Danube River Cruise - Vilshoven to Prague

Today we begin a new part of our journey as we travel from Bavaria to the Czech Republic.   Our coach departs the ship at 830am and heads to Regensburg for a walking tour of this quaint medieval village.

The old city of Regensburg dates back to 1155 and the medieval city is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Since it was spared from the bombing of WWII, it is the largest medieval city in all of Germany and has retained the medieval wall.  We walked through the new town and crossed the Romanesque Old Stone Bridge; dating back to 1146. The bridge was of great importance as it allowed all trade routes to cross the river with their treasures.   

This was a great trading centre and in 1809 was conquered by Napoleon.  In the old town you will find many large Patrician houses and towers influenced by Italian architecture, churches and narrow lanes lined by merchant and craftsmen’s houses.  Today these shops are filled with top quality unique items from the local area; handmade jewelry, knit wear, embroidered clothing and fabulous hats for men.  There are many historical buildings of significance; the  meeting hall were kings or their delegates gathered to discuss politics and set laws and the impressive Gothic Cathedral of St Stephens which took 300 years to build.  The spires of the Cathedral are 100 metres high.

After our tour we had free time to browse the shops or go for a quick lunch before getting back on the bus.  Some of us wound our way through the narrow streets back to the river’s edge to Wurst Kuche, a 500 year old dining establishment known for is sausage, sauerkraut and sweet spicy mustard.  The traditional Bavarian food combined with a nice cold beer is a delicious treat. 

We board the bus for our drive to the Prague.  Many of us have a nice nap and others enjoy the scenery of the Czech countryside.  After a few hours’ drive we arrive at the Hilton Old Town Hotel, our home for the next three nights.  Once checked in and bags stowed we embark on a one hour guided orientation tour to familiarize ourselves with the immediate area.  The weather is warmer, the sun is shining and the streets are bustling with activity.  I can see by the smiling faces that everyone is looking forward to their stay in this fabulous city. Lida, our experienced guide has timed our arrival to the main square perfectly.  We stop in front of the astronomical clock just in time for the bells to ring and the clock springs to life with activity.  Figures dance on the sides and some move through an opening up above the large clock face.  What a site to see.  The man in the tower blows his bugle to signal the hour and once he stops large crowd disperses.  What a way to end the tour and right in the heart of the old city. 

Our large group separates into smaller groups and move on to search out the perfect restaurant.  Our choice is Staromestske, a great little restaurant on the edge of the square. The menu offers a wide variety of traditional Czech cuisine.  I’ve chosen a tasty cabbage salad, chicken schnitzel and potato salad.  It was delicious!  A fabulous meal and a great way to end a wonderful day, then off to bed early to rest up for tomorrow’s busy day of touring Prague.

 Prague at night is spectacular.  The buildings are just as beautiful or even better.  I love this city.

Danube River Cruise -- Passau & Vilshoven

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.

Danube River Cruise - Linz & Salzberg

This morning our ship has docked in Linz, capital of upper Austria and third largest city in Austria.  The population is nearly 200,000 and there is plenty of employment.

 Our day begins with a walking tour of the old city. The main sights are the Plague column in the centre of town, St Mary’s cathedral, the Bruckner House concert hall and the Trinity Column located in the main square.  This is one of Austria’s most attractive closed squares and it is here that stands the 20 metre high Baroque Trinity Column which was completed in 1723.  It is carved out of white marble by Sebastian Stumpfegger and bears three inscriptions.  These announce the dedication of the column to the Holy Trinity by the guilds, the Emperor and the people of Linz in gratitude from deliverance from the dangers of war (1704), fire (1712) and plague (1712).  The column is flanked by the patron saints Sebastian, Florian and Carlo Borromeo.

The homes on the square are only 3 stories high and 3 windows wide and go back quite a ways.  The reason for the narrow homes was to avoid paying a large tax.  Any home wider than 3 windows would be subject to a higher tax.  

Today was quite chilly; the temperature is 15 degrees lower than usual and everyone is bundled in layers of clothing and gloved hands to keep warm.  We were glad to return to the ship to warm up.  I think everyone had the hot soup for lunch.  This afternoon the group split off according to the optional tour chosen.  Some went to Salzburg, some to Cesky Krumlov and others to the Lake District.
My choice of tour was Salzburg for a nice stroll through this charming town.  We begin at the rose gardens, made famous in the movie "Sound of Music" where the children danced and sang the song "Do Rae Me". Then over the foot bridge into the ancient town to view the birthplace of Mozart,  past the farmers market, through the narrow passage ways and on to the main square where we find the beautiful baroque cathedral.  

 After our tour some of us visit Café Tomeselli, one of the oldest in Austria. Here we indulge in delicious hot chocolate and decadent apple strudel topped with fresh whipped cream.  Who’s counting calories?  Not me. It sure was delicious!

 Afterwards we took a stroll along the narrow cobbled streets browsing in the quaint shops and snapping photos of the store fronts, signs and wonderful little streets.  Salzburg is certainly a gem of a city not to be missed.  We bid our farewell and board our bus for the 2 hour ride back to Linz and our river ship.

This evening’s dinner was delectable with goose pate, sweet potato soup with a hint of chili and my main course was delicious roast duck, and of course more fabulous Austrian wine.  They sure go through a lot of wine at dinner.  It’s going to be so difficult going home to my boring dinners.

 The entertainment this evening was “La Strada”, a very talented trio that played a mix of classical and gypsy music.  Everyone enjoyed the entertainment and gave the musicians a few standing ovations.  Fabulous!