Durstein to Salzburg


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Europe » Austria
August 12th 2009
Published: August 12th 2009
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This Morning we arrived at Durnstein, which is called the ‘pearl of Wachau’. Last night, I fell asleep watching the river go past and the amount of traffic on the river is amazing - barges, boats, pleasure craft, huge cruise ships (long and low) and the occasional rowers (although the river flows so fast, if you tried to cross, you would end up in the next county). On arrival we went on a walking tour of the town. A beautiful and quaint little town centered around the fortress over1000 feet above the town and has its own abbey which is blue. Richard I (the lion heart) was held prisoner here and held for ransom and was found by Blondel (the minstrel) who on singing one of Richard’s favorites songs, heard it coming out of the fortress. The castle was destroyed in the course of the 30 yr war but there are enough of the ruins to get the idea. This is the type of village (approx 300) which is what you only imagine is the archetypal Austrian Village. As with many churches in this area the Augustine convent is known as the ‘finger of God, with its overpowering steeple, there are a lot of these around. I may look at it differently being a Jungian/Freudian!!!!! After this trip, we sailed for a few hours (in which we had lunch and whilst I am typing this, to prepare us for out trip to Salzburg tomorrow, they are playing the ‘sound of music’ movie) and I am watching towns, castles, abbeys and beautiful scenes going past to the sounds of the music from the film.

Well, guess what? Just saw the church featured in the Movie, (unfortunately there was a funeral on when we arrived). Our guide explained that when we saw the hill Maria was dancing on singing ‘the hills are alive’ then runs down to they Abby are about 100kms apart - Julie Andrews runs fast! Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and there is everything from violins to operatic loo’s in this city - there are chocolate everything in memory of him. Although the west has brought Salzburg to life through ‘The sound of Music” - the Austrian population did not like the movie as it was felt it betrayed them badly. Now, they have found that so many tourists are coming due to the movie that they are now building a tourist industry around it. The old areas of the city are beautiful - the wrought iron signs along the getreidegasse, the archbishop’s palace, the cathedral etc. Another lady Margaret and I went up the cable railway to the hohensalzburg fortress and climbed (huff puff) and climbed and climbed until we reached the Kuenburg Bastion where the views were spectacular. I didn’t indulge in a Mozartkugel (chocolate). I will now have to see the movie again and put the scenes to the photos - which reminds me, photos will have to be added later as the connection on the ship is not too good and will not upload the photos.

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13th August 2009

mmmmm, chocolate.
16th August 2009

Sounds great, I'm getting a geography lesson as you go along. Travel sure does broaden the mind, even if it is someone else's travel! I'm impressed that you are on 'the bike'.

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