My bad. We did not wake up in Germany. We are making a short stop in Durnstein, Austria. It is a VERY small town built into the side of the hill. Think of Assisi without the statuary and religious goods stores. The village has 87 full time residents. With multiple cruise lines stopping to visit, the tourist count is 1.1 million visitors per year. The town is the home of a castle ruin in which Richard I had been held for ransom and the town is the home of a former Augustinian Monastery.
We pulled up anchor at 11:00 am and headed out. It was really the first day we did a significant amount of sailing while we were awake. The four of us sat up on deck while someone from the ship pointed out highlights and history.
There are miles and miles of terraced vineyards. Apricots are also a big thing here. Truth be told, I left the deck and took a nap.
Following lunch Cathy and I headed to Melk Abbey, a huge Benedictine Monastery. Currently, there are 22 Benedictines still living on the grounds. Much of the abbey is now used to house a school for nearly 900 local children. The school has an exchange program with a school in Minnesota.
Curt and Mary took a different tour where they learned about baking and bees.
While we were gone they moved the ship to a town called Ybbs.
We’re supposed to leave here in an hour or so and we’ll be going through our first daytime lock.
Grape vines and the castle ruins where Richard I was heldTiny cobbled sidewalks and passages
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