Travel With Me Tuesday: We Arrive in Vienna

Lest you think this is where I am now, this day was actually back on November 14, 2012. Our Rhine & Danube River Cruise. Yes, I am a bit slow in getting all this trip documented. Once that is done, the fun starts...the scrapbooking.

I was told we were to arrive in Vienna at 01:00 am. You couldn't prove it by me but I took their word. I'm sure some other people were either still up or willing to get up to see the arrival but I like my sleep.   Yes, I awoke to see that we were in Vienna!

After our normal breakfast on board, coaches were scheduled to take us in batches on a tour of the city. Headsets at the ready, off we went for a drive around Vienna and a tour of the National Library. Stunning library and I know libraries as a lot of my childhood was spent in the Library of Congress where my mother worked.

Once again, I can only take Baroque in small doses so while the group wandered from room to room, I sat down in a window cubby and just marveled at the precious books, maps and globes. On the walk back to the our coach, we passed the Spanish Riding School horses starting some daily exercise. That was enough for me as I'm not much of a horse person. Gorgeous horses, yes...now lets move on.

We had been to Vienna before so the coach ride was a nice refresher course.  Back to the boat we went for our lunch which was good solid food - Austrian Cheese Sausage, Roasted Onion Potatoes, and a Warm White Cabbage Salad with Caraway.

Our boat was anchored right on the Danube in the city, so once again we went into the downtown by coach in staggered shifts. We were dropped off and picked up at the Albertina Museum. Mainly we wandered and just enjoyed being on dry land and in the oh so cosmopolitan Vienna.

While waiting for our coach, the last one going back, I saw this.

Later that evening we had made plans to go out to dinner with a couple from Pennsylvania who had also been to Vienna once before.  We found the  Lubella Restaurant just a short U-Bahn ride away. I recall that some of the dishes were more Balkan though it now advertises itself as Russian also. In any case it was nice to have company for an off-boat 'adventure'.

While I recall the food as good, we were talking and eating but not taking photos. However, the walk back gave us this marvelous view.

The Danube and our boat docked (off camera) on the river at the Riechsbrucke.

We walked down the river a bit to get this view, The Saint Francis of Assisi Church.  Gorgeous and so well lit. That is Vienna!

Travel With Me Tuesday: Auf Wiederschaun Durnstein

The non visible sun was getting lower on the horizon so we headed back to our river cruise boat. We asked the boat tender to take our photo, and he took about 5 or so. First, he didn't get the name Durnstein in the image and then we weren't sure he was still taking pictures - thus my wondering look in the 2nd image - but in the end we had a couple of good ones.

Back on the boat, the afternoon tea had many a dessert for us. There would be no way to diet on a trip like this and I wasn't trying. But I did want to fit into my clothes for the trip home! It was getting  a bit iffy.

But of course, TWO chocolate fountains.

We DID have dinner that night as usual, mushroom soup made with real mushrooms &  a rack of lamb. I had the grace to pass on the apple strudel though. A bit of a cheese plate always sufficed. Later we stayed up for the entertainment, a tradition on most cruises with the Crew Show. It's always a lot of silly humor but when you add some of the German takes on that there were a lot of groans amidst the laughing. God bless 'em though they did clown it up!

Next day - a BIG city, Vienna.

Travel With Me Tuesday: Durnstein Austria Part 2

As we had had our lunch on board the ship, our main event in Durnstein was the Organ Concert.  I really had enjoyed the walk along the river to this small town and we ended up at the  beautiful Durnstein Abbey. 

As always, we went in group by group, never in the same order so that we never felt we were getting unfair treatment! The Abbey was originally established in 1410 but renovated in the 1700s. Thus it was as Baroque as you can imagine! While we had a bit of time to look about, we quickly had to find seats. I certainly didn't mind crowding as it was really cold inside. 

Baroque is not my thing and as we had chairs in one of the aisles in the back, I rather counted the minutes until I could get up. The ceilings were more my style as opposed to the altars with more gold than I could take.

Back outside, it was time for us to split up - the wine tasters on their way and those of us not tasting had free time to walk round some more. Again, as it was not the main tourist season the town was very quiet but a few shops were open. I got a ski cap for one grandson but that was about it.

We walked down to the end of the main street and got these views of the Danube. The afternoon was drawing down, and the mists were rising. This is weather that I really like, I suspect because it reminds me of my days in England so much.

We were going back to a special Tea Time aboard ship, so we passed on this place for a coffee and walked on. High above the city was the Castle. Maybe we'd have time to walk up?

Durnstein is well known for its Rieslings and apricot brandy, and we passed these smaller vineyards on our way towards the castle.

We walked up a path but soon realized we didn't have the time or energy to continue all the way up. Perhaps another trip or another lifetime. I bet Richard the Lionhearted did not relish his time imprisoned here on such days as this.

Back past some ordinary life, trucks parked by homes and views of kitchens getting ready for dinner.  We had a trek along the river to get back to our ship. I'd be ready for something hot!

Flashback Friday: Orange Leader

While on our recent River Cruise in Germany, Austria and Hungary, "Gary" was our fearless leader most days. We were the orange group, and as he said, we would always remember ourselves that way! This damp, chilly day, he found an ingenious way to deal with that orange flag and keep his hands free. It truly was a misty, fall day on the Danube and a fascinating visit to an Austrian riverside wine town.