Salzburg, Austria - The Sound of Music

 Behind me are the hills from "The Sound of Music" - the hills are alive with the sound of music.

 Linda and I had lunch with our friends from California and North Carolina at Stiftskeller St. Petter Restaurance in Salzburg.  This is the oldes restaurant is EUROPE. It was opened in 803. 

This is new idea!  In Austria boys and girls paint or crave their initials on a lock and put it on a fence.  They do this instead of craving their initials on a tree.

We left the ship early and after a two hour bus ride we were in Salzburg.  We took a walking tour through the town of Salzburg.  The tour featured the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the Huhensalzburg fortress just above the city cnter. We had free time to explore Salzburg's narrow cobbled streets and colorful buildings,  One thing that was very interesting is that in the town all of the store signs must be metal.  Even the local McDonalds had a metal sign in the shape of a wreath with the golden arches inside the wreath.  Of course we had to find the original Mozart chocolate shop (yes Billie Ann and Judy I am bringing  some home to share). After buying some gifts for friends, we made our way back to the bus, stopping along the way for a cone of ice cream, and then headed to Linz and to our ship. Long day, but a good day!

  

Passau - The City of Three Rivers

Well, I have internet service so I will take advantage of it to tell you a little about Passau, Germany.  This morning after breakfast we left on a walking tour with Barnard, who was going to take us on a leisurely walk around the town.  Today there was to be a Cultural Parade as part of the Maidult ( the "Octoberfest" atmosphere in Passau).  The Maidult is a fair that has been celebrated in Passau since 1871.  All people in the parade were in traditional costumes.  We spent the majority of the tour waiting for the parade to start.  Finally Linda and I decided to walk back to the ship and browse in a few shops along the way. As we approached the ship, the parade had finally started so we stopped to watch and to take a few pictures. (Well the pictures are at the top).

Passau is a young old city on the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers.  It is located on the Austrian and Czech border.Since it is Sunday we could only see the outside of St.Steven's Cathedral unless we wanted to go to mass.  In this cathedral is the world's largest cathedral organ.  It has 17974 organ pipes, 233 stops and 4 carillons (of course we didn't get to see or hear it either).

That's about it for now - later today we will learn aabout the European food culture and the life and works of Mozart. Tonight we head to Linz with a full day excursion to Salzburg tomorrow, including a walking tour featuring Mozart's birthplace.

On the Road Again - April 27 and 28

Yesterday was a free day for us. We slept late, had a good breakfast and then sat out on foot to explore Prague or Praha as the locals call it.  We walked back to Old Town to do some shopping.  Many items to choose from: crystals, garnets, glassware, soaps, or just regular souvenirs.  We also tried some authentic Czech food.

Today after breakfast and a trip to the grocery store, we finally headed to Passau.  Once we were on our bus, we met Helga, our tour guide.  She told us to sit down, fasten our seat belts, and hold our heads up to be counted. Just imagine the comic book version of a German grandmother with helmet on - well that was Helga.  We were told to look at her maps, and she even told us the names of some books that we should read.  Helga and Joseph, our bus driver, kept up a conversation all the way to Passau, which was a four hour drive .  Since they spoke in German, I have no idea what they said, probably talking about "those Americans".  On our way up and over the Bavarian Hills, we saw many interesting villages and some snow left from the storm three weeks ago.  So finally we arrived at our ship, the Viking Odin.  It is a new ship with only 4-5 cruises before us.  It even has the "new smell".

We met some of the crew and were shown to our cabin.  Even though it is quite new and we have a balcony, the cabin is smaller than the one we had before; however we were able to find a place for everything and were soon settled in for the week.  Off to meet the rest of the crew at the Welcome Aboard party.

Danube River Cruise - April/May 2012

It's Spring again and off Linda and I go on another river cruise.  This time it is the beautiful Blue Danube River in Europe.  We are taking a pre-cruise extension to Prague in the Czech Republic for three days before we get on the new ship, the Viking Odin.   Prague is the "City of a Hundred Spires".  I think I will try and count them. That should keep me busy for a while....

Then off we sail to Passau, Germany to join the Viking Odin.  For the next eight (8) days we will visit Linz and Salzburg in Austria.  There we will tour Mozart's birthplace and visit the location for the movie, "The Sound of Music"    Travel on to Melk and Durnstein  ( cruise in the picturesque Wachau Valley ) in Austria to explore the Benedictine Abbey with its fabulous library and frescoes.  In Vienna, one of Europe's most elegant and romantic ( I should care about this - why?) cities, we will have a 1/2 day tour of the glorious St. Stephan's Cathedral and the beautiful State Opera House.

Next country up is Slovakia where we will stop in Bratislava, the only national capital that borders two other countries, Austria and Hungary.  Our last stop is in Budapest, Hungary, where we will visit the older "Buda" and the more cosmopolitan "Pest" sides of the city.

This should be exciting.....I look forward to sharing my adventures with you along the way.

Remember if you are not interested, just click "delete".

Agios Nikolaos, Crete

Quiet day on the island of Crete - walking, shopping, and having  lunch at a sidewalk cafe.

Linda is a member of the clean plate club - yummy food.

Ephesus, St. John's & Virgin Mary Shrine - Turkey

Basilica of St. John was built by Emperor Justinian over the tomb of St. John the Apostle.

The baptistery in the Basilica of St. John built in the shape of a cross.

Linda is lighting a candle outside the House of the Virgin Mary.

Goddess Nike in Ephesus. Can you find the "swoosh"?

Mosaic found in the ruins of  Ephesus.

The House of the Virgin Mary.

Linda needed a rest after all the walking in Ephesus.

The Celsus Libray in Ephesus with its two-story Corinthian-style columns.

Inside the Odeon Theater in Ephesus.

Santorini - Oia, Fira, and Panagia Episkopi Church

Fira - Capital amd largest town of Santorini. It is a village of dazzlingly whitewashed houses clinging to steep volcanic cliffs.Accessible only by foot, Fira's narrow cobblestone lanes lead uphill past shops, homes and cafes to a cable car.  Yes, Linda and I rode the cable car back down the mountain to the harbor.

Oia - Perched atop cliffs at Santorini's northernmost point, its narrow, cobblestone lanes reveal brilliantly whitewashed buildings, shops, cafes, and domed churches.

The mountain of Prophet Elijah.  Santorini's highest point towers 2,000 feet above the sea and offers panoramic views of the island.

A view from the town of Oia.

Panagia Episkopi Church - outside in the gardens.

This is what I call being at the top of the mountain.

Kamari Village is a large tourist resort famed for its dramatic black sand beach, unique in the Greek Islands.  The black sand is actually pebbles of solidified lava from the volcano.

Centuries old frescoes in the Panagia Episkopi Church.  This church dates from the 11th century.  It is the oldest Byzantine church on the island and has survived pirates, earthquakes, eruptions and fire.