Blogs from Austria, Europe

A day of culture and sophistication. We spent the morning on a guided walk of the old city. We went up the north tower of St Stephens Church and got rewarded with fantastic views across the city. We tried to reward ourselves with apple strudel but after not being served for 25 minutes we had to give up to rejoin the tour - oh well next time (we will just have to come back). In the evening we got dressed up and went to see the Vienna Supreme Orchestra. Their performance was amazing not only did we get to hear the Orchestra but there was also opera and ballet performances, part of it had a modern take and was a little cheeky. Tonight we finally get to sail overnight to our next destination Durnstein. Only about ... read more

Another early start and made the short drive to Schonbrunn Palace and through on our tour before the multitudes arrived (also a Saturday) amazing palace on a grand scale and free time of 2 hours to explore the palace grounds… sat and enjoyed a coffee and cake for part of it and watched the crowds pour in … on the bus at mid day and into city for our lunch …. Traditional snitchel … eating again 😵‍💫….left at 2 pm and a quiet trip through to Budapest 4 hours … was really interesting travelling through the eastern block country with reminants of communism and uprising … very different houses and countryside… arrived at hotel in Budapest at 6 pm and settled into room then down for dinner all tired !!!…... read more

Up early and our last breakfast on the boat … bags out and left the boat at 8 am … sitting on the bus and had forgotten our travel documents in the safe so luckily I was able to run back and retrieve them… back on the bus and left for Melk 41/2 hr journey and once we arrived at 12.30 had another heavy meal of pork in gravy sauerkraut and stuffing/dumpling at our lunch venue …. At 2 pm we had our tour of the Benedictine Abbey and once again no photos inside allowed had some free time and back on the bus at 4 pm and through to Vienna arrived at 5.45pm … checked into the Andaz Hotel and refreshed for dinner at 7 pm a buffet and few drinks… still being looked after ... read more

Austria’s capital of Vienna is the City of Waltzes and Europe’s centre of classic music. Strauss and Mozart composed many of their finest music here. The wide boulevard circling the Inner City is lined with Baroque, neo-Renaissance, Gothic-Romanesque and other magnificent structures from the Hofburg Palace to the Vienna State Opera. They are grand and highly ornamented buildings many topped with tall statues of, I assume, famous people. Impressive massive statues are in every open space, some with fountains. Coffee houses are the order of the day, in fact some 2,400 of them. Locals gather for a delicious beverage and hours of social time. You are encouraged to stay as long as you want and enjoy your time there. First we are treated to a city tour on our bus which for me is completely boring ... read more

Overnight we have changed countries. I have been up since 5:30 a.m. sitting in the lounge drinking coffee. The ceiling to floor windows reveal nothing in the dark unless we pass a populated area and there are lights on the shore. Occasionally the ship slows down as she passes under a bridge or next to another ship. Sometimes the edge of the ship is very close to the bridge supports but we have an excellent captain who knows what he’s doing. I looked up once and was looking into a lighted room on another ship but no sign of anyone up. Now it is 7:15 a.m. and starting to lighten up. I can now see houses on the shore. Soon we will be going up on the top deck to see the promised scenery of Wachou ... read more