This morning our ship docks at Passau, one of the most beautiful Baroque cities in Germany. This former frontier town between German and Austria is known as “The Town of the Three Rivers”. The town lies at the junction of the Inn, the Danube and the small river Liz. The old town, with its baroque churches and patrician houses sits on a narrow piece of land separating the Inn and the Danube.
On the far bank of the Danube is the grand Oberhaus Fortress which was very important for the protection of the old part of the town against enemy attacks. The city of Passau has a 2000 year old history. Its walls still stand as proof of the presence of the Roman armies, the fortress of Bojodurum, the troops led by Charlemagne against the Avars, the campaigns of the crusaders, the Turkish battles, and Napoleon’s soldiers.
The medieval historical centre of Passau is located between the Danube and the Inn Rivers. The narrow cobbled streets, arched tunnels and impressive buildings make this town a delight to explore.
The great symbol of Passau is the impressive gothic architecture of St Stephen’s Cathedral which has impressive outside and a spectacular interior. Our guided tour includes the river shore, city hall, the bishops’ residence and the cathedral. Both the residence and the cathedral are decorated with amazing frescoes and ornate carvings.
After our tour we have some free time to meander through the lovely streets and to explore the quaint shops. The weather is much warmer today and everyone seems brighter and cheerier.
This afternoon we set sail for our final destination, the quaint village of Vilshofen. We have a busy afternoon and evening planned for our last bit of time on the ship. We enjoy a wonderful lunch in the dining room then settle in the comfy chairs at the front of the lounge to enjoy the scenery and to observe as the captain and his crew guides our ship through one of the many locks. It’s quite amazing watching the water rise and the gates slowly open to allow us passage through the lock. It seems so effortless but we know it takes great skill, knowledge and team work to navigate through the lock.
This afternoon our ship docks at Vilshoven. The town lies on the edge of the southern Bavarian Forest where the Vils and the Wolfach flow into the Danube River. From the hill above you can see the twin spires of the Benedictine monastery of Schweiklberg. This evening the village of Vilshoven welcomes us with a festival and celebration the Bavarian way with local music and beer. They have tables set up on the dock alongside our ship. The oompapa band is playing and there’s great excitement and camaraderie as we celebrate our final evening in Bavaria. What a great treat!
Dinner this evening is a special treat; it’s the Captain’s Farewell Dinner. Everyone looks fabulous in their formal attire and the great bonding of the group is evident as they snap photos with their friends. This has been a delightful cruise and everyone seems happy and satisfied. Our dining experience was wonderful once again and the staff proudly parades through the dining room with sparkling baked Alaska. Everyone claps and cheers and you can feel the excitement in the air. It’s going to be very difficult to bid farewell to this lovely ship and the fabulous staff.
The men from our Burlington gang have such a great sense of humour. They look fabulous in their first class tuxedo t shirts.
We dance to Krassis’ fine music and the groups laughter is evidence that once again they are having a fabulous time together. What a wonderful group of people we have on this trip.
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