We arrived in Prague on Wednesday around noon. When people from Canada and Wisconsin mention that it is cold.........IT IS COLD!!!!!!! We went to the Christmas Market, did some sightseeing, and had a great meal in a local restaurant.
Photos are:
Sausage Carol bought at Christmas Market
Indians in Prague?
Beautiful architecture
Same
Christmas lights
We went through 25 locks on this trip. It was not surprising to look out our window to see a concrete wall as we were either being raised of lowered in a lock.
A lock works by raising and lowering boats in a device between stretches of water of different levels on rivers and canal waterways. The distinguishing features of locks are fixed chambers whose water levels can be varied. Locks are used to make a river. Ore easily navigable, or to allow a canal to take a reasonably direct line across country that is not level.
Photos are:
Ship has approached the lock, the forward door has opened, the ship has entered, the doors have closed behind the ship, the lock compartment is filling with water, raising the ship.
Ship has raised and lock is full of water
The far lock door is opening, and the ship departs at the new, higher level of the river. Alternately lock sections can be drained to incoming ship from higher levels.
The lock is open and we are on our way.
We left Regensberg yesterday at 5:00 and got to Nuremberg early Tuesday morning. In Nuremberg the Nazis saw the ideal setting for their political propaganda. It was here that the fanatical party rallies were held, the boycott of Jewish businesses began and the infamous Nuremberg Laws outlawing Jewish citizenship were enacted. After WW II the city was chosen as the site of the Nuremberg Trials.
This is our last night on the ship as we are off to Prague tomorrow morning. I can't say enough about the wonderful friends we have made and the people we met. We have new friends that live in Indiana and Wisconsin.
Oh, and it snowed today! Still not as cold as yesterday.
Photos are:
Nazi Coliseum
Nazi Parade Grounds
Our Wisconsin & Indiana friends - Wendy, me, Phyllis, Tom, Carol, Nancy (don't know how Tom put up with all of us for a week!)
Tom & Phyllis
We arrived in Regensburg on Monday morning. To say it was cold would have been a major understatement. We took a FREEZING walking tour and had the afternoon to do as we pleased.
Regensburg is the oldest city on the Danube, its history dates back nearly 2,000 years. Still standing are Roman gates built in 179 AD. The city center escaped damage in the war.
Photos are:
Regensburg Old Stone Bridge - built between 1135-1146 - knights of the Second & Third Crusades used it to cross the Danube on their way to the Holy Land
View from bridge
Wonderful sausages at Alte Wurstkuche - Germany's oldest restaurant - dining room & kitchen have been in the same spot since 1135
St. Peter's Cathedral
Our new friends as we were defrosting - Nancy, me, Wendy, & Carol
Not really, but it sounded clever. Today we stopped at a town/village on the Austrian/German border. Passau is in Germany and is known as the City of Three Rivers. It lies at the confluence of the Inn, the Danube, and the Ilz rivers. Passau was an important medieval center for the salt trade.
Thought you might like to see a photo of our boat. We are on the top with a sliding glass door, but without a balcony.
We left Vienna at 1:00 am today and cruised through the Wachau Valley. The Wachau Valley is known for their wine. We saw several remains of castles as they used to charge people to sail the river.
We arrived in Melk (still in Austria) to see Melk Abbey. This abbey was built from 1702-1736, it was originally a palace - comprised of ceremonial courts, guest apartments, hall, library, and a beautiful church. The monastic community of Melk is over 900 years old and Benedictine monks still live and work at Melk Abbey.
Photos are:
Along Wachau Valley
Same
Melk Abbey
Same
Ceiling inside Melk Abbey
We docked this morning in Vienna. There are approx. 1.7 million living in Vienna and approx. 8 million in the country of Austria. We did a city tour this morning and hit 2 Christmas Markets this afternoon. So glad the Christmas Markets were open here.
Photos are:
Yours truly
Going into a lock - we will go into 25 by the time we are in Nuremberg
Vienna
Christmas Market
Christmas Market
And again!
Today we took a city tour of Budapest. Budapest is made of 3 separate cities which were joined in 1873 - Buda, Pest, and another name I can't remember. The Danube divides Buda and Pest. We saw Hero's Corner and Matthias Church. What was most interesting about the church was the different things it was used by the various occupying countries. When the Germans occupied Hungary the church was a kitchen and with the Russians it was a horse stable.
We saw Roman aqueducts and an amphitheater.
I found out that Herend is made in Hungary. Who knew?
Today (Thursday) we are cruising overnight to Vienna.
I'm having problems with a poor internet connection. Sorry!
My pictures are:
Hero's Corner
Chain Bridge which connects the Buda and Pest sides - same as night photo
Parliament Bldg (3rd largest in the world)
Terror Bldg - former Nazi Headquarters and communists for interrogation and torture
Manhole cover
After 15 hours of traveling......we made it. We have met some super nice people already. I guess we won't be exchanging any cultural differences since they are all Americans. :-) By the time we got to Budapest it was dark, so enjoy and the real tour starts tomorrow.
I wanted to share some photos from around my house. It will be so nice to come home and have it all done!!
