PASSAU, GERMANY
PASSAU, GERMANY
Yesterday went exactly as I outlined in my last post. We were kept very busy and were tired on our return to the ship just in time to sample some of the local delicacies. They included a line of jam-like mustards to eat with cheese and meat - a hit of sweetness followed by a real bite of mustard. The 'Spice Girls" were in Heaven. Later, Norma asked the Hotel Manager on the boat where we could purchase some. He offered to give us the leftovers! We are now in possession of 4 small bottles. Now all we have to do is divide them up without beginning WWIII. Brownie points to Norma.
We enjoyed the a Capella group and after their performance retired to bed. We started to watch the movie Girl with a Pearl Earring. Every scene in it is like a painting - beautifully photographed. Hope to finish watching it this afternoon.
We are unsure of what is planned for today. Apparently, there isn't enough room between the bottom of the canal and the bottom of the boat so we may have to disembark before Passau and bus it to there. The hope is that with the weight of the passengers off the ship, the ship will be able to make it through this section of the Danube. We should know soon.
The original plan is to take a walking tour of Passau, our last stop in Germany, ending with a noon concert in the baroque St. Stephen's Cathedral which is supposed to be magnificent. The organ with over 17,000 pipes is the largest in Europe. After lunch on board (maybe) there is a hike planned. We may go depending on how we are feeling and how hot it is. Right now, the sky is cloudless and the temperature is supposed to climb to 83 F or 28 C.
Luckily we managed to get through the shallowest part of the Danube River last night but it delayed our progress considerably. Consequently, we docked about 23 K before Passau and took the coach into the town. This meant that we could stick to the original schedule and the boat would be in Passau in time for us to lunch on board.
This was one of the best days on tour so far. We met our wonderful guide, Brigitte, who was so informative and funny. We learned where the expressions: 'I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole, the walls have ears, and saved by the bell" came from. Ask me when I'm home if you are interested. She also explained the various ages and stages of architecture and art. Here is what I remember - all times are approximate:
Romanesque - the time of the Romans - to 1050 AD
Gothic - the Middle Ages - 1050 to 1450
Renaissance - 1450 to 1650
Baroque - 1650 to 1750
Rococo - 1750 to 1850
Art Nouveau - 1850 - 1920
Art Deco - 1920
We strolled through the medieval section of Passau which is at the confluence of three rivers; the Danube, the Inn, and the Ils. While excavating for an underground parking garage, a settlement was discovered dating back 7000 years. We learned that Passau is prone to flooding - the last large one in 2013. However, no one is allowed to live on the ground floor of any building. They are reserved for shops. The buildings are also built on land that drains down to the rivers so that after a flood, the water retreats quickly. In other words, you walk up into the courtyard of your house and climb the stairs to the second floor where you live. We also saw a marble Rococo staircase in the Prince-Bishop's Palace. The one thing I remember about the Prince-Bishop was that he died of syphillis. I guess he preferred being a prince to a bishop.
After a tour of the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque Town Hall, we proceeded to St. Stephen's Cathedral for a half-hour organ recital. Norma and I decided to visit the Glass Museum before lunch rather than returning to it after lunch. This is an example of collectors gone wild! It was four stories of glassworks mainly from the 19th century housed in an old house/hotel. We started on the 4th floor and literally did not think we'd ever find our way out there were so many twists and turns. After a while one case of glass objects d'art looked much like any other. Had we seen these already? I spotted a sign - Ausgang and followed it successfully. We managed to get back to the ship in time for Bami Goring, an Indonesian lunch in the Bistro. Delicious! Much better than the roast suckling pig on offer in the dining room.
We are not going on the hike to see the confluence of the three rivers as our guide pointed out that we would see it much better as our boat sails from Passau in another half hour.
We then plan a nap, may attend the party celebrating our entry into Austria followed by an Italian dinner in the Bistro and a classical music performance in the Lounge. Busy, Busy, Busy!
Yesterday went exactly as I outlined in my last post. We were kept very busy and were tired on our return to the ship just in time to sample some of the local delicacies. They included a line of jam-like mustards to eat with cheese and meat - a hit of sweetness followed by a real bite of mustard. The 'Spice Girls" were in Heaven. Later, Norma asked the Hotel Manager on the boat where we could purchase some. He offered to give us the leftovers! We are now in possession of 4 small bottles. Now all we have to do is divide them up without beginning WWIII. Brownie points to Norma.
We enjoyed the a Capella group and after their performance retired to bed. We started to watch the movie Girl with a Pearl Earring. Every scene in it is like a painting - beautifully photographed. Hope to finish watching it this afternoon.
We are unsure of what is planned for today. Apparently, there isn't enough room between the bottom of the canal and the bottom of the boat so we may have to disembark before Passau and bus it to there. The hope is that with the weight of the passengers off the ship, the ship will be able to make it through this section of the Danube. We should know soon.
The original plan is to take a walking tour of Passau, our last stop in Germany, ending with a noon concert in the baroque St. Stephen's Cathedral which is supposed to be magnificent. The organ with over 17,000 pipes is the largest in Europe. After lunch on board (maybe) there is a hike planned. We may go depending on how we are feeling and how hot it is. Right now, the sky is cloudless and the temperature is supposed to climb to 83 F or 28 C.
Luckily we managed to get through the shallowest part of the Danube River last night but it delayed our progress considerably. Consequently, we docked about 23 K before Passau and took the coach into the town. This meant that we could stick to the original schedule and the boat would be in Passau in time for us to lunch on board.
This was one of the best days on tour so far. We met our wonderful guide, Brigitte, who was so informative and funny. We learned where the expressions: 'I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole, the walls have ears, and saved by the bell" came from. Ask me when I'm home if you are interested. She also explained the various ages and stages of architecture and art. Here is what I remember - all times are approximate:
Romanesque - the time of the Romans - to 1050 AD
Gothic - the Middle Ages - 1050 to 1450
Renaissance - 1450 to 1650
Baroque - 1650 to 1750
Rococo - 1750 to 1850
Art Nouveau - 1850 - 1920
Art Deco - 1920
We strolled through the medieval section of Passau which is at the confluence of three rivers; the Danube, the Inn, and the Ils. While excavating for an underground parking garage, a settlement was discovered dating back 7000 years. We learned that Passau is prone to flooding - the last large one in 2013. However, no one is allowed to live on the ground floor of any building. They are reserved for shops. The buildings are also built on land that drains down to the rivers so that after a flood, the water retreats quickly. In other words, you walk up into the courtyard of your house and climb the stairs to the second floor where you live. We also saw a marble Rococo staircase in the Prince-Bishop's Palace. The one thing I remember about the Prince-Bishop was that he died of syphillis. I guess he preferred being a prince to a bishop.
After a tour of the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque Town Hall, we proceeded to St. Stephen's Cathedral for a half-hour organ recital. Norma and I decided to visit the Glass Museum before lunch rather than returning to it after lunch. This is an example of collectors gone wild! It was four stories of glassworks mainly from the 19th century housed in an old house/hotel. We started on the 4th floor and literally did not think we'd ever find our way out there were so many twists and turns. After a while one case of glass objects d'art looked much like any other. Had we seen these already? I spotted a sign - Ausgang and followed it successfully. We managed to get back to the ship in time for Bami Goring, an Indonesian lunch in the Bistro. Delicious! Much better than the roast suckling pig on offer in the dining room.
We are not going on the hike to see the confluence of the three rivers as our guide pointed out that we would see it much better as our boat sails from Passau in another half hour.
We then plan a nap, may attend the party celebrating our entry into Austria followed by an Italian dinner in the Bistro and a classical music performance in the Lounge. Busy, Busy, Busy!
Comments
Post a Comment