many restaurants are closed as are grocery stores and other shops.

We eat Italian again. We are goulashed and schnitzelled out.